News

When corn kernels (i.e. grain) are harvested, the corn cobs (the inner woody pith of the corn ears) are frequently discarded in the field. A Slovenian Operational Group investigated the potential of this valuable by-product as a renewable energy source on farms. They developed a machine for harvesting both corn kernels and corn cobs, and tested various corn hybrids.

Circularity, generation renewal, use of farm data, digitalisation, biodiversity management, soil/nutrient management, crop diversification, and energy are all crucial themes for enhancing resilience, sustainability, and competitiveness in farming. This thematic newsletter covers these important topics. We have also compiled a list of relevant EU CAP Network activities on innovation and knowledge exchange for you to browse.

The ECOSEED project in Portugal is developing seed mixtures with innovative inoculants to improve soil quality and reduce the use of chemical fertilisers. This approach saves money but also enhances the resilience of the crops.

Would you like to discover other relevant OGs nominated in the EIP-AGRI Innovation Awards linked to farmers’ competitiveness? Sheep-up addresses the decline in alpine ovine farming by focusing on economic sustainability, while Parsutt created new sustainable business models in pig farming based on animal welfare and biosecurity, and another OG implemented new value chains of industrial hemp, helping farmers generate more diverse sources of income. There are many more examples.

A company in Portugal, SCIVEN, offers forest and agroforestry management support to municipalities, elderly centres, and rural hotels. They provide innovative solutions and equipment to use the abundance of debris as biomass, enabling a simultaneous production of heat, and, when feasible, electrical power at the community level.

RURALIZATION was a Horizon 2020 project aimed at promoting generational renewal in rural areas. It created opportunities for young people to engage in farming by making land more accessible, supporting rural entrepreneurship, and developing sustainable agricultural models that attract young talent. Watch a series of video interviews featuring rural newcomers and new entrants into farming.

Consumers are increasingly demanding affordable, sustainable pork produced under improved animal welfare systems. In response, the Dutch Operational Group ‘Data-driven project’ has developed a pilot barn concept in which pigs are monitored in real-time using data from ear-tag sensors. This technology enables the adaptation of their environment to meet the pigs’ needs, enhancing both animal welfare and production efficiency.

Operational Group MODROZELENA, which means ‘blue-green’ in Slovenian, is boosting the uptake of the cultivation of spirulina microalgae in Slovenia as an agricultural activity. Optimising small farm outputs with high-value spirulina in this way enhances economic stability and therefore competitiveness and resilience. This initiative equips farms with vital skills and knowledge for effective production and processing.

A Romanian Operational Group has developed an innovative technology for small- to medium-sized farms focused on cultivating hemp seed fibre. The technology supports sequential harvesting, efficient seed conditioning and oil production, creating new business opportunities. This diversifies income, strengthens rural resilience, and increases the sustainability of farms by reducing the dependency on resource-heavy crops and enhancing market competitiveness for high-value hemp products. 

Farm diversification is a way to ensure longer-term economic resilience. There are many other examples of Operational Groups working on this topic on the EIP-AGRI project database. For example, a Polish project producing drinking straws from straw, another Polish OG on the production of fruit vinegars, and a Croatian project supporting farmers to create innovative short supply chains.

In response to the challenge of fluctuating renewable energy availability, the HY4RES project is demonstrating hybrid renewable energy systems. At a pilot site in Spain, a hydraulic micro-turbine in an irrigation pond, energy storage solutions, and energy management software are being tested. This setup not only reduces costs for the farmer, but also supports sustainable practices and boosts resilience, aligning with EU sustainability goals.

A Swedish Operational Group has implemented a digital solution that uses image recognition and machine learning to identify crop pests, detect growth patterns, and recommend optimal timing and application of pesticides. This approach minimises pesticide use and reduces the time and resources farmers typically spend manually monitoring their fields.

The EU-funded STRATUS project strengthens Europe's farming, forestry, and rural areas by enhancing competitiveness, resilience, and sustainability. Through Fertilisation Innovation Networks and Communities of Practice, STRATUS promotes best practices for integrated fertilisation management. It aims to connect advisors across the EU, accelerate knowledge creation, and guide farmers to improve soil health and reduce nutrient losses.