20 de May de 2021
May 20, 2021. The essence of AKIS, or "Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems," is the combination of organizations and knowledge flows among people, organizations, and institutions that produce and use such knowledge in agriculture and related fields.
- 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 presents the conclusions of the working group on advice on AKIS
Thus, the term AKIS (coined in 2008) has evolved from a linear, unidirectional knowledge transfer model to an inclusive system whose focus lies on organizations and their connections and interactions, placing farmers at the center of this system . Currently, its importance stems from its multidirectional, multi-stakeholder nature, which implies an increase in the effectiveness of the flow of knowledge generated by both the research and innovation carried out, as well as the practical experience of farmers and other related stakeholders. And—above all, 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 cross-cutting objective for the next 2021-2027 programming period, making it the 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 ensure in their Strategic Plans that AKIS, and therefore advisory services as an instrument of these systems, play a key role in the modernization of the agricultural and rural sectors.
AKIS Advisory Focus Group
This relevance has led to the creation by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of a working group ("Focal Group") on AKIS advisory services. This group is comprised of more than 30 experts and representatives from various entities: producer organizations, administrations, researchers, training centers, advisory bodies, agricultural companies, NGOs, and foundations.
This Focus Group has worked along two paths: on the one hand, it has identified the actors who are part of the AKIS and who can carry out advisory tasks within them, and, on the other hand, it has identified the sector's needs to strengthen the AKIS through knowledge transfer and innovation, and reinforced interactions within the agricultural sector.
The resulting report compiles these identified mechanisms, as well as a strategic approach addressing the governance of knowledge systems in Spain. The document concludes with a series of recommendations for the design of future interventions within the framework of Spain's 2021-2027 CAP Strategic Plan.
This document will be presented virtually at a workshop next Wednesday, May 26.
To attend the event, you can register here and obtain more information.