COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL on the European Innovation Partnership 'Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability'
Date: 2012-02-29
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: agricultural productivity, cooperation on agriculture, food safety, innovation, research and development, sustainable agriculture, technical cooperation

EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Brussels, 29.2.2012  
COM(2012) 79 final 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL 

on the European Innovation Partnership 'Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability'

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1. 

INTRODUCTION 

In its Europe 2020 Strategy1, the Commission underlines the role of research and innovation 
as key elements in preparing the European Union for future challenges. The orientations for 
“the  CAP  towards  2020”2  highlight  innovation  as  being  indispensable  to  preparing  Union 
agriculture for the future. The "Budget for Europe 2020"3 includes € 4.5 billion for research 
and innovation on food security, the bio-economy, and sustainable agriculture. 

This  central  role  of  research  and  innovation  is  developed  further  in  the  EU  2020  flagship 
initiative  "Innovation  Union"4  which  introduces  the  concept  of  European  Innovation 
Partnerships  (EIP)  as  a  new  way  to  foster  innovation.  A  pilot  EIP  on  'Active  and  Healthy 
Ageing'  has  been  launched.  Furthermore,  preparatory  work  has  been  carried  out  to  develop 
EIPs on 'Raw Materials', 'Water efficient Europe', and 'Agriculture'. EIPs pursue the mission 
of building a bridge between science and the application of innovative approaches in practice. 
The Council underlined the need for EIPs to have a clear focus, as well as the importance of 
Member State involvement and effective streamlining of existing instruments. 

This  Communication  presents  the  conception  of  the  EIP  'Agricultural  Productivity  and 
Sustainability'  referred  to  in  the  "Innovation  Union".  The  EIP  follows  the  strategic 
orientations  of  "Europe  2020"  and  "The  CAP  towards  2020".  It  builds  on  consultations  of 
stakeholders, and it shall take up lessons learned from the pilot EIP on 'Active and Healthy 
Aging',  including  the  development  of  its  'Strategic  Implementation  Plan',  as  well  as  the 
discussions in the Council and needs and ideas expressed by stakeholders. 

2. 

THE SOCIETAL CHALLENGES 

World food demand is expected to increase by 70% by 2050 (FAO). The dramatic increase in 
global  food  demand  will  be  accompanied  by  a  steep  increase  in  the  demand  for  feed,  fibre, 
biomass,  and  biomaterial.  This  will  inevitably  trigger  a  supply  reaction  from  Union's 
agriculture  which  is  one  of  the  biggest  suppliers  to  global  agricultural  markets.  Union 
agriculture accounts for 18% of world food exports, worth € 76  billion. In production values, 
Union agriculture provides more than 40% of total food production in the OECD. Naturally, 
contributions to Union food production vary between Member States and regions, given the 
major differences in the economic and technological development of farming sectors. 

During  recent  decades,  agriculture  has  experienced  major  productivity  gains;  however,  this 
trend slowed down in developed countries in recent years. These gains were achieved partly 
by  putting  serious  strains  on  natural  resources  and  the  environment.  45%  of  European  soils 
face  problems  of  soil  quality,  evidenced  by  low  levels  of  organic  matter,  and  almost  one 
quarter suffer from moderate to high erosion. Valuable ecosystems, and with them, valuable 
eco-system  services  have  been  damaged  or  have  even  disappeared.  Over  the  last  20  years 
farmland  birds  have  declined  by  20-25%,  and  grassland  butterflies  by  70%,  alongside  with 
serious threats to pollinators such as bees. Around 40% of agricultural land is vulnerable to 

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nitrate pollution, threatening water resources. Furthermore, agriculture accounts for 9% of the 
Union's greenhouse gas emissions.  

Agriculture and forestry have made major strides in terms of reconciling production with the 
need  to  manage  natural  resources  sustainably  and  to  preserve  the  environment.  However, 
these  positive  developments  may  be  undermined  by  the  expected  increase  in  agricultural 
output,  as  a  result  of  rising  global  demand.  If  this  increase  is  delivered  as  per  current 
approaches, this will in turn further damage natural resources and the environment.  

These  phenomena  are  not  confined  to  the  technologically  most  advanced  parts  of  Union's 
agriculture.  Europe  also  has  a  huge  potential  in  areas  characterised  by  small  and  traditional 
farms.  However,  if  those  farms  follow  the  established  pattern  of  development,  major 
environmental damage will be inflicted on existing, often rich habitats and biodiversity, and 
on soil functionality and water resources.  

