The EIP-AGRI is seeking for your experiences and testimonies for its workshop “Small is smart” on innovative solutions for small agricultural and forestry holdings. Taking place in Bucharest, Romania, on 29-30 October 2019, this two-day event will aim at exchanging knowledge and experiences among small holders of the forestry sector. Networking will also be encouraged to help participants in finding common solutions to similar challenges.
Forests occupy more than 50% of European mountain areas and are an important biodiversity resource as well as a key to high nature value farming and forestry. Silviculture is a crucial socio-economic sector in some mountain areas, such as in Spain or Italy where forestry is conducted respectively at 15,8% and 10,7% in mountainous territories – as demonstrated by the European Environmental Agency in its May 2019 report on ”Natural capital accounting in support of policymaking in Europe”. In these areas, innovations can benefit the silviculture sector by making it more sustainable with the implementation of circular economy models, as it is for instance the case in the French municipality of Alzen or in Croatia.
Scope of the event
Small agricultural and forestry holdings form an integral part of Europe’s countryside, helping to preserve the diversity of the landscape, providing a livelihood for millions of people and nurturing various centuries-old traditions and customs in the countryside.
Many small farms and forestry holdings are run at family level or by part-time farmers and they may sometimes be characterised by lower efficiency and diversity of production and by a difficult implementation of innovations.
The specific objectives of the workshop are:
- identifying common challenges
- exploring potential solutions to shared challenges
exchanging good practices - connecting participating projects
- promoting further cooperation between partners from different projects
Who should participate and how?
The EIP-AGRI wants to hear from farmers and farmers’ organisations, foresters, EIP-AGRI Operational Groups, SMEs, start-ups, advisers, universities, research and technology organisations, rural networks, and anyone who may be involved in relevant projects or has experience with engaging in, designing and/or implementing innovative solutions and adoption of new practices and technologies in small agricultural and forestry holdings across Europe.
Considering the high contribution of mountain areas to innovation in the forestry sector, Euromontana encourages you to participate and represent the voice of mountain holders and farmers. If you are interested in participating, please fill in the application form before 15 June 2019, 23:59 CET.
Please note that the number of seats is limited. In most cases, the EIP-AGEI can offer only one seat per project or organisation. However, the participation of farmers and foresters is strongly encouraged, and a second participant per organisation / project can be exceptionally envisaged if at least one of them is a farmer or forester.
7 June 2019
