EIP-AGRI
Supporting innovation, competitiveness and sustainability in agriculture and forestry.
About EIP-AGRI in Ireland
What is EIP-AGRI?
The European Innovation Partnership for Agriculture Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-AGRI) is an exciting and novel approach to research and innovation. EIP-AGRI is one of five European Innovation Partnerships (EIPs) launched to boost the EU’s capacity to innovate. EIP-AGRI focuses on agriculture and forestry. Other EIPs target issues related for example to healthy
EIPs are challenge-driven and focus on societal benefits and
The overall aim of EIP-AGRI relates to the pooling of expertise and resources by bringing together public and private sectors at EU, national and regional levels. EIP-AGRI works to:
- Combine supply and demand side measures
- Focus on forming partnerships, using bottom-up approaches
- Link actors in different types of interactive innovation projects such as Operational Groups (OGs) under Rural Development Programmes (RDPs).
The National Rural Network (NRN) works closely with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to support and build networks between Ireland’s OGs, as well as research and disseminate information on Ireland’s EIP-AGRI projects.
If you have any questions about the EIP-AGRI scheme, you can email eipqueries@agriculture.gov.ie.
Operational Groups (OGs)
EIP-AGRI Operational Groups are funded under the RDP and are project based. OGs bring together multiple actors such as:
- Farmers
- Researchers
- Farm advisers
- Environmental groups
- Other NGOs.
OGs work on projects to advance innovation in the agriculture and forestry sectors.
Read also our EIP-AGRI: Ireland’s Operational Groups 2019 Booklet.
The NRN has developed an Interactive Storyboard Database and infographic of Ireland’s EIP-AGRI OGs.
Click on the image below to visit database – or click here to view
Focus Groups
EIP-AGRI Focus Groups bring together expertise from researchers, advisors, farmers, and industry. Focus groups are:
- Designed to facilitate knowledge transfer between members
- Work to collect and assimilate knowledge on good practices in a specific area and list opportunities and solutions
- Set up at an international level bringing together 20 experts from the agriculture sector
- Temporary groups of selected experts focusing on a specific subject, sharing knowledge and experience.
Focus groups are convened over a 1 to 2 year period and each group must meet at least twice a year. At the end of the
The following Focus Groups have Irish representation:
- Agro-forestry: woody vegetation
- Animal Husbandry
- Nutrient Recycling
- Dairy Production Systems
- New Entrants into Farming
- Mainstreaming Precision Farming
- Protein Crops
- Livestock Emissions
- High Nature Value (HPV) Farming Profitability
- Short Food Supply Chains
- Permanent Grassland
Operational Group Storyboard
Latest News
Blog Posts
Inishowen Upland Farmers Project – Improving Farm Profitability through Sustainable Practices
The Inishowen Upland Farmers Project is a locally led EIP-Agri project that aims to improve farm profitability through sustainable practices that can be implemented both on commonage and privately owned land. On 21st July 2023, an open day was held at participant...
The ARCZero Project – Climate Smart Farming
ARCZero is a farmer-led European Innovation Project (EIP) which studied greenhouse gas emissions as well as opportunities for carbon sequestration on seven project farms across Northern Ireland. Through this project, the seven farms involved reduced their emissions by...
Episode 7 the NRN’s EIP-AGRI Participating Farmer Vlog Series – Protecting Farmland Pollinators Project
The National Rural Network have recently released the 7th episode of our Video Blog (Vlog) series featuring farmers who are participating EIP-AGRI projects throughout Ireland. The latest Vlog features Anthony Mooney, a farmer who is involved in the Protecting Farmland...
Reimagining Rural Futures
In this National Rural Network EIP-AGRI guest blog, Dr Brendan Dunford, Manager of the Burren Programme, explains that the role of the farmer is much more than just being a ‘food producer’, but also one that deliveries a number of agri-environmental public goods as...
Case Studies
Small Biogas Demonstration Programme (SBDP)
Project Details Geographical location (NUTS3) Midlands & Mid-West Region (IE) Main funding source Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 for Operational Groups (in the sense of Art 56 of Reg.1305/2013) Project Duration 2019 - 2023 Total...
Protecting Farmland Pollinators
Project Details Geographical location (NUTS3) Mid-East Region (IE) Main Funding Source Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 for Operational Groups (in the sense of Art 56 of Reg.1305/2013) Project Duration 2019 - 2023 Total Budget...
Duhallow Farming for Blue Dot Catchments
Project Details Geographical location (NUTS3) South-West Region (IE) Main Funding Source Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 for Operational Groups (in the sense of Art 56 of Reg.1305/2013) Project Duration 2019 - 2023 Total Budget...
EIP-AGRI Resource Centre:
Reports, Videos & Resources
EIP-AGRI: Ireland’s Operational Groups 2019 Booklet
The National Rural Network team at NUI Galway have designed and produced a booklet entitled ‘EIP-AGRI: Ireland’s Operational Groups 2019’ to highlight and promote the 23 Irish EIP-AGRI Operational Groups selected by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
NRN Partners & Funders
Contact Info
Tel: 090 6482744
Email: info@nationalruralnetwork.ie
Address
Unit 2A Moate Business Park,
Clara Rd, Moate,
Co. Westmeath. N37 W9R0
