Networking for the CAP
In early 2024, the CAP Implementation Contact Point team was invited to various events organised by National Networks in Wallonia (Belgium), Finland, Germany and Estonia. What we learnt there is feeding into our work, and can inspire colleagues around Europe.
The EU CAP Network facilitates the networking of CAP stakeholders, but we also participate in networking activities organised by others. Events by National Networks (NNs) are key, since they provide opportunities to strengthen the relationships with the NNs, learn more about the CAP implementation in each country, and visit interesting projects supported by the CAP.
In the past few months, our committed and enthusiastic team working on the CAP implementation travelled to Wallonia (Belgium), Finland, Germany, and Estonia, and each time brought home a lot of food for thought (and sweets for the office).
Launch of the Walloon CAP Network
Belgium is world-famous for chocolate, beer, and its complex institutional organisation. Thus, it is no surprise that in this programming period it is the only country with two CAP Strategic Plans and two National Networks: one for Wallonia and one for Flanders.
The Flemish CAP Network launched near the beginning of the new programming period, while the Walloon CAP Network’s official launch event took place on 7 February 2024. Our colleague Alessia Musumarra took an early train to reach the venue (a village with the encouraging name of Champion) and deliver a presentation on the EU CAP Network’s activities.
The event was focused on networking, which was the leitmotiv of the opening speech by the Wallon Minister of Agriculture Willy Borsus, the presentations by the European Commission – DG AGRI representatives, and the Walloon CAP Network. The latter offered a useful glance at the activities for the first semester of 2024, which cover a variety of topics including the role of producers in the value chain, sustainable food systems, green architecture, sylviculture, women in agriculture, innovation, collaboration with Local Action Groups, rural welfare, and partnerships with Flemish and EU networks.
All the key information about the Walloon CAP Network is included in the related page on the EU CAP Network website, which includes an overview of their goals and activities, links to their official communication channels, and the team contacts.
Learning about Finnish LAGs
Rural youth is a key topic for many Finnish LEADER Local Action Groups (LAGs). In April 2024, our colleagues Veronika Korcekova and Alistair Prior had the opportunity to learn more about this important topic through a mission to Vierumäki, which would later be the venue of the Young LEADER Forum, organised by the EU CAP Network in collaboration with the Finnish Rural Network.
The EU CAP Network provided a presentation on current and planned activities about LEADER, including the LEADER section of the website and its numerous resources, the LAG Directory and useful evaluation material, particularly on assessing LEADER added value. This was an opportunity to meet and discuss directly with around 60 Finnish LAG board members so that the expertise of the EU CAP Network and its European perspective can more easily contribute to their daily work.
In turn, we learnt more about the implementation of LEADER in Finland, particularly in relation to rural youth empowerment. All this fed into the Young LEADER Forum, and you can learn more thanks to the many resources gathered on the event page (including the presentations and the descriptions of the field trips).
LEADER in Germany
Later in June, our colleague Lisa Haller travelled to Kaiserslautern to attend the annual German LEADER Event, organised by the German Network. The event focused on how bottom-up projects can encourage the socio-ecological transformation of rural areas, with practical examples provided by the participating LAGs.
In Bavaria, resilience was introduced as mandatory selection criteria for LEADER projects, although more practice-oriented wording (e.g. ‘crisis-proof’) is sometimes used. LEADER can support rural resilience by working on environmental aspects (e.g. water, environmental protection, climate change adaptation and mitigation) and socio-economic aspects (e.g. tourism, mobility, intergenerational dialogue). In short, selection criteria can be adapted, benefits should be clearly communicated, and networking is crucial – considering many different stakeholders.
Rural resilience is also at the heart of LEADER implementation in Nord-Rhein Westfalia. Priority topics include climate change adaptation, the use of natural resources, digitalisation, strengthening the social fabric, and improved mobility.
The two-day event included plenty of discussions about more technical aspects of LEADER implementation and EU-level networking, as well as field visits to the LEADER region Westrich-Glantal. Here, LEADER has enabled the development of the Kranichwoog adventure tower, an important supra-regional habitat for numerous animal and plant species but also a large learning centre for environmental education. LEADER also supported the ‘Glass roastery’ of the Reismühle coffee manufactory, located in a restored historic mill where visitors can experience traditional coffee roasting, as well as the re-design of the Nanstein Castle display and visitor experience, which enhanced this tourist destination.
You can learn more about the CAP in Germany through the country page on the EU CAP Network website.
If you are interested in rural resilience, browse the 2024 edition of the EU CAP Network magazine dedicated to this topic.
Estonian Farm Days
Since its first edition in 2015, the Open Farm Days in Estonia have grown into an increasingly recognisable event in the Baltic Member States. For two days in July, farms and rural businesses open their doors to visitors and raise awareness among citizens about agriculture and rural life. The event is organised by the Estonian Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture and the Estonian National Network.
This year, our colleague Adriana Borsellino joined the event and spent two exciting days visiting successful rural businesses, including a small-scale beer brewery located in a castle, a family-owned horse centre, and a family of four turned beekeepers ‘by chance’.
The increasing success of the Open Farm Days (which started as a one-day event and soon turned into busy weekends) appears to be based on the motivation of the participating farmers and rural business owners. They enjoy this event as an opportunity to increase their visibility, promote their goals (raising awareness about agriculture, engaging local communities, promoting rural tourism), and increase their revenue.
The combination of farms and rural businesses makes the event more attractive for visitors. Timing is also an important factor: July is the driest month of the year in Estonia and citizens are generally in a ‘holiday mood’, which encourages them to go on a family trip to the countryside.
The Ministry and the National Network actively support participants before the event by providing training, consultation and communications material, and organise feedback sessions after each edition.
What next?
Our committed and enthusiastic team working on the CAP implementation is always eager to facilitate networking among CAP stakeholders through presentations at events. If you think we can contribute to your event, email implementation@eucapnetwork.eu and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.
Would you like your event to appear in the Events section of the EU CAP Network website? Let us know! Fill in the online form via our Stakeholders’ kit with all the relevant information and we will publish your event. Please note that we only promote events that are open to a European audience (in terms of content and format, e.g. translations), with priority given to free/non-commercial events.