On May 2-3, 2018, a large conference “Innovating for the future of farming and rural communities” will be organized in Brussels by the European Commission EU AGRI Research & Innovation. 

The EU AgriResearch Conference is dedicated to scientists, farmers, rural communities, industry, advisors, policy-makers, citizens and NGO representatives who wish to learn about EU agriculture and rural R&I activities and achievements and to have their say on how to shape the future of agriculture R&I after 2020. The conference will also be a great occasion to network with around 500 peers.

Programme and how to follow it live

Final programme

• On 2 May: Opening of registration: 11:00. Welcome lunch: 12:00 – Conference: 14:00-18:30.
• On 3 May: Welcome coffee: 8:30. Parallel sessions: 9:00-15:45. Concluding plenary: 16:15-18:00

Livestream

• 2 May – 14:00-18:30 – Plenary – From strategy to action (DE GASPERI)
• 3 May – 9:00 – 15:45 – Parallel sessions
  • 9:00 – 15:45- Smart resource management (DE GASPERI)
  • 9:00 – 15:45 – Healthy plants, animals and ecosystems for healthy people (JENKINS)
  • 9:00 – 15:45 – Attractive, smart and resilient rural communities (MANSHOLT)
• 3 May – 16:15 – 18:00 – Plenary Reporting, wrap-up and closure (DE GASPERI)

The code for on-line interactive via Sli.do and social media is #AgriResearchEU.

What is the conference about?

The conference is about EU agriculture and rural research and innovation activities now and in the future.

These activities are driven by a long-term strategic approach to EU agricultural research and innovation which was published in July 2016, after a year-long participatory process including a large conference on 26-28 January 2016. This strategic approach has underpinned the development of Horizon 2020 activities and the organisation of synergies with innovation support provided under the Common agricultural policy through the EIP-AGRI. With the final Horizon 2020 work programme for 2018-2020 published in October 2017, and as the dialogue accelerates on how to design future EU policies, the time has come to take stock of the implementation of the strategic approach and to reflect on next steps.

What are the conference objectives?

The conference objectives are:

• To take stock of the implementation of the strategic approach to EU agricultural R&I and present its first achievements on knowledge produced, linkages established between EU policies or new avenues opened in terms of implementation approaches;
• To kick-start a participatory process to discuss how to further structure agricultural and rural R&I activities under future EU policies, in particular the future EU framework programme for research and innovation and the future CAP by identifying key issues deserving particular attention under the different strategy priorities and exploring how to maximise impact and synergies between the various EU policies and instruments.

What is on the programme?

The conference will be structured in two parts:

• 2 May (14:00-20:00) – “From strategy to action” – A plenary afternoon including:
  • a high-level opening by European Commissioner Phil Hogan, followed by interventions from European parliament COMAGRI Chair Czesław Adam Siekierski and Mr Rumen Porodzanov, Minister for agriculture, food and forestry of the Republic of Bulgaria.
  • Keynote speeches on the key role of agriculture R&I to solve global challenges, featuring Tim Benton (University of Leeds), Bruce Campbell (CGIAR) and Carmel Cahill (OECD)
  • A science-society-policy panel discussing the implementation of agricultural and rural R&I under the current period.
  • Closure by Commissioner Carlos Moedas
•  3 May (9:00-18:00) – “Building on achievements to shape the future” – A full day including:
  • 3 parallel sessions dedicated to “Smart resource management”, “Healthy plants, animals and ecosystems for healthy people” and “Attractive, smart and resilient rural communities”, each structured in three rounds showcasing activities under Horizon 2020 and other EU programmes and discussing priorities for the future;
  • A plenary closing session featuring Janez Potočnik, co-chair of the International Resource Panel and Chair of the Forum on the Future of Agriculture, reports from the plenaries as well as a discussion panel.