A  shift  towards  a  different  growth  path  is  needed  in  order  to  establish  a  competitive  and 
sustainable  production  of  food,  feed,  fibre,  biomass  and  biomaterial.  To  achieve  this, 
efficiency in supply must be complemented by a reduction in the dramatic post-harvest losses. 
It  must  likewise  include  adaptation  to  climate  change  and  the  wise  use  of  biodiversity  and 
restoration  of  ecosystems  and  ecosystem  services;  it  must  build  upon  the  particularities  of 
each  territory  and  the  potential  offered  by  genetic  diversity  so  that  we  combine  our  rich 
genetic base with diverse agricultural practices, new and old, and ensure better allocation and 
use of our limited resources. Food chains are diverse and their specificities must be integrated: 
"Long" supply chains involve aspects such as conservation and storage, while "short" supply 
chains  place  the  emphasis  on  the  local  provision  of  food  and  particular  quality  attributes. 
Consumers must be at the heart of all this, so as to steer production towards safe, high quality 
and sustainably produced food.  

The increase in output must go hand in hand with improved economic viability for primary 
producers who have suffered a declining share of value-added in the food chain over the past 
decade.  Without  greater  farm  profitability,  ecological  sustainability  will  become  even  more 
challenging.  

Increased and sustainable agricultural output will be achievable only with major research and 
innovation efforts at all levels. Repeatedly, researchers and stakeholders have highlighted the 
gap between the provision of research results and the application of innovative approaches to 
farming  practice.  New  approaches  take  too  long  to  arrive  on  the  ground,  and  the  needs  of 
practical  farming  are  not  communicated  sufficiently  to  the  scientific  community.  Thus, 
important  innovations  are  not  implemented  on  the  necessary  scale,  and  relevant  research 
fields do not always receive the attention they require.  

Increased  productivity  and  competitiveness  of  agriculture  calls,  first  of  all,  for  improved 
resource  efficiency  in  order  to  produce  with  less  water,  energy,  fertilisers  (especially 
phosphorus  and  nitrogen),  and  pesticides.  It  requires  also  the  increased  use  of  renewable 
energy sources and a reduction of waste, in line with the orientations given by the 'Roadmap 
to a Resource efficient Europe'5. Sustainability requires pollution reduction, to protect water 
quality and soil functionality, the preservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services, as well 
as a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Solutions need to go beyond the individual farm 
and  also  integrate  the  broader  geographical  context,  including  forestry  and  nature  reserves. 

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Appropriate  technology,  ICT  and  satellite  navigation  support,  as  well  as  new  management 
tools,  provide  important  development  potential.  Education  and  training  are  essential  for 
developing the skills needed. Strengthening the farmers' position in the supply chain requires 
innovative approaches that enhance transparency, information, and management capacity and 
deliver new quality products.  

Sustainable  production  must  integrate  input  and  output  substitution  by  the  smart  use  and 
recycling  of  bio-mass  and  bio-refinery;  and  it  needs  to  reduce  post-harvest  losses.  The 
challenge  exists  for  the  whole  supply  chain  from  primary  production  up  to  the  consumer. 
Consumers  can  alleviate  pressures  for  more  primary  production  by  changing  consumption 
patterns.  Education  and  training  offer  a  huge  potential  for  enhancing  nutrition,  healthy 
lifestyles,  and  reducing  food  wastage.  Sustainability  criteria,  established  at  pivotal  points 
throughout  the  supply  chain,  would  contribute  to  increasing  transparency,  trust,  and 
knowledge.  

3. 

FOSTERING A COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE UNION AGRICULTURE 

The  EIP  aims  to  foster  a  competitive  and  sustainable  agriculture  and  forestry  that  'achieves 
more  from  less'  and  works  in  harmony  with  the  environment.  The  EIP  will  help  building  a 
competitive  primary  sector  that  secures  global  food  availability,  diversified  products  and 
production, long-term supply of various raw-materials for food and non-food uses, as well as 
a better allocation of added value across the food chain.  

