 SECOND MEETING OF THE RURAL REVITALIZATION WORKGROUP
On 31st of March 2022, the second and last meeting of the thematic group (WG) of the Rural Revitalization work set up by ENRD took place.
Through the vision for rural areas, the European Commission proposes a number of actions and tools for the revitalization of rural areas, including the development of the Rural Revitalization platform - a one-stop-shop for rural communities, project beneficiaries and authorities to collaborate.
Participants exchanged information and feedback on the documents developed in the WG, the recommendations on key elements and the future platform, as well as on the group's contribution to the Rural Pact conference on 15-16 June.
More details here:
https://enrd.ec.europa.eu/news-events/events/2nd-meeting-enrd-thematic-group-rural-revitalisation_en
FIRST MEETING OF THE COCOREADO PROJECT AMBASSADORS
The first meeting of the COCOREADO ambassadors took place in the last week of March in Brussels.
Romania was represented by Raluca Barbu and Cătălina Rogozan from Highclere Consulting and Mihaela Frăţilă from WWF Romania.
COCOREADO is a project that focuses on repositioning farmers on the market, by connecting consumers with producers.
The meeting included a mix of workshops and networking, during which the ambassadors met and exchanged experiences on sustainable food chains.
Topics such as communication, fake news and examples of innovative and sustainable food initiatives, as well as farm visits, were also addressed in the workshops.
Among the farms visited were ECLO - a vertical mushroom and micro-plant farm located in the center of Brussels, based on the circular economy and the food hub Atelier Groot Eiland which has a socio-economic goal: the fight against poverty in vulnerable neighborhoods of Brussels by offering training and assistance in trades such as carpentry, catering and urban agriculture.
AGRIFISH COUNCIL OF 21 MARCH 2022
The Council invited the Ukrainian agriculture minister, Roman Leshchenko, to speak via video link about the agricultural situation and the needs prevalent in his country, which were then discussed by ministers.
The ministers went on to hold an exchange of views on the market situation for agricultural and agri-food products and the situation of the EU’s agricultural sector, given the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Were discussed measures that could be taken not only to continue to safeguard food supplies in the short term, but also to enhance the EU’s food security and food sovereignty in the medium and long term.The discussion also touched upon the potential impact of the crisis on the food security of non-EU countries.
The Commission updated ministers on the state of play of its evaluation of the strategic plans under the future CAP. An exchange of views followed, focusing in particular on:
- need to approve the plans quickly in order to ensure that farmers are aware of the new rules
- need for flexibility to adapt the plans with a view to ensuring food security in the wake of the war in Ukraine
- criteria used by the Commission to approve the plans
- transparency of the process
More details here .
NETWORK TO INNOVATE WEBINARS: SOCIAL INNOVATION
The second webinar of Network to innovate webinar series, co-organized by the Estonian and Finnish national rural networks, took place on 15 March.
The main topic of the webinar was on social innovation initiatives in the Nordic-Baltic region, funded by both the EAFRD and other funds and aimed at improving living conditions in rural areas.
Third webinar is dedicated to waste management and the circular economy and scheduled on 12 April .
More details here .
INFORMAL VIDEO CONFERENCE OF AGRICULTURE MINISTERS
On 2nd March 2022, was held an informal meeting of agriculture ministers in videoconference.
Agriculture ministers held an extraordinary meeting via videoconference to discuss the risk of significant pressures facing the agriculture and agri-food sectors in the wake of the Ukraine invasion.
The aim of the meeting was to share initial information and forecasts on supply and prices, identify issues requiring particular vigilance, and consider measures that could be taken both internally and in terms of international cooperation.
Ministers discussed the potentially significant impact of the current crisis on the market situation for agricultural products, as well as on access to agricultural raw materials and inputs.
Following the meeting and the statements by ministers, the EU commissioner for agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, expressed his intention to:
- activate crisis monitoring tools, in particular the European food security crisis preparedness and response mechanism set up by the Commission, and the high-level working group on the pigmeat sector announced at the Council meeting on 21 February;
- consider introducing exceptional measures under the Common Market Organisation (CMO) regulation aimed at the sectors most affected by the rise in input costs;
- adopting measures aimed at securing and freeing up Europe’s production capacity in 2022, such as using fallow land for protein crops.
More details here .
3RD INFORMAL MEETING OF NATIONAL RURAL NETWORK SUPPORT UNITS - MEDITERRANEAN CLUSTER
On 9 March 2022, took place the third informal meeting of the support units of the National Rural Networks - Mediterranean cluster.
The meeting was attended by staff of rural network support units from Croatia, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Romania and Greece.
The topic of the informal discussion, proposed by the support unit of the Greek National Rural Network at the previous meeting, focused on membership within National Rural Networks and registration.
