Good Practice - Project
Estonian Peers in Practice (PIP) projects boost rural skills
´Farminars´ and other innovative multi-actor knowledge transfer programme improve technological knowledge and skills, supporting cooperation between agricultural and rural stakeholders.
General information
RDP Priority
- P1. Knowledge transfer and innovation
RDP Focus Area
- 1C: Lifelong learning & vocational training
RDP Measure
- M01: Knowledge transfer & information actions
Beneficiary type
- Research institution
Summary
The Estonian Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture initiated a wide-scale knowledge transfer programme for 2021–2023 which was supported under measure M01 – Knowledge transfer and information actions of the Estonian Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020. This project covered the whole farming value chain from plant and animal production, through processing and catering to marketing and cooperatives. It offered training sessions, study groups, field trips, demonstration events and conferences, printed and digital material and several newsletters, all free of charge. Much of the project concerned enhancing digitalisation while a knowledge repository was reorganised and updated with new materials and visuals. In addition to learning and knowledge sharing, all activities offered participants the chance to meet, discuss and network.
The programme and consortia were led by a semi-governmental research development agency, which is an umbrella organisation for the National Rural Network support unit.
Results
- More than 600 farmer-oriented events were organised (ca 250 events a year, up to 10 000 participations a year): conferences, trainings, information days, webinars, cross-visits, discussion groups, ‘farminars’, demonstrations on farms and research stations.
- The project has contributed to the development of soft skills as well as hard skills including the longer-term building of capacity (human capital such as management skills) and social capital (openness to collaboration/cooperation/partnership working).
- Farmers and food processors gained knowledge by learning from each other and by having access to up-to-date research.
- The programme has increased the confidence of many people from different sectors to take the lead in networking and further disseminating knowledge, either by discussion groups or setting up ‘train the trainer’ activities.
Promoter
Maaelu Teadmuskeskus (Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge), METK
Funding
Total budget: 3 500 000 (EUR)
EAFRD: 3 115 000 (EUR)
National/Regional: 385 000 (EUR)
Ressourcen
Good Practice Report - Estonian Peers in Practice (PIP) projects boost rural skills
(PDF – 2.52 MB)
Context
The knowledge needs of Estonian farmers and rural entrepreneurs are complex and range from the daily provision of practical technical know-how to understanding the impacts of climate change, the greening of agricultural policy and theories of human behaviour. The previous interventions of measure M01 – Knowledge transfer and information actions in the Estonian Rural Development Programme (RDP) for 2014-2020 focused on sectoral or individual applications and activities, which did not always cover the holistic needs of end-users. In some cases, different training organisations even prepared similar activities since they did not know what the others were applying for.
The Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge (METK) is a state agency that also acts as the support unit for the National Rural Network. It identified the need to extend its reach and impact via a specialist multi-actor network of key partners and through a participatory/consultative stakeholder process. METK took the initiative to put together a multi-actor consortia of knowledge transfer/information action providers. Long-term planning and discussions in the consortia, together with several stakeholders, enabled new possibilities in many areas that had previously been neglected. This would allow the delivery of the best possible knowledge transfer service for Estonian farmers and wider rural community. METK itself is also an example of a multi-actor entity. It includes research units, laboratories, and field trial centres along with National Rural Network, innovation, and advisory services.
The consortia consisted of six partners: METK as the lead partner; the Chamber of Agriculture and Commerce (EPKK, representative of farmers and entrepreneurs); the Organic Farming Cooperation Association (MK: farmers and consumers representative); the Food Industry Association (ETL: food sector representative); the University of Life Sciences (EMÜ, education and research); and the Rural Development Foundation (MES: advisory services representative).
Objectives
The programme was designed to disseminate information about existing knowledge, scientific results, and innovative solutions in the field of agriculture, food and rural economy, and to coordinate and organise knowledge transfer activities.
