Brussels, 22/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - The agricultural organisations in the EU have called for increased funding for research and innovation, something, indeed, that the Commission is proposing in its reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP).
On Tuesday 21 February, COPA-COGECA held a major workshop on research and innovation. Its secretary general, Pekka Pesonen, pointed out that increased food demand, dwindling resources and additional pressures imposed by climate change mean that it is crucial to boost agricultural productivity whilst further improving resource efficiency.
He went on: “In recent years, increases in productivity seen in the EU have been steadily slowing, especially in the arable sector where the annual yield increase is currently less than 1%. This is partly down to the declining support for research in the EU. It is consequently vital for agricultural research to be strengthened, for research to be translated into new farming technologies”.
The workshop, Research and innovation to prompt a sustainable, productive and competitive agricultural sector in Europe, which was attended by high-level speakers from the EU institutions and the food chain, came at an important time, with all legislative proposals affecting future research and innovation in the EU agricultural sector on the table. COPA-COGECA believes that the communication on Horizon 2020 (the new EU research fund), the future research framework, the communication on bio-economy and also new points in Commission proposals on the future CAP are a step in the right direction. In particular, it welcomes the proposal to enhance innovation, training and advisory services under the CAP. The setting up of European Innovation Partnerships (EIP) with the aim of achieving a more joined-up approach on research, innovation and advisory services is also positive. It is important that there is a coherent approach between the Horizon 2020 programme and the EAFRD which should concentrate on ensuring research know-how is passed on at farm level. (LC/transl.rt)