In the case of Romanian NRN (RNDR), registration as a member is open and voluntary, and the requests for membership are processed through mailchimp application.
Regarding the Spanish National Rural Network, it is necessary to meet the condition of having representation at national level, which reduces the number of potential members. Registration is done at the request of interested parties by contacting the network support unit.
Within the Cypriot national rural network, registration as a member is not open, membership being associated with the selection calls organized annually for the implementation of NRN activities. Every two years a new call for members is organized. The composition of the NRN Steering Committee also changes every two years.
At the level of the Croatian rural network, the campaign to attract members is currently underway. The campaign is carried out mainly through social media, online and on the website, by promoting LAGs and good practices within their LDSs.
The Italian rural network runs information campaigns / caravans at regional level, in which the network evaluation team (contracted for the entire programming period) is also involved.
6TH INFORMAL MEETING OF NATIONAL RURAL NETWORKS SUPPORT UNITS - CENTRAL EUROPE CLUSTER
On 14 March 2022, the sixth informal meeting of the support units of the National Rural Networks - the Central Europe cluster - took place.
The meeting was attended by staff from rural support units in Croatia, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary.
The topic of the informal discussion, proposed by the Austrian National Rural Network Support Unit at the previous meeting, focused on lessons learned regarding the functioning and organization of the National Rural Networks in previous programming. The topic will be discussed extensively on May 5 at the NRNs' meeting.
Furthermore, regarding the current situation, it seems possible that the Polish Rural Network will have funding available to carry out activities in 2022 that help with the integration of refugees from the Russian war in Ukraine in Poland’s rural areas.
Thus, is currently undergoing the identification and collecting of activities and initiatives to help and include refugees, carried out in other states.
NSU Slovakia reported on local support actions. Thus, most associations and organizations, whether public, private or LAGs, use their personal budget to carry out their activities.
At the moment it is not a separate budget through RDP or Technical Assistance, but mostly LAGs and agencies subordinate to the ministry participate in collections and donations and volunteer on their own.
The situation is similar in the case of Poland, and it is necessary to identify specific financial resources to continue these actions, to further reduce the pressure on LAGs and organizations and to help them continue their support.
Following the message from NSU Poland, the support unit of the Austrian rural network contacted the LAGs, being in the phase of centralizing the local initiatives - action carried out in 2015-2016 at the time of the Syrian refugee crisis.
They are also interested in identifying individual initiatives and actions.
At the same time, during the meeting, the subject of communication channels was discussed.
More information here [briefing in RO] .
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LEADER ADHOC SEMINAR, 30 MARCH - 1 APRIL
The National Rural Network organized the second adhoc LEADER seminar, with the topic “Methods for verifying the distribution of transition funds within the Local Development Strategy”.
LEADER experts from central Managing Authority and those from the County Rural Development Departments further discussed methods to verify the LDS financing plans during the transition period, as well as certain technical aspects regarding LEADER.
HONEY PLANT DAY - 26th MARCH
During 25-26 March 2022, within “Grădinescu” urban garden, took place the Honey Plants Day event .
The initiative belongs to the Association of Slovenian Beekeepers, launched in November 2021 in order to help protect bees and other pollinators and to draw attention to the problems faced by the beekeeping sector.
The United Nations has designated 20 of May as International Bee Day, following a proposal by Slovenia.
The event on 26 March was attended by Her Excellency Ms. Lea Stancic - Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia in Bucharest, the Association for the Protection of Bees and Wild Pollinators, the Romanian Permaculture Research Institute - Gradinescu and private sector guests active in beekeeping.
Some details here [RO] .
AKIS AdHOC SEMINAR, 24-25 MARCH
Between 24-25 March 2022 in Sinaia, took place the Adhoc Seminar “AKIS in the context of SP 2023-2027” , an event organized by the National Rural Network .
The topics on the event's agenda included the intervention on AKIS implementation, transfer of knowledge and advisory, the European Innovation Partnership, the complementarity and support provided by the National Rural Network in the implementation of AKIS.
The event generated the framework for debate with the social partners and members of the thematic working groups involved in the elaboration of NSP, such as Local Action Groups, federations, associations with activity in the field.
More details here [RO] .
COORDINATION OF THE WORKING GROUP (WG) AGRICULTURE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE CARPATHIAN CONVENTION
Romania is a signatory to the Framework Convention for Sustainable Development and Protection of the Carpathians (Carpathian Convention), a strategic document whose general objective is cooperation in areas such as: biodiversity conservation, land use planning, water resources management, agriculture and forestry, transport, tourism, industry and energy for the preservation and sustainable development of the Carpathians in order to improve the quality of life for local people and the conservation of natural and cultural values.
The Working Group "Agriculture and Rural Development" within the Carpathian Convention (WG SARD) is coordinated by Romania through the National Agency for Mountain Areas (ANZM).
