• The MAPA continues with its "Innovative Wednesdays," a series of workshops featuring innovative projects from operational groups on various topics of interest.
• During today's meeting, with 124 registered participants, participants exchanged knowledge and experiences in social innovation projects.

The conference highlighted the context in which AEI-AGRI innovation measures are being developed, both at European level through the Horizon 2020 programme and at national level through the rural development programming of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2014-2020 . Particularly highlighted were the results of aid to supra-regional operational groups under the PNDR 2014-2020, which have contributed to the creation of 177 supra-regional operational groups that have received a total of €8.4 million and the implementation of 68 innovative projects of general interest that have received aid of around €34 million.

Generational change

The MAPA (National Agricultural Development Association) explained the recent implementation of the program to promote generational renewal and young people's access to land . The program presented the "CULTIVA" program, which began in 2020 as a pilot program for training placements for young farmers on model farms and has since been strengthened. The work and main results of the land access focus group were also presented. The focus group, which collaborated with several experts, analyzed the current situation, existing barriers for young and new farmers, and possible solutions to this problem.

Innovative results

The experience exchange featured presentations of innovative projects from three regional Operational Groups (OGs) and two supra-regional OGs, as well as a Horizon 2020 project involving several countries. Participants shared initiatives, results, progress, and experiences in the field, with two rounds of discussions and open debate among attendees. The six projects presented are detailed below:

• SIMRA (Horizon 2020 Project): Social innovation in marginal rural areas.
• GO INNOLAND (PNDR): Social innovation in land management.
• GO RETA (PNDR): Network of Agricultural Test Spaces.
• GO TERRAE-ItíNERA (PDR of Madrid): Itinerant agricultural and livestock entrepreneurship school with a focus on rural revitalization and professional inclusion.
• GO GORTA (La Rioja Regional Development Plan): Reclamation of abandoned lands
• GO DEHESA (Extremadura Regional Development Plan): Governance of dehesas for human and economic development with environmental sustainability.

At the closing of the conference, the need to address not only economic and environmental innovation, but also social innovation : innovations that reflect the results of a citizen or association initiative , was highlighted. The importance of the role of the facilitator and of supporting these types of initiatives with support from public administrations was also highlighted.

What is innovation?

Innovation is an essential tool for achieving a sustainable and competitive agricultural and forestry sector within Europe. In the area of agriculture and rural areas, in accordance with the Europe 2020 Strategy and the general objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy, innovation is considered an essential cross-cutting priority for achieving the objectives of European rural policy.

All the information about this event, as well as the videos, can be found here .

The next conference will take place on May 19 and will address the topic of precision livestock farming .