From 3 to 5 October 2016, around 260 mountain actors (researchers, farmers, environmentalists, elected representatives from local and regional authorities, representatives of chambers of commerce and development agencies) met in Bragança, Portugal during the X European Mountain Convention organized by Euromontana. This X European Mountain Convention presented a state-of-the-art of the...

Hay is at the base of almost all traditional meat & dairy farm products – even to the farmyard chickens eating grasshoppers brought into the yard with the new hay crop.   Hay – especially cut with a scythe, has shaped Romania’s rural cultural landscape and resulted in enormous biodiversity of...

Opportunities to become economically self-sufficient are crucial to successful integration into society in the medium to long term, as well as to personal dignity. Skills development, work placements and business-development support can all be valuable depending on each individual’s profile. Access to work for new arrivals is key for their...

When farmers’ position in the food supply chain is relatively weak, they can benefit from organising themselves better so as to improve revenue opportunities. One route to doing so lies in local markets and short-supply chains. Risk management tools are needed to help farmers cope better with the uncertainty created...

HNV farmlands in Romania are an estimated 30% of the total utilisable agricultural area: 5 million ha, associated with smaller holding sizes in hilly areas within the Carpathian arc. Traditional farming practices are responsible for maintaining many of Romania’s (and Europe's) HNV farmlands, which deliver a host of public benefits (goods...

In the period to 2020, the new CAP will invest EUR 10.7 billion in Ireland's farming sector and rural areas, with additional co-financing from the Irish authorities. Key political priorities have been defined at European level such as: jobs and growth, sustainability, modernisation, innovation and quality. At the same time,...

The agri-food sector, as an integral part of the bio-economy, serves a multitude of functions, sometimes with conflicting implications. In order to maintain a competitive sector that also values environmental services and rural development, the continuous development and application of new technologies but also new organizational forms will be crucial....

What is it really like to farm sheep in a far-flung corner of the English moors? This film is about Matthew Trevelyan, a young upland farmer on the North York Moors. Matthew Trevelyan took over the running of Hill Top Farm, near Spaunton, from his father several years ago and...

In the Mediterranean regions, the pressure on natural resources, particularly land, is a key element defining the processes of economic and social development. In fact, the land tenure shapes the development of agricultural production chains, natural resources management, large projects and major infrastructure development, as well as the success of rural...

To help the rural areas of the European Union to meet the wide range of challenges and opportunities that face them, the EU devised its rural development policy.

The Sustainable Food Trust went to visit Hodmedod’s lentil field trials and their warehouse to find out more about the potential of British-grown pulses and their role in sustainable farming. Hodmedod’s is a unique British business pioneering the revival of local pulses.

Research is expected to address immediate problems while at the same time anticipating future needs. Today’s research will guide tomorrow’s solutions and approaches in farming and forestry. Incorporating research and innovation activities into a long-term strategy will make it easier to identify strategic areas of short-, medium- and long-term interest,...

At Sky Hill, the Miclăuș’ summer haven, volunteers can pick berries for jam, dry medicinal plants for tea, cut grass, or stuff mattresses with sweet-smelling hay. The Miclăușes also welcome architecture students to work on design and restoration projects. Cornelia serves everyone fresh fruit and vegetables from the farm, along with...

The structure of farms is multi-dimensional, comprising amongst others the absolute number of farms in a country or region, the total size of its agricultural area and labour force, as well as the distribution of farms according to their physical and economic size. Striking differences can be observed among Member...

Dans le cadre de son programme « les Ateliers de l’OCEMO », l’Office de Coopération Economique pour la Méditerranée et l’Orient (OCEMO) et le Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes (CIHEAM), organisent une conférence intitulée « Sécurité alimentaire, développement inclusif, climat : les enjeux de la coopération en Méditerranée...

Europe’s farmers face a tall order. Long tasked with providing us with safe and affordable food, they are now expected to help generate jobs and economic growth as well. This priority was at the heart of European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker’s State of the European Union speech earlier this month....

Urban agriculture is a hidden champion. It has been neglected for decades by both, urban and agricultural policies. City planners treated the agricultural land as potential building ground, agricultural policies focussed on the rural areas. But due to worldwide challenges as urbanisation, food security and the need for a sustainable...

This report examines the position of farmers in the supply chain and makes recommendations as to how to improve that position. It is the result of the deliberations of the Agricultural Markets Task Force (Task Force), which was set up in January 2016 as a European Commission expert group at...

Starting in June 2016, and each year until 2024, Member States shall submit to the Commission an Annual Implementation Report (AIR). The AIR provides information about the implementation of the rural development programme (RDP), as well as the evaluation plan. The AIR submitted in 2017 (hereinafter: AIR 2017) shall also...

The total organic area in the EU-28 (i.e. the fully converted area and the area under conversion) was more than 10 million ha in 2013 and accounted for 5.8% of the total UAA. The size of the organic area differs substantially among Member States. In absolute terms 4 Member States...