Activities
The knowledge transfer programme for the years 2021-2023 has covered eight topics, namely horticulture, plant production, animal husbandry, organic production, cooperative management, support of CAP intervention, food safety and horizontal topics which are not covered by previously mentioned fields. The programme was supervised by the broad sectoral councils of producers, processors, advisors, officials, and research and development organisations.
The project organised a set of trainings and discussion groups, which gave possibilities for the experienced ones and newcomers to see each other and exchange experiences. A third of the activities were organised on farms and in research stations, and a third were delivered in the form of webinars to reduce transport and climate impacts. Important knowledge-transfer components were the days and demonstration visits with international experts, as well as the international visits to other countries.
A one-stop-shop platform was designed to include a calendar of all CAP supported events, news with practical information, and a dataset of applied research results (project examples, reports and practice abstracts).
Participant feedback was gathered after every action either in written or oral form. The conclusions and recommendations of trainers and organisers were systematically collected and assessed twice a year per sector and in a horizontal overview. The sectoral councils and a steering committee were established to discuss the actions selected for funding for the specific year.
The implementation of the programme involved the following steps:
- Forming the consortia in a co-creative way and submitting the project proposal (2020-2021).
- Discussing with potential board members who are stakeholder representatives (2020-2021).
- Launching the programme (April 2021).
- Carrying out a consultation with the sectoral working groups and steering group (09 to 11/2021 and the same for 2022).
- Preparing and implementing annual action plans for 2021, 2022, 2023.
- Conducting regular discussions with division managers within the consortia.
- Reporting regularly (twice a year) and preparing an internal newsletter.
- Preparing the final report (June to December 2023).
Main results
- More than 600 farmer-oriented events were organised (ca 250 events a year, up to 10 000 participations a year): conferences, training, information days, webinars, cross-visits, discussion groups, ‘farminars’, demonstrations on farms and research stations.
- Produced more than 100 readable materials, e.g. leaflets, magazines, handbooks, web articles.
- Produced more than 100 audio-visual materials e.g. videos, podcasts, data systems, websites.
- An average of 50 people per day participated in more than 600 days of activities covering all 15 Estonian counties.
- The online knowledge platform designed as a one-stop-shop had more than 40 000 users per year.
- Farmers and food processors gained knowledge by learning from each other and by having access to up-to-date research.
- Scientists received direct feedback on their needs and expectations to help them plan future scientific cooperation with practitioners.
- The programme also benefited Estonian administration officials, as networking provided valuable input to support policymaking for further development of the food producing sector.
- After the set of cooperative management training, a meat producers’ cooperative was established. Now this cooperative itself is a role model and organiser of a series of new trainings.
- Also, after two years of discussion groups and cross-visits a cooperative of organic honey producers was established.
Key lessons
- Sometimes knowledge providers and event organisers can work separately in a competitive way. Instead of just providing services to target groups, METK applied its former experience in rural networking and invested in establishing a system which brings together knowledge providers and organisations who transfer this knowledge. The knowledge transfer organisers now have the platform to discuss among their peers. Since all actions are evident/transparent to everybody from the start of planning they build upon each other’s activities in a collaborative and co-creative way.
- Plan for the knowledge transfer programme in such a way that its day-to-day management is eligible for funding from the CAP.
- Experience has shown that it can take several gatherings to build the trust for such official engagement – and the knowledge exchange programme has contributed hugely to providing a safe space for such development.
- Invest methodologically and systematically in skills development and capacity building for the facilitators. Knowing how to manage and maintain networking is a combination of personal characteristics and methodological skills.
- Do not underestimate the need for constant management (importance of a back-office).
“A lot of information already exists and we are able to pass it on. Research that has been studied for a long time is brought back to the agenda, out of the dust.”
“Customer focus: The event should be so good that it can even be sold. We organise information days in such a language that 'grandmothers of the farmers' can understand.”
“If there is a will, there is a way. Sharing skills and experiences, coherent communication and networking are fundamental for sustainable development of rural areas and communities.”
Hanna Tamsalu