• The European CAP Network is organizing the conference 'Operational Groups: Innovation in Practice'
• The event will take place in Estoril, Portugal, from Monday, May 6 to Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Registration is open until February 8.
• The conference will host the 1st “Innovation Awards”

Innovation in rural areas refers to the introduction of new developments, practices, or modifications that address the economic, environmental, and social challenges facing the sector in its development. Therefore, innovation has been a cross-cutting objective of rural development policy for the 2014-2020 period and has now become a fundamental objective of the 2023-2027 CAP , a key area for which knowledge exchange, which will be realized through the AKIS, is key. (Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems).

The two most important tools for innovation in rural areas are the so-called Operational Groups and Innovative Projects . In fact, by December 2023, more than 3,400 innovation projects had been notified by Operational Groups (OG) in the European Commission's database, and more projects are expected to be notified by the end of 2025.

These data support the holding of the first Convention on "Operational Groups: Innovation in Practice" by the European CAP Network , which will take place in Estoril (Portugal) from Monday 6 May to Wednesday 8 May 2024.

Objectives and themes

The conference's objective is twofold: to highlight the implementation of agricultural innovation policies in Europe through the Operational Groups as one of their main pillars, and to draw from them for the new CAP 2023-2027.

At a more specific level, the conference aims to:

• Highlight the existence of more than 3,400 Operational Groups in Europe
• Strengthen the exchange of experiences and knowledge
• Consider funding opportunities for the practical application of innovative knowledge
• Identify good practices to implement in CAP 23-27
• Promote the creation of transnational/cross-border GOs

You can check out the event's agenda on its website , and submit your application—after meeting the prerequisites for participation—on the registration form by February 8.

“Innovation Awards”

The congress will also host the 1st “Innovation Awards” ceremony. for Operational Groups to recognize those projects that have developed innovative practices, solutions, products and processes in the agricultural and rural environment.

There are six award categories :

1. Sustainable management of natural resources in agricultural practices
2. Business models in food supply chains
3. Animal welfare and husbandry
4. Mitigation and adaptation to climate change
5. Sustainable forest management
6. Digitalization

Within each category, five Operational Groups will be nominated, of which only one will win a prize. There will also be a seventh award for "public favorite."

The awards will be held on May 6th. The deadline to apply is February 8th . The essential requirement is that the project partners agree to submit only one entry per category, with only one of the six entries eligible.