Thus, on 17 March 2022, the 5th meeting of this Working Group took place online. The event was attended by official delegates from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, as well as observers from organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - FAO, Euromontana, Eurac Research, Romontana.
From Romania, the event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Environment (focal point of the Carpathian Convention), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and of the National Agency for Mountain Areas (ANZM).
The meeting was moderated by Mrs. Veronica Țaran Baciu, general director of ANZM.
From the 8 topics of debate proposed by the Romanian part in the Working Group for the implementation of the SARD Protocol in the next period - until the end of 2023 - were selected a number of 3:
- Models of good practice: Short food chains - From farm to consumer;
- Quality schemes and "Mountain product" certification;
- Association of mountain farmers and processors - benefits and models of good practice.
More details here .
FARMERS 'FOCUS GROUPS FOR EFFICIENT AZOTE USE
On 10 March 2022, in Halchiu commune - Mureș county, took place the third meeting of farmers regarding the good management of azote fertilizers.
During the last year, the price of azote fertilizers has increased more than 3 times, so the discussions to avoid nutrient losses have been a topic of great interest to farmers.
Through open discussions on good agricultural practices that pursue environmental objectives, farmers discussed more efficient use of manure and compliance with cross-compliance rules on nitrate pollution, in order to avoid possible sanctions from APIA.
The focus group is part of the knowledge transfer network to avoid nitrate pollution, which includes over 350 such groups.
Halchiu commune also benefits from a communal manure management platform, which makes storage / composting costs more efficient for small farmers.
The transfer of knowledge and investments are financed from funds managed by the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests.
Useful information on the efficient use of azote / avoidance of nitrate pollution can be found on the website: https://apanoastra.ro/.
REGIONAL WORK MEETING REGARDING THE MOUNTAIN AREA
During 25 and 27 March, Adrian CHESNOIU - Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development together with Adrian CÂCIU - Minister of Public Finance, made a working visit to Bistrița-Năsăud county.
Under the coordination of the Silvania Wood Research, Innovation and Promotion Center, from Lunca Ilvei locality, a meeting-debate was organized having as main topic the mountain area.
The event was attended by 140 guests (officials, Parliament members, representatives of public institutions, associations, research institutes, farmers, processors, etc.) factors with concerns in the development of the mountain area.
The main topics addressed:
- Pressing issues for the economy and mountain environment. Proposals for sustainable solutions;
- Standard SILVANIA - practical tool for implementing the European Green Pact. Presentation of carbon footprint management solutions, generating carbon certificates and public administration advice
- Use of wool as an insulating material for energy efficiency
- Examples of good practice and proposals for subsidizing the analysis of certified dairy products
- ITI Project Intercommunity Development Association - "Moţii - Stone Country"
- Mountain agrotourism - Via Transilvanica route
- The mountain farm between survival and prospects
On behalf of the National Agency for Mountain Areas (ANZM), a team of specialists participated, led by the general manager Veronica Țaran Baciu.
Of real interest was the concept of circular economy, as a model of rural development in the mountains - presented by the hosts of the event.
The problems faced by the inhabitants of the mountain area were brought to the fore, asking for support in order to solve them, as well as the elaboration of public policies characteristic of local needs.
LEADER AdHOC SEMINAR, 17-18 MARCH
During 17-18 March 2022, took place the Adhoc Seminar on “Methods for verifying the distribution of transition funds within the Local Development Strategy” in Sinaia, organized by the National Rural Network.
The discussions between experts from central LEADER and from County Rural Development Departments aimed methods of verifying the LDS financing plans during the transition period, as well as clarifying certain technical aspects during this period.
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LEARNING THROUGH INNOVATION
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LIAISON Project: European Rural Innovation Ambassadors
Milano Porta Verde is an urban agro-forestry initiative. It is in Milan and offers everyone in the city, children, parents, families the opportunity to know agriculture very closely and to link the idea of food production with living in an urban area.
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The series on presenting good practice projects and the stories behind some projects through which NRDP beneficiaries managed to develop their business and farm.
[Clip in RO, subtitles to follow].
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We respect the wish to see important mails first and the new GDPR rules.
We hope that receiving our monthly newsletter does not bother you.
But if it does, let us know by sending an e-mail at usr.rndr@madr.ro or rndr@madr.ro
(will be sad to see you unsubscribe, to be honest).
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Check events organized by ENRD and EIP AGRI during this period, here and here.
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Romanian National Rural Network
(RNDR)
Network Suport Unit
E-mail: rndr@madr.ro
Website: www.rndr.ro
Carol I Blvd. no. 2-4, sector 3, code 030163, București
Tel.: +4021 307 23 91,
+4021 307 86 24
Fax: +4021 307 86 06
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