Setting up innovation groups with farmers
In Thematic Networks, expert farmers and advisors develop good practices that can then be applied or inspire other users to trial new ideas and optimise their practice. The learnings from TN Organic Knowledge Network (OK-Net) EcoFeed (https://ok-net-ecofeed.eu/) presented in this Practice Abstract can inspire your own “harvest” of innovations.
The 11 Innovation Groups (IGs) of OK-Net EcoFeed are national or regional groups of up to 20 organic farmers, processors, breeders, researchers, value chain groups and farmer associations from across Europe. Workshops in the project countries stimulated innovation and paved the way for implementation.
Discuss relevant innovations during the first meeting and let the groups identify their specific characteristics and needs. The next meeting can be dedicated to potential innovations to be tested in the following years. Next to technical data, the EcoFeed IGs collected info on how knowledge is exchanged
More info on the IGs: https://ok-net-ecofeed.eu/about-ok-net-ecofeed/innovation-groups/
EURAKNOS podcast on EcoFeed: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5AqhirMDpPQoC1pqy8Rs58
Tips from the EcoFeed cross-exchange:
• Define clear targets for solutions as well as user profiles.
• Good facilitation is key.
• Let end users and other experts in the field validate the knowledge, through a set of criteria to assess stage of development, applicability, proven impact, added value, sustainability and repeatability of the practice in other regions.
• A feasibility study or cost-benefit analysis can be useful as well.
Short review of the CE: https://euraknos.eu/news/cross-exchange-visit-web-based-agricultural-kn…
EURAKNOS
Ongoing | 2019-2021
- Main funding source
- Horizon 2020 (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
- Geographical location
- Belgium
Project Keywords
- Aquaculture
- Arable crops
- Organic farming
- Agro-ecology
- Crop rotation/crop diversification/dual-purpose or mixed cropping
- Animal husbandry
- Animal welfare
- Biodiversity and nature
- Competitiveness/new business models
- Farm diversification
- Equipment and machinery
- Forestry
- Pest/disease control in plants
- Pest/disease control in animals
- Fodder and feed
- Outdoor horticulture and woody crops (incl. viticulture, olives, fruit, ornamentals)
- Greenhouse crops
- Soil