The 3rd European Rural Networks' Assembly gave stakeholders involved in the European Network for rural Development and European Innovation Partnership in Agriculture (ENRD and EIPagri) the opportunity to give their feedback on the Networks’ activities and what can be improved in the future. Farmers and agri-cooperatives need support to be able to benefit from opportunities provided by Rural Development policy to enhance sustainability and competitiveness, to contribute to climate change mitigation and further develop the bioeconomy. Strong EU rural networks are important here.
Copa and Cogeca believe that some good work has been achieved through these new structures such as promoting good practices on how to enhance a sustainable agriculture and forest sector, more smart and consumer oriented value chains. But more work needs to be done to make sure that we achieve the objectives of Rural Development Policy and that resources are used in an efficient way. Better coordination between ENRD and EIPAgri is needed here to make sure that this will add value to implementation of Rural Development Policy. “We need to focus more on the objectives of Rural Development Policy and its role in contributing to the EU priority of jobs and growth. We need to better use results from these meetings and deal with language barriers which are still an issue in communicating the information. Joint events with MA, NRN and rural actors will help to guarantee a strong network and increase the quality of the work of the network”, Copa & Cogeca Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen said.
Concerning the Cork 2.0 declaration, EU Farm Commissioner Hogan underlined that the farming sector is the main sector in rural areas which could provide answers to a lot of challenges that we are facing today like