Leibniz Centre for

Agricultural Landscape Research

PRO AKIS Kick-Off Workshop

1st International Stakeholder Board Meeting

Presentation of the PRO AKIS Project

Dr. Andrea Knierim

Berlin, 15.01.2013

Berlin, 15.01.2013

Objectives

• The members of the International Stakeholder Board are informed about the

objectives and main features of PRO AKIS.

• They have expressed their learning and knowledge generation interests with

regard to the work of PRO AKIS.

• They know about opportunities and occasions to participate in PRO AKIS and to

contribute with knowlegde and experiences in the project„s course.

• Organisational and technical questions are clarified.

Berlin, 15.01.2013

Programme

1:30 PRO AKIS main features

Objectives, structure of the project, activities, time table

Options for ISB members to participate and invene

Questions and Comments

2:30 Coffee break

3:00 The AKIS concept

Remarks, questions, discussion

4:30 Outlook on next board meeting

Feedback

5:00 Closure

Berlin, 15.01.2013

PRO AKIS in a nutshell

• Dec. 2012 until May 2015 (30 month)

• Funded as a Coordination and Support Action in FP 7, total funds 1.5 Mio €

• 7 European Research institutes involved

• Focus: overview and appraisal of advisory services within European AKIS

• Special features of PRO AKIS :

European Overview of the AKIS within the EU-27

Case studies on selected topical challenges

Exchange of knowledge with stakeholders in meetings and conferences

Accompanying dissemination activities

Berlin, 15.01.2013

1. PRO AKIS: Institutes of the project consortium

University of Agriculture, Krakow (UAK)

Knowledge Centre for Agriculture (VFL)

Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)

James-Hutton Institute (JHI)

Agricultural University Plovdiv (AUP)

Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)

University Trás-o-Montes and Alto Douro

(UTAD)

Berlin, 15.01.2013

PRO AKIS problem statement

Diversity of (evolving) AKIS

Pressure on farmers and rural actors to adjust and innovate

Need of topical, relevant and reliable information

• Changing framework conditions (CAP, privatization, decentralisation, reform…)

• Plurality of adivsory patters (service providers, clients, institutional settings…)

• Variety of advisory methods and knowledge flows (virtual, written, mass-

communication, group action…)

Berlin, 15.01.2013

Objectives of the project The overall purpose of PRO AKIS is to contribute to the performance of advisory services

within the European AKIS, to provide relevant and reliable knowledge for farmers and other

rural actors. The objectives in detail

1. Develop a theory-related conceptual framework on advisory services within AKIS

2. Elaborate a structured inventory of advisory services

3. Study and assess patterns of advisory services and knowledge flows in Europe, in

particular

• The needs and access to knowledge of small-scale farmers

• linkages and gaps between research systems and farming practices

• Rural networks to enhance innovation processes

• models of knowledge flow systems

4. Integrate expert panel„s feedback and participatively assess project„s outputs

5. Assure broad dissemination of findings and provide evidence-based policy

recommendations

Berlin, 15.01.2013

PRO AKIS structure and work packages

Berlin, 15.01.2013

PRO AKIS activities and outputs

• Conceptual framework for the assessment of AKIS

• Searchable database resembling an inventory of the AKIS institutions and

interactions in the EU-27

• Comparative Analysis of European AKIS through 12 case studies

• Policy recommendations for strengthening European agricultural innovation

systems

Berlin, 15.01.2013

Relevant Events

2013 2014 2015

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5

Projects meetings

Stakeholder board m.

Regional Workshops – AKIS inventory presentations

• Denmark (northern countries, UK, EI)

• Poland (central countries)

• France (southern countries)

Synthesis Seminars

• Bulgaria: Advisory services for small-scale famers

• Germany: Advisory Services bridging research and

knowledge needs

• Portugal: Enhancing networks for rural innovation

networks

Berlin, 15.01.2013

Topics and Location of Case Studies

Topic of case study Study sites Location of Synthesis

seminar (02/15)

1. Advisory services for small scale

farming

UK

Portugal

Poland

Bulgaria

Bulgaria

2. Advisory services bridging

research and knowledge needs

of farmers

Germany

France

Poland

Bulgaria

Germany

3. Enhancing services for rural

innovation networks

Germany

UK

France

Portugal

Portugal

Berlin, 15.01.2013

2. The International Stakeholder Board - Members

Organisation/Function Name

International academy of rural and home economic advisors, Germany Edda Albers

Green Academy Aarhus, Agricultural and Environmental Education, Denmark Henrik Detlefsen

Copa-Cogeca and French chamber of agriculture Aurélien Esposito-Fava

Expert and consultant in rural development Elena Saraceno

Associated Country Women of the World Merja Siltanen

Baltic Studies Center, Lativa Talis Tisenkopfs

Rural Family Advisory Services, Germany Ute Göpel

International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements Bram Moeskops

Czech University of Life Sciences, Czech Republic Milan Slavik

Berlin, 15.01.2013

Questions for Discussion with the ISB

How would you characterise advisory services that are

provided by your organisation or that would be useful for your

members?

What are / could be useful PRO AKIS results for you?

What would you search for in an European AKIS inventory data

base?

Berlin, 15.01.2013

Outlook: Exchange between ISB members and PRO

AKIS partners In your opinion - what are adequate means of integrating your feedback and

expertise into PRO AKIS? What is most feasible for you?

“Traditional methods”

Interactively

Participation in blog or

discussion forum on

Website?

Receive results and

discussion papers by

email?

Personal oral feedback by

telephone/skype?

Upload of (interim)

results on database –

availability for download?

Provide written feedback

to findings?

Any other ways of

communication?

Email discussion

forum/ moderated

email conference?

Joint video

conferences (e.g.

skype)?