Agricultural and Rural Inspiration Awards 2023

The Agricultural and Rural Inspiration Awards (ARIA) 2023 are now open for submissions. This year’s theme is “Boosting skills for agriculture and rural areas” and will spotlight CAP-funded projects that showcase lifelong learning and empower people to support innovation and competitiveness.

ARIA23 is designed to expand on the successes of the ENRD’s Rural Inspiration Awards and each year the awards focus on a different theme. This year’s focus is on good practice projects supported by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) that promote the Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas and the Rural Pact as well as this year’s theme which is the European year of Skills.

Explore the thematic categories

Smart & competitive agriculture

CAP-funded projects that contribute to a smart, competitive, resilient and diversified agricultural sector ensuring long-term food security.

Environmental protection

CAP-funded projects that strengthen environmental protection, including those that enhance biodiversity, tackle climate change, demonstrate sustainability and/or contribute to green recovery.

Socio-economic fabric of rural areas

CAP-funded projects that strengthen the socio-economic resilience of rural Europe, address social aspects innovatively, show a sustainable approach that improves digitalisation in rural areas, make rural society more inclusive and support rural entrepreneurs and businesses.

Rural stakeholder skills

CAP-funded projects that showcase lifelong learning, empower people and companies to contribute to green and digital transitions and support innovation and competitiveness.

In addition to these, a Popular Vote Award will be awarded and decided on via an online voting system.

Identifying and sharing good practices on how the CAP is implemented at project level offers opportunities to inspire peer-learning, facilitate knowledge transfer, encourage the replication of benefits, and build capacity between CAP stakeholders. These are among the factors driving the EU CAP Network’s new Agricultural and Rural Inspiration Awards.

Download the guidelines to submit your entries & ask any questions to: aria@eucapnetwork.eu.

More information on previous RIA editions, and communication resources here. Please use the hashtag #ARIAwards23 to follow updates on the competition on social media.