EIP-AGRI seminar: Multi-level strategies for digitising agriculture and rural areas

Research, rural networks stakeholders and policy makers are currently in agreement on the need for digital strategies to unlock the potential of digitisation in order to face current and future challenges of the farming sector and of rural areas. The EC legislative proposals on the Common Agricultural Policy post-2020 provide for the inclusion in the CAP Strategic Plans 'a description of the strategy for the development of digital technologies in agriculture and rural areas and for the use of these technologies to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the CAP Strategic Plan interventions'.

The European Commission has undertaken substantial groundwork to incentivise the digitisation of the farming sector and of rural areas, especially through the EIP-AGRI network, the ENRD and the Broadband Competence Offices Network. This seminar builds upon previous activities carried out by these networks with the aim to identify opportunities, bottlenecks and future needs so that European farming and rural sectors can embrace the digital revolution. (More information: EIP-AGRI brochure 'Shaping the digital (r)evolution in agriculture' and 'Smart Villages')

Ensuring that agriculture and rural areas are part of the strategic agendas for digitisation is a recurrent outcome of these activities. However, in some Member States and regions these strategic agendas are still lagging behind. Moreover, there is a need for improved coordination between the European, national and regional levels and across sectoral policies and funding instruments to support digital transformation.

Objectives of the seminar

The seminar aims at promoting multi-level strategic plans for digitisation in agriculture and rural areas. It has the following specific objectives:

1. To raise awareness about the role / importance of strategic planning to foster and steer the digitisation of agriculture and rural areas, also with a view to the future Strategic CAP Plans
2. To showcase and discuss existing examples of strategic planning and relevant digitisation initiatives across Europe
3. To discuss and kick-start the process for developing strategic plans for digitisation, adapted to the local context and needs, by fostering mutual learning among actors, sectors and governance levels
4. To showcase tools and initiatives developed at EU level to accompany the digital transformation in the farming and rural economy sectors