Emilia-Romagna annual evaluation report 2022 (June 2023)

The annual evaluation report is carried out within the framework of the independent evaluation service for the Emilia-Romagna 2014-2022 RDP and covers the implementation period up to December 2022.

The scope of the report is to assess the rural development priority by updating the target indicators (with the related result indicators) and the degree of achievement (effectiveness) of the target value, as updated in the RDP. The report focuses on the RDP cross-cutting objective- Innovation and RDP Priority 5 (resource efficiency), low-carbon and climate-resilient economy.

The main objectives of the evaluation are to: a) analyse the propensity and degree of diffusion of innovation carried out by the EIP Operational Group (EIP-OG) sustained with Measure 16.1 among regional farmers (CCO); and b) asses the contribution of the RDP to the reduction of greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions produced by livestock farms and the use of nitrogen fertilisers in agricultural land (FA 5D).

A mixed-methods approach was adopted to analyse the innovation sustained, which included primary data collection via an online questionnaire, statistical analysis of quantitative variables, qualitative content analysis of qualitative variables, econometric analysis, and estimation of a nonlinear regression model (Probit).

For the analysis related to Focus Area (FA) 5D, a quantitative approach was adopted to estimate the reduction in ammonia (NH3) and greenhouse gas (CH₄ and N₂O) emissions.

Methodological challenges are highlighted in the conclusions with regard to the quantification of indicators related to GHG emissions.

Although the evaluator adopted calculation models provided by ISPRA (Institute for Environmental Protection and Research) or the BAT-tool (similar to those adopted by GAINS), the results cannot be fully comparable because of the different data quality used in the models: company-specific in this case, country-specific in the other.

With regard to the propensity and degree of diffusion of innovation realised by EIP OG, the evaluator observed that 'attendance at public meetings' was a strategy that positively influenced the adoption of innovations.

For 'traditional' companies, whether run by young people or not, it would be necessary to implement actions to approach and understand the benefits of introducing innovations, while 'young and/or innovative companies' can act as a driving force in disseminating the results of adopting innovations.

Regarding the reduction of greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions from agriculture, the strategies for conversion and consolidation of organic practices and methods (11.1.01 and 11.2.01) have demonstrated significant effectiveness, attributable to the convergence of two key elements. The first is the vast extent of areas targeted by the above measures, and the second is the decrease in synthetic fertiliser use. The decrease in the use of inorganic fertilisers, resulting from the measures taken (M10; M11), led to a significant reduction in ammonia volatilisation from treated soils. Interventions aimed at modifying the management and storage of slurry, and their agronomic use, were particularly effective in reducing ammonia emissions, as were the modernisation of slurry storage facilities and the optimisation of their distribution.