In  order  to  make  the  increase  in  agricultural  productivity  and  output  sustainable,  natural 
resources  must  be  well  managed,  in  line  with  environmental  requirements.  Land  will  be 
particularly important, as this is the medium where the success or failure in moving towards 
more  sustainable  patterns  of  production  will  be  observed.  Land  is  the  essential  resource  for 
agricultural production. Land use interacts in multiple ways with water quality and quantity, 
biodiversity, and the provision of eco-system services.  

Climate change places emphasis on soil as a particularly vulnerable resource. Soil functions 
including  the  stability  of  soils,  the  soil  water  cycle,  the  nutrient  buffering  capacity,  and  the 
soil biotic integrity are essential parameters of land productivity. Its function as a carbon sink 
gives soil a key role in climate change mitigation. Appropriate land management must prevent 
soil  degradation  and  erosion,  stabilise  soil  functions,  and  address  climate  change  mitigation 
and adaptation. 

Given these objectives, two headline targets have been identified for the EIP: 

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As  an  indicator  for  promoting  productivity  and  efficiency  of  the  agricultural 
sector, the EIP aims to reverse the recent trend of diminishing productivity gains by 
20206.  

As  an  indicator  for  the  sustainability  of  agriculture,  the  EIP  aims  to  secure  soil 
functionality7  in  Europe  at  a  satisfactory  level  by  2020.  Soil  functionality 

Measured as 'total factor productivity' 
Including:  Reversing  the  trend  of  losing  soil  organic  matter;  appropriate  farming  practices  on 
agricultural land susceptible to erosion. 

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encompasses  the  productive  capacity  of  soils  and  its  key  roles  in  climate  change 
mitigation and adaptation and eco-system stability.  

Whilst these headline targets refer to primary production, the EIP will also tackle the many 
interactions across the whole supply chain up to the consumer. The specific objectives of the 
EIP  will  be  elaborated  upon  during  its  concrete  implementation,  reflecting  the  strategic 
orientations of the policies it is relying on. 

Operational  objectives  of  the  EIP  include  successful  bridge-building  between  cutting-edge 
research  and  technology  and  stakeholders,  including  farmers,  businesses,  industry,  advisory 
services and NGOs. This should help translating research results into actual innovation, faster 
transferring  innovation  into  practice,  giving  a  systematic  feedback  from  practice  to  science 
concerning  research  needs,  enhancing  knowledge  exchange,  and  raising  awareness  on  the 
need for joint efforts to invest in sustainable innovation.  

The  EIP  strives  to  achieve  synergies  through  fostering  exchange  among  partners  from 
different  policy  fields,  sectors,  initiatives  and  projects,  thereby  contributing  to  higher 
effectiveness of existing policy instruments and complementing them with new actions where 
necessary.  

4. 

BENEFITS AND OPPORTUNITIES  

The combined agricultural and food sector accounts today for 17 million jobs (7,6% of total 
employment) and for 3,5% of total Gross Value Added in the EU-27. The EIP will reinforce 
the position of Union agriculture as a competitive and resource efficient sector and contribute 
to more sustainable forestry and land use practices. Up-stream and down-stream sectors that 
provide "green" technologies to primary producers must be integrated in the EIP and will also 
benefit.  

To develop their full potential, the role of farmers in the supply chain must be strengthened. 
Changes  in  consumer  demand  towards  safe,  healthy,  and  high  quality  food  point  to  an 
increasing importance for local markets. The constantly growing market for food, feed, fibre, 
biomaterial,  and  bioenergy  provides  economic  development,  employment,  and  possibilities 
for social innovation. Making use of European genetic diversity unlocks a vast potential for 
development.  Thus,  new  product  and  market  opportunities  are  opening  up  for  primary 
producers, and the EIP will help to seize them. 

Absent  an  innovation  driver  such  as  the  EIP,  Union  agriculture  will  face  difficulties  in 
increasing  outputs  while  avoiding  further  deterioration  of  productive  capacities  and  natural 
resources,  in  particular  soil,  water,  and  ecosystem  services.  The  TEEB  study  on  the 
"Economics  of  Ecosystems  and  Biodiversity"  suggests  that  the  value  of  preserving 
biodiversity from terrestrial systems will be in the order of 7% of estimated GDP in 2050. As 
an example, the study refers to insect pollination, worth € 15 billion per year. Beyond this, the 
EIP  will  help  securing  carbon  sequestration  and  mitigating  GHG  emissions  as  well  as 
reducing energy needs. Better knowledge of nutrition aspects will change consumer behaviour 
and provide benefits for a greater diversity and higher quality of products.  

