EIP-AGRI
Supporting innovation, competitiveness and sustainability in agriculture and forestry.
About EIP-AGRI in Ireland
What is EIP-AGRI?
The European Innovation Partnership for Agriculture Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-AGRI) is an exciting and novel approach to research and innovation. EIP-AGRI is one of five European Innovation Partnerships (EIPs) launched to boost the EU’s capacity to innovate. EIP-AGRI focuses on agriculture and forestry. Other EIPs target issues related for example to healthy
EIPs are challenge-driven and focus on societal benefits and
The overall aim of EIP-AGRI relates to the pooling of expertise and resources by bringing together public and private sectors at EU, national and regional levels. EIP-AGRI works to:
- Combine supply and demand side measures
- Focus on forming partnerships, using bottom-up approaches
- Link actors in different types of interactive innovation projects such as Operational Groups (OGs) under Rural Development Programmes (RDPs).
The National Rural Network (NRN) works closely with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to support and build networks between Ireland’s OGs, as well as research and disseminate information on Ireland’s EIP-AGRI projects.
Operational Groups (OGs)
EIP-AGRI Operational Groups are funded under the RDP and are project based. OGs bring together multiple actors such as:
- Farmers
- Researchers
- Farm advisers
- Environmental groups
- Other NGOs.
OGs work on projects to advance innovation in the agriculture and forestry sectors.
Read also our EIP-AGRI: Ireland’s Operational Groups 2019 Booklet.
The NRN has developed an Interactive Storyboard Database and infographic of Ireland’s EIP-AGRI OGs.
Click on the image below to visit database – or click here to view
Focus Groups
EIP-AGRI Focus Groups bring together expertise from researchers, advisors, farmers, and industry. Focus groups are:
- Designed to facilitate knowledge transfer between members
- Work to collect and assimilate knowledge on good practices in a specific area and list opportunities and solutions
- Set up at an international level bringing together 20 experts from the agriculture sector
- Temporary groups of selected experts focusing on a specific subject, sharing knowledge and experience.
Focus groups are convened over a 1 to 2 year period and each group must meet at least twice a year. At the end of the
A number of focus groups have Irish representation. Find more detail on these in the ‘Focus Group’ section below.
Operational Group Storyboard
Latest News
COVID-19 Response from the National Rural Network
The National Rural Network is carefully monitoring the escalating situation with COVID-19. First and foremost, we encourage you and your colleagues to all adhere to HSE instructions on how best to avoid COVID-19, both in the work environment and at home. Please note:...
EIP-AGRI Service Point Seminar on ‘New Skills for Digital Farming’
Digital technologies in agriculture not only help European farmers to ‘produce more with less’, thus contributing to their livelihoods, they also address the wider sustainability challenges lying ahead for the agricultural sector, as well helping to combat climate...
Generational Renewal Research Featured in ARC2020 Publication
European agriculture is populated by an older generation of farmers. Demographic trends reveal that 5.6% of all European farms are run by farmers younger than 35, while almost one third of all farmers are older than 65. Research on this issue by Dr Shane Conway, Dr...
Blog Posts
EIP-AGRI Operational Groups: An Innovative Option to Support Hill Farmers for Biodiversity Conservation in the Irish Uplands
In this guest blog, Verena Berard PhD Connacht Ulster Alliance (CUA) scholarship recipient at IT Sligo and GMIT, provides us with an overview of her ongoing PhD research, analysing hill farmers attitudes and local environmental knowledge towards...
Merging Knowledge and the EIP-AGRI Initiative Application Process: Some Research Findings and Reflections
In this guest blog, Jack McCarthy, Walsh Fellow at Teagasc’s Rural Economy and Development Programme and PhD candidate at University College Dublin’s School of Geography, provides us with a comprehensive overview of his PhD research exploring how policy can be...
OviData EIP-AGRI Project for Sheep Genetic Improvement
"An Ounce of Breeding is worth a Tonne of Feeding" In this guest blog, Eamon Wall, OviData EIP-Agri project leader, former lead of Irelands sheep breed improvement programme run by Sheep Ireland and part-time farmer, provides us with a comprehensive overview of...
Are you interested in EIP-AGRI and
rural development?
Case Studies
Small Biogas Demonstration Programme (SBDP)
This project aims to stimulate the deployment of innovative on-farm small-scale biogas production by providing support and a capital contribution to three demonstration projects. Research will assist in understanding how biogas can drive sustainability improvements at...
Protecting Farmland Pollinators
This project aims to develop a flexible mechanism that encourages all farmers to make their whole-farm more pollinator friendly in a way that is measurable and will not impact on productivity. Geographical location (NUTS3) Mid-East Region (IE) Main Funding Source...
Allow Project – Duhallow Farming for Blue Dot Catchments
This project aims to restore the status of a high-status objective waterbody not meeting its objective in an agricultural catchment (River Allow, Duhallow, Co Cork), through a collaborative locally led farmer focused approach, between farmers with experience of...
Video Gallery
EIP-AGRI: Ireland’s Operational Groups 2019 Booklet
The National Rural Network team at NUI Galway have designed and produced a booklet entitled ‘EIP-AGRI: Ireland’s Operational Groups 2019’ to highlight and promote the 23 Irish EIP-AGRI Operational Groups selected by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Reports and Resources
EIP-AGRI USEFUL LINKS
Focus Groups
EIP-AGRI Focus Groups are temporary groups of selected experts focusing on a specific subject, sharing knowledge and experience. These groups bring together expertise from research, advisors, farmers, and industry. Focus Groups are set up at international level bringing together 20 experts from the agriculture sector.
See More
The groups are designed to facilitate knowledge transfer between members, to collect and assimilate knowledge on best practices in a specific area and list opportunities and solutions. Each Focus Group must meet at least twice a year. The Focus Group is convened over a 1-2 year period. At the end of the period a report is completed and the results and findings of the Focus Group are published on the EIP-AGRI website.
The following Focus Groups have Irish representation:
Agro-forestry : woody vegetation- Animal Husbandry
- Nutrient Recycling
- Dairy Production Systems
- New Entrants into Farming
- Mainstreaming Precision Farming
- Protein Crops
- Livestock Emissions
- High Nature Value (HPV) Farming Profitability
- Short Food Supply Chains
- Permanent Grassland
Read more here: www.eip-agri.ie
NRN Partners & Funders
Contact Info
Address
Unit 2A Moate Business Park,
Clara Rd, Moate,
Co. Westmeath. N37 W9R0