Over the past decades, agriculture has become increasingly dependent on the use of herbicides and of pesticides. While they have contributed to boosting yields, herbicides can have negative effects on the environment, on biodiversity and also on human health. Therefore, the EU has more recently created policies which seek non-chemical...

The project consists of seven WPs and 32 activities aimed to:- study the status and potential of milk and meat supply chains based on species rich grasslands- improve the organization and efficiency of the supply chains based on species rich grasslands, and implement innovative solutions in the farms- develop an...

Back on Chiara Garini’s forest farm at the foot of the Italian Alps. Three years in, her mushroom farm and forest garden is at a crossroads: should she expand or diversify? In any case Chiara is determined to bring utopia into her business plan, and tells us about an exciting...

The Focus Group (FG) on sustainable beef production was launched in 2020 as part of the activities carried out under the European Innovation Partnership 'Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability' (EIP-AGRI). The main question for this Focus Group was “How can grass-based* beef production systems, based on agroecology principles, remain sustainable?”. Beef...

In Estonia, organic production has recently developed rapidly and the share of organic land in the total agricultural area is approximately 23%. However, organic milk production has not increased, and many current farmers were also the pioneers from the start. Reasons for the relatively low proportion of organic dairy herds...

Watch the presentation from Anna Pollak, Operational Group ‘Alternative methods for wireworm control in potatoes’ during the EIP-AGRI seminar ‘'Healthy soils for Europe: sustainable management through knowledge and practice’ on 13 April 2021

Technology Platform of Organic Agriculture Extremadura (PTAEEx), an Operational Group belonging to the European Innovation Partnership on Agricultural Productivity & Sustainability (EIP-AGRI), elaborated a Research & Innovation Agenda which identifies the main priorities and challenges of the sector with the objective of reaching a sustainable organic sector and its optimal development in...

Organically bred sheep and goats can play a key role in preserving the landscape and biodiversity in the steeper meadows and pastures in Zasavje, a picturesque valley in the Sava Hills in central Slovenia. However, local breeders were facing difficulties in selling their meat due to the low prices and...

Transferring pastoral knowledge to preserve vibrant rural areas Over millennia, pastoral societies have accumulated knowledge and skills on how to successfully manage pastoral systems. Their work contributes to maintain vibrant rural areas, benefitting the rural economy and reversing land abandonment, while it also unlocks multiple ecosystem services for the whole society. Yet,...

MEPs voted on 9 September for features of the provisional agreement that are being advanced through the co-decision process. COMAGRI’s priorities confirm the Parliament’s interest in biodiversity and climate commitments becoming core CAP elements, mainly by strengthening mandatory climate and environmentally friendly practices. MEPs also endorsed the proposals that: at...

Rome - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today unveiled a prototype rooftop farm at its Rome headquarters, an initiative that highlights how innovative technology contributes to making agri-food systems more sustainable and to increasing access to healthy diets.The farm will help explore the potential of...

The realities of a changing climate are increasingly affecting European farming and forestry. Climate-smart agriculture is an approach that can help farmers and foresters build resilience and adapt to the effects of climate change, and increase productivity and incomes in a sustainable way. Climate-smart practices can focus on ways to...

More than 40 million tonnes of meat is produced in the continent each year for human consumption. As a result, animals can pay a tough price in the system to meet demand - with intensive farming conditions making livestock more prone to diseases. At least 20% of livestock production is lost globally,...

The Pulicaro farm is located in Tuscia Viterbese, between Orvieto and Lake Bolsena, Italy. It occupies an area of 33 hectares divided between forest and farmland associated with poultry and livestock. It is an integrated management system designed to manage many aspects. It focuses on agroecology, intercropping and sustainable practices...

En el presente estudio se ofrecen algunas reflexiones sobre los límites y alcances de las definiciones de ruralidad actualmente en uso y se propone una caracterización alternativa del territorio rural en El Salvador. Asimismo, se presenta un balance de las nuevas narrativas de la ruralidad surgidas en América Latina en...

The EESC recognises the role of organic farming in achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal and sees this action plan for the development of organic production as a solid basis for developing the organic sector in a sustainable manner. It supports in particular the Commission's market-oriented approach to...

The Mediterranean region is characterised by very limited arable land resources, 95% of which are already farmed (UfM, 2016). With almost no room left for the expansion of cultivated areas, the future of Mediterranean agriculture and its contribution to food security relies on the preservation of fragile lands threatened by...

International trade has become an important component of seafood production, with the growth in seafood trade greatly outpacing both population growth and seafood production growth. The EU plays a significant role in the international seafood market as the world’s largest seafood importer. The growing import of seafood into the EU...

agroBRIDGES was born from the need to stimulate the adoption of Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs) in the European Union.  SFSCs introduces key economic, social and environmental benefits for sustainable development, like: Rebalancing the market position of farmers and increasing their income. Better connecting farmers with consumers and reducing intermediaries. Meeting the societal...

The ageing of the farming population is one of the top challenges facing rural areas in the EU • Risk of land concentration • Increase in need of skilled (hired) labour • Vitality of rural areas => Generational renewal = priority of the CAP