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5. 

MOBILISING THE POTENTIAL  

Member  States  and  stakeholders  have  repeatedly  expressed  a  strong  interest  in  promoting 
innovation in agriculture through a Union-wide approach. The European Council of 20 June 
2008  pointed  to  the  "need  to  pursue  innovation,  research  and  development  of  agricultural 
production, notably to enhance its energy efficiency, productivity growth and ability to adapt 
to  climate  change".  Similar  conclusions  have  been  drawn  by  farm  organisations  and 
Chambers  of  Agriculture,  and  the  G20  declaration  from  Cannes  underlines  the  primordial 
need to invest in agricultural research and innovation.  

The  concept  and  content  of  the  EIP  'Agricultural  Productivity  and  Sustainability'  have  been 
discussed  with  a  wide  range  of  stakeholders.  Stakeholders  underlined  the  need  for  an 
agricultural  EIP  and  emphasised  the  need  to  bridge  the  gap  between  farming  practice  and 
science through smart networking.  

The  EIP  will  encourage  partners  at  different  institutional  and  geographical  levels  and  in 
different  sectors  to  collaborate  and  take  advantage  of  the  immense  potential  for  synergies. 
Particular emphasis will be placed on making use of the opportunities provided by different 
policy  fields,  in  particular  the  Common  Agricultural  Policy  (CAP),  Union  Research  and 
Innovation  Policy,  Cohesion  Policy,  Environmental  and  Climate  Change  Policy,  Consumer 
and Health Policy, Education and Training policy, Industrial Policy, and Information Policy. 
Close  cooperation  and  exchange  on  lessons  learned  will  be  ensured  with  other  European 
Innovation Partnerships, including the EIP on 'Raw Materials' and the EIP on 'Water efficient 
Europe'. The latter is interlinked with the agricultural EIP, as it will cover water infrastructure 
and water allocation in rural areas, while the agricultural EIP will address water management 
and pollution reduction at farm level.  

6. 

TRANSPOSING INNOVATION INTO AGRICULTURAL PRACTICE  

The EIP will cover multiple stages: from the core research process and the dissemination of 
research  results  to  the  development  of  products  and  techniques  and  their  integration  in  the 
production  process.  An  important  role  will  be  assumed  also  by  certification  processes  that 
confirm the increased added value of the research products.  

In order to transpose innovation into agricultural practice, the EIP will make use of a range of 
existing  policies,  in  particular  CAP  Rural  Development  Policy  and  Union  Research  and 
Innovation  Policy,  to  fund  concrete  innovative  actions.  Whilst  Rural  Development 
Programmes  normally  act  within  the  boundaries  of  programme  regions,  mostly  at  local, 
regional, or national level, innovative actions at cross-regional, cross-border, or Union-level 
need to be co-funded by Union Research and Innovation Policy. Synergies should be sought 
with  opportunities  provided  by  Cohesion  Policy,  in  particular  via  regional  innovation 
strategies and transnational and interregional cooperation programmes.  

The  value-added  of  the  EIP  lies,  first,  in  its  potential  to  focus  existing  policies  towards 
innovation and, second, in its nature as a dynamic platform linking farmers, stakeholders, and 
researchers.  Implementation  will  be  channelled  through  operational  groups  as  key  acting 
entities, involving actors such as farmers, scientists, advisers, NGOs, and/or enterprises. The 
operational  groups  will  constitute  themselves  around  topics  of  interest  and  will  carry  out 
projects aimed at testing and applying innovative practices, processes, products, services, and 
technologies. At cross-border or Union level, operational groups will act in particular through 

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cluster initiatives and pilot and demonstration projects. The concrete actions will be fuelled by 
the knowledge base provided through the EU Research and Innovation Framework 

An  EIP  network  facility  will  be  established  under  the  umbrella  of  the  Rural  Development 
Network. The network will animate activities at Union, national, regional, and local level. It 
will  encourage  the  establishment  of  operational  groups  and  inform  about  the  opportunities 
provided by Union policies. In return, operational groups have to report back to the network 
about  their  projects.  Thus,  the  network  will  act  as  a  mediator  in  enhancing  communication 
and  cooperation  between  science  and  practice.  It  will  help  sharing  experience,  including 
failures, lessons learned, and good practice. Moreover, it will foresee a systematic feedback 
mechanism to incorporate practice needs into the research agenda.  

