EU CAP Network workshop ‘Growing alternative crops for new market opportunities in a changing climate’

The main objective of the workshop is to share practical examples and experiences, innovative approaches and project results that can help farmers make well-informed decisions about diversifying their cropping systems in response to climate change in different European regions. Practical information on crop suitability, cultivation practices and market opportunities for alternative crops will be key components in supporting this goal.

Background info

As the climate continues to change across Europe, new opportunities are emerging for cultivating alternative crops. These non-traditional or underutilised crops hold the potential to support farm diversification, provide access to new consumer markets and improve adaptation, resilience and income at farm level.

However, farmers face significant challenges when producing alternative crops. There is still a considerable lack of knowledge about available crop options and agronomic performances under different local conditions. The transition to new crops often involves challenges such as climate uncertainty, lack of training in alternative crop cultivation and financial risk, including limited access to seeds and suitable machinery and underdeveloped – or even non-existent – supply chains and marketing options. These uncertainties can discourage experimentation, even when the potential benefits are significant.

To move forward, farmers need reliable knowledge, opportunities to share practical experiences, and access to innovative approaches at both the technical and organisational levels to support informed decision-making. In this context, technological advances – such as precision agriculture, climate forecasting tools and soil and crop diagnosis – can play a key role in adapting to uncertainty and helping farmers make relevant site-specific decisions. Similarly, knowledge of market trends and consumer demand for emerging products is essential to ensure profitability.

Moreover, innovative business models and collaborative strategies, such as farmer groups or regional clusters, can support risk-sharing, strengthen market access and added value, and improve overall profitability and resilience when introducing alternative crops. Linking these models with existing Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Horizon Europe support can further enhance their adoption.

This workshop will serve as a practical, farmer-oriented platform to bring together farmers, advisors, researchers and agri-food stakeholders to explore these possibilities. It will spotlight real-world examples of successful alternative crops for food production, including protein crops, sub-tropical species and climate-adapted genetic resources. This workshop will highlight effective cultivation practices, (short) food supply chains and collaborative innovation models already in action. The event will also focus on how funding opportunities and knowledge exchange platforms can be leveraged to accelerate market uptake of alternative crops adapted to climate change in various regions.

Objectives

The specific objectives of the workshop are to: