AgriSPIN identifies best practice for innovation brokering and support systems

Far from all innovation projects succeed. In fact, many go wrong even before they begin. So what makes an innovation process move forward? And what stops it? The EU-project “AgriSPIN – Space for innovations in Agriculture” seeks to find the answers to those questions and many more by identifying best practices for innovation brokering and support systems in European agriculture.

At the kickoff meeting in March 2015, AgriSPIN officially started the process of hunting down “Space for innovations in Agriculture”. By uncovering the so-called blind spots in innovation projects, AgriSPIN’s goal is to contribute to improved methods for innovation projects in European agriculture.

Blind spots in an innovation project are all the important sub-processes which the participants may not view as critical to the project. Nevertheless, the entire project could fail if one or several of these sub-processes derails.

For example, blind spots can occur in the collaboration between a farmer who has an innovative idea and his advisor to whom he turns for advice. If they understand each other, chances are that the appropriate supportive measures will be put into play. If not, the chances of that happening are a lot lower.

The AgriSPIN project will examine the practice of innovation today by answering questions such as: How does the European farmer seek information and support? What competencies does he expect of his advisor? What kind of innovation support system is in place today?  By doing a large amount of visits to practical examples of innovation projects, AgriSPIN will cross-fertilise existing practical knowledge on innovation processes. It will uncover best cases of innovation projects and processes, and identify the best brokering methods and type of innovation support systems that enable the most optimal innovation process

To ensure that the knowledge accumulated in the project is disseminated to as many stakeholders as possible, AgriSPIN will create a powerful European network among advisors, researchers, organisational experts and innovation companies.

By establishing a strong innovation network between the partners of the AgriSPIN project as well as reaching out to European agricultural networks, innovation networks, innovation projects and to politicians, on a European, regional and national level, AgriSPIN hopes to contribute to speeding up innovation in European agriculture.

Project Partners:

1. SEGES, (DK), Heidi Hundrup Rasmussen, hhr@seges.dk, telephone: 45 8740 5516 (coordinator)
2. Dutch Southern Farmers Organisation (NL), Peter Paree, peter.paree@zlto.nl, E. Wielinga, Eelke.wielinga@gmail.com
3. University of Hohenheim (DE), Andrea Knierim, andrea.knierim@uni-hohenheim.de
4. Union of Chambers of Agriculture (DE), Michael Kuegler, m.kuegler@vlk-agrar.de
5. Innovatiesteunpunt, ISP (BE), Ilse Geyskens, ilse.geyskens@innovatiesteunpunt.be
6. Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre (LV), Kaspars Zurins, kaspars.zurins@llkc.lv
7. ACTA (FR), Adrien Guichaoua, Adrien.guichaoua@acta.asso.fr
8. Tuscany Region (IT), Alessandra Gemmiti, alessandra.gemmiti@regione.toscana.it
9. ProAgria (FI), Hannu Haapala, hannu.haapala@proagria.fi
10. IFOAM (EU), Bram Moeskops, bram.moeskops@tporganics.eu
11. Teagasc (IE), Tom Kelly, tom.kelly@teagasc.ie
12. Cirad (FR), Syndhia Mathé, Syndhia.mathe@cirad.fr
13. Adept (RO), Nat Page, npage@copac.org.uk
14. Agricultural University of Athens (EL), Alex Koutsouris, koutsouris@aua.gr
15. Fundacion Hazi Funazioa (E), Pilar Riaño, priano@hazi.eus

Project  period: 2.5 years, starting March 2015

Funding source: Horizon 2020- the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation

Funding budget: € 2.000.000

Project website: www.agrispin.eu