A  successful  implementation  of  the  EIP  will  rely  on  providing  and  transferring  relevant 
knowledge  from  a  wide  range  of  disciplines  forming  part  of  the  European  research 
community.  Considerable  input  for  discussing  and  developing  consistent  and  relevant 
thematic  orientations  are  expected  from  Joint  Programming  Initiatives  (JPI),  the  Standing 
Committee  on  Agricultural  Research  (SCAR),  ERA-NETs8  and  European  Technology 
Platforms.  These  initiatives  will  feed  into  the  debate  on  potential  innovative  actions  and 
discussions on experiences made. They can encourage the setting up of operational groups in 
view of multiplying innovative action. The EIP network will contribute to a better linking of 
those initiatives. Related monitoring and evaluation will ensure sound implementation. 

7. 

GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE  

A high-level steering board, limited in number and consisting of representatives from Member 
States  and  stakeholders  from  both  the  supply  and  the  demand  side  and  appointed  in  their 
through  a  strategic 
personal  capacity,  will  provide  strategic  advice  and  guidance 
implementation plan which identifies priority areas for action and recommendations on how 
to achieve the EIPs objectives.  

Following  the  experience  of  the  pilot-EIP  on  'Active  and  Healthy  Ageing',  the  work  of  the 
steering  board  will  go  hand  in  hand  with  a  full  involvement  of  Member  States  and 
stakeholders in the concrete actions and in the follow-up of the agricultural EIP. This will be 
sought also through focus groups and thematic seminars, to be set-up by the network.  

The EIP will rely on existing Union policies. Funding, implementation, and prioritisation of 
actions  will  be  based  on  respective  mechanisms  embedded  in  those  policies.  Rural 
Development Policy asks Member States to define quantified milestones (also for innovation) 
reflecting Europe 2020 objectives. EU Research and Innovation Policy will support projects 
in  line  with  the  strategic  orientations  and  decision-making  mechanisms  of  "Horizon  2020". 
The EIP network will use existing mechanisms for reporting to and interacting with Member 
States  and  Rural  Development  Managing  Authorities,  including  the  Rural  Development 
Committee and Monitoring Committees. 

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ERA-NET  schemes  support  the  cooperation  and  coordination  of  research  activities  at  national  or 
regional level 

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8. 

AREAS OF INNOVATIVE ACTIONS  

In  line  with  the  experience  gained  through  the  pilot-EIP,  the  content  and  priorities  to  be 
pursued  by  the  EIP  should  emerge  in  an  open  manner  and  reflect  the  need  for  diverse 
solutions.  Translating  new  technologies,  methods,  and  processes  into  farming  practice  and 
creating  a  space  for  practical  questions  and  guidance  requires  a  bottom-up  approach, 
combined with effective networking. In line with conclusions put forward by the OECD9, the 
EIP will not rely on one innovation model. Furthermore, consideration is given to the fact that 
innovation may be technological, non technological, or social, and may be based on new or 
traditional practices. 

Several indicative priority areas for research and innovation have been selected on the basis of 
input  and  exchange  with  stakeholders  and  researchers.  The  list  set  out  below  shall  not  pre-
empt  the  content  of  innovation  actions  on  the  ground.  Implementation  of  the  EIP  may 
complement it.  

• 

Increased agricultural productivity, output, and resource efficiency 

This area of innovation actions aims to increase agricultural output, while ensuring 
the efficient and sustainable use of resources. Low-input production systems would 
target  the  sustainable  use  of  nutrients  (including  phosphorus  and  nitrogen)  and 
pesticides,  optimised  use  of  energy,  water,  and  genetic  resources,  and  lower 
dependence  on  external  inputs.  Progress  is  needed  in  the  field  of  integrated  pest 
management,  biological  control  of  plant  diseases  and  pests,  improved  use  of  plant 
protection products, and reducing GHG-emission from animal production and soils. 
Solutions  for  recycling  and  the  reduction  of  post-harvest  losses  would  alleviate 
pressures  on  natural  resources.  The  potential  of  green  technologies,  such  as  ICT, 
precision farming, and pest warning systems, should be explored.  

