There is one type of agriculture that is more demanding and labour some than others, but essential from a social point of view, and that is mountain farming. The EU has ranked them among the most “disadvantaged areas” for agriculture. However, in mountainous regions, “disadvantaged” is not synonymous with marginal....

The European Union is a social and political approach meant to create a space of common values, shared by several states (the member states), aiming to equalise policies of various fields. At the same time, though, there is a constant concern to keep traditions and the different elements between communities,...

The conference will bring foundations together with diverse stakeholders (civil society organizations, public, multilateral institutions and others) to look at good practices supported by foundations in the fields of land use and sustainable food systems and to discuss elements of success, replicability and the potential to scale-up. This will be...

Ce séminaire, qui se tiendra le jeudi 29 octobre 2015 au Parc des Expositions du Kram à Tunis à l’occasion du Salon International de l’Agriculture, du Machinisme Agricole et de la Pêche, aura pour objectif de présenter et mettre en débat le nouveau Plan d’Action entre la Tunisie et l’UE...

Protection and improvement of soil functionality: Cover crops in the Czech Republic, with European support, to prevent soil erosion European soils are wealth providing us with essential services, including water purification and food production. In fact, our soils fulfil important carbon storage functions, playing an essential part in climate regulation...

Reducing children’s exposure to the toxic pesticides used in farming is the aim of a visual training guide, now adapted for use in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia, and translated to Russian language. Developed by FAO and the International Labour Organization, the guide is a tool for a wide...

Cet extrait du documentaire de Christophe Joly, réalisé en mai 2013, présente la philosophie de Terre de Liens au travers du regard et de l'implication de bénévoles de la région Rhône-Alpes.

Europe faces a moment of transformation. Europe 2020 Strategy puts forward three mutually reinforcing priorities: - Smart growth: developing an economy based on knowledge and innovation - Sustainable growth: promoting a more resource efficient, greener and more competitive economy - Inclusive growth: fostering a high-employment economy delivering social and territorial cohesion   Seven flagship initiatives...

University of Milan is pleased to Welcome you to the 7thEuropean Conference on Precision Livestock Farming that will be held from the 15th to the 18th of September, 2015, in Milan, Italy. The European Conference on Precision Livestock Farming takes place every two years, and during the last edition was confirmed...

The complexity of organic farming requires farmers to have a very high level of knowledge and skills. But exchange on organic farming techniques remains limited. OK-Net Arable promotes exchange of knowledge among farmers, farm advisers and scientists with the aim to increase productivity and quality in organic arable cropping all...

Today, the crisis situation in the European dairy sector clearly highlights the failures of our current EU policies for supporting viable farm enterprises and balanced rural development. As a result the programme will include a panel discussion looking at whether EU agri-food policies are capable of supporting sustainable farming and...

In September 2015, family farmer Jyoti Fernandes spoke at a Policy Debate in the European Parliament. The video is embedded below and a full transcript of the talk is available here. Being part of the UK Landworkers’ Alliance and the European Coordination of La Vía Campesina (host of the debate),...

Moving towards a bio economy is one of the key policy strategies of the EU. Its vision is of a knowledge-based Europe turning to green growth via innovation, which presents opportunities for the agricultural and forest-based sectors. Sustainable production of renewable resources will be needed, with the conversion of these...

DistriKempen, a group of five farmers from the Kempen region (Belgium) were searching for ways to deal with the transport of their fresh products to customers in the region. In 2013 they found the perfect people: Dorien Goris, and her brother Geert. Dorien: “Assisted by the Flemish Innovation Support Centre...

David Crespo, a farmer from Portugal, believes that permanent pasture is an “outstanding resource” which can significantly improve animal production. But the usual grasses grown require high nitrogen inputs and lack protein for the animals. He has developed a system of integrating legumes in the pasture which means he has...

The laying hen sector has had to face many challenges in the past decade, including disease outbreaks and concerns over animal welfare. In cooperation with Wageningen University and other partners, Rondeel company (The Netherlands) thought up a new housing system for laying hens which would be able to provide solutions...

Bringing farmers and consumers closer together, short supply chains can take many forms. All over Europe, the term covers a range of direct selling, from selling on the farm, at farmers’ markets, or via the internet. Often characterised by personal contact between the producer and the customer, they also offer...

More than 70 per cent of Scotland’s land area consists of hills and mountains or has vegetation with upland characteristics. Our mountains, moors, hills and heaths extend from near sea level in the north and west to the highest mountain tops across Scotland. So don’t just imagine the jagged peaks of...

More than 70 per cent of Scotland’s land area consists of hills and mountains or has vegetation with upland characteristics. Our mountains, moors, hills and heaths extend from near sea level in the north and west to the highest mountain tops across Scotland. Farming in the uplands varies markedly from place...

The recently launched EIP-AGRI Focus Group ‘New entrants into farming’ is looking into which patterns characterise new entrants in farming and what can be learnt from them to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in agriculture. Agnès Papone, one of the Focus Group experts and a recent convert to the farming profession,...