AKIS training intensifies with the arrival of the new PEPAC

• Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) are the combination of knowledge flows between people, organizations and institutions, which produce and use such knowledge in agriculture or other fields.
• The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announces the creation of a collegiate coordinating body for AKIS: the "AKIS Coordination Body."

AKIS , or "Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems," are the combination of organizations and knowledge flows between people, organizations, and institutions that produce and use this information in agriculture and related fields. It's a bit like a "give and take."

Thus, the AKIS (a term coined in 2008) become an inclusive system whose focus lies on organizations and their connections and interactions . Currently, its importance stems from its multidirectional and multi-stakeholder nature, which increases the effectiveness of the research conducted. And—most importantly—this chain results in greater transfer and replication of the acquired knowledge.

AKIS in the new CAP

The European Union has incorporated the AKIS concept into its next programming period, 2021-2027, as a cross-cutting objective . This will become a tool for modernizing the agricultural and rural sector by promoting and sharing knowledge , innovation , and digitalization in agricultural and rural areas.

Such is the importance attached to this approach that, for the implementation of the new CAP, Member States must develop their Strategic Plan, taking into account that AKIS and advice on them must play a key role in the modernization of the agricultural and rural sectors.

Workshop on AKIS in the Southern European Region

The second AKIS workshop took place on June 8th within the H2020 i2connect project. focused on the countries of southern Europe.

During the same, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) has announced the creation of the “AKIS Coordination Body” : it is A joint collegiate body that will ensure cooperation, participation, and coordination of the AKIS system with key stakeholders at the national and regional levels. The MAPA has also confirmed that work is being accelerated to develop an advisor platform for AKIS.

The event was attended by nearly 100 participants from different European countries: Spain, Italy, Malta, France, Greece, Cyprus, and Portugal. A video of the event can be found at the following link: Presentations and recording of the 2nd Southern European AKIS workshop within the H2020 i2connect project .

H2020 i2connect Project

Horizon 2020 (H2020) is the framework program for European research and innovation, and its main objective is to ensure Europe's global competitiveness in R&D&I. H2020 funds the i2connect project , which promotes interactive innovation processes in agriculture and forestry by enhancing the skills of advisors and their organizations to engage and support European farmers and foresters. Ultimately, the i2connect project seeks to create networks and synergies between all these stakeholders through innovation advisory services.

Project activities include reporting on national AKIS, knowledge generation on advice and best practices, training of trainers and courses for various target groups, interaction with other AKIS stakeholders, and networking, among others.