• 

Innovation in support of the bio-based economy 

Innovative  solutions  should  be  adapted  to  the  whole  supply  chain  as  well  as  the 
growing  bio-based  economy.  Solutions  should  be  sought  for  bio-refinery  and 
recycling and the smart use of biomass from crops, forest, and food waste, valorising 
its cascading potential without reducing soil organic matter. Consideration could also 
be  given  to  substituting  primary  protein  production  by  algae  or  bio-fermentation. 
Breeding  of  animals  and  plants  could  be  explored  for  achieving  higher  outputs, 
reduced  emissions  and/or  better  resistance  to  diseases,  as  well  as  higher  quality  of 
final products (e.g. better nutritional profiles).  

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Biodiversity, Ecosystem services, and soil functionality 

Innovation  that  enhances  sustainable  farm  management  and  forestry  practices 
benefits  also  eco-system  services  and  soil  functionality.  Particular  emphasis  should 
be placed on  integrated agro-ecological  systems, including  the enhancement of  soil 
biodiversity, carbon sequestration, water retention, ecosystem stability and resilience, 
and  pollination  functions.  Solutions  could  focus  on  improved  land  management 
(including  low  tillage  and  maintenance  of  green  infrastructure),  integrated  spatial 

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OECD and Eurostat (2005), Oslo Manual: Guidelines for Collecting and Interpreting Innovation Data, 
Paris. 

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planning  and  new  agro-forestry  systems,  as  well  as  natural  ecosystem  conservation 
methods.  Further  areas  would  include  optimising  the  use  of  genetic  resources,  low 
input/organic  systems,  increasing  genetic  diversity  used  in  agriculture,  and 
developing bio-remediation for polluted soils,  as  well  as  innovative  climate  change 
adaptation strategies.  

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Innovative products and services for the integrated supply chain 

The  aim  is  to  develop  and  deploy  innovative  products,  devices  and  services, 
alongside  with  establishing  a  transparent  and  sustainable  supply  chain.  The  focus 
would  be  on  better  information  systems  and  risk  management  tools,  reflecting  the 
characteristics  of  products  and  production  processes,  such  as  benchmarking, 
sustainability  standards,  foot-printing,  lifecycle  analysis  (with  a  focus  on  waste 
management),  and  certification  systems.  Solutions  could  include  managerial 
innovation  for  farmers,  reinforcing  their  role  in  the  supply  chains,  e.g.  through 
producer  groups  or  short  food  chains.  New  diagnostic  tools  would  help  tracking 
environmental  and  social  performance  of  farms.  Solutions  would  include  also 
exploiting the full diversity of our genetic  base,  creating new and more sustainable 
opportunities,  and  establishing  institutional  innovations  (e.g.  carbon  markets). 
Effective  monitoring  systems  could  be  targeted  towards  residues  in  food  (e.g. 
pesticides). 

• 

Food quality, food safety and healthy lifestyles 

Informed  consumer  choices  are  essential  as  steering  impulses  to  the  whole  supply 
chain.  Areas  of  action  would  include  food  quality  and  food  safety,  for  instance 
through  developing  new  food  quality  schemes  and  livestock  health  care  schemes. 
Bio-prospecting and the potential of medical flora as a raw material resource could 
be  explored.  Other  areas  could  include  natural  animal  and  plant  treatment  and  new 
methods to analyse the biological qualities of food. Tools for changing consumption 
patterns  and  corresponding  education,  information,  and  learning  tools  could  help 
improve public health, accompanied by healthy ingredients in products (e.g. milk or 
oil  with  omega-3  fatty  acids)  achieved  by  further  developing  nutrients  and  through 
animal  breeding.  The  consumers'  role  in  reducing  post-harvest  losses  could  be 
addressed by intelligent packaging approaches as well as education and information. 

9. 

NEXT STEPS  

Given the need to shift development patterns towards sustainable growth in agriculture, these 
activities  should  start  as  soon  as  possible.  This  Communication  intends  to  encourage 
discussion  with  Member  States,  European  Parliament  and  stakeholders  about  the  strategic 
objectives and format of the agricultural EIP. 

Taking  into  account  the  views  of  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council  on  this 
Communication,  a  strategic  implementation  plan  will  be  prepared.  As  a  preparatory  step, 
technical assistance provided by Rural Development Policy will be used to establish network 
facilities. The timely establishment of an EIP network is needed to ensure early information of 
actors  and  stakeholders  concerning  opportunities  for  innovative  action.  It  will  facilitate  the 
process of translating priorities into concrete innovative actions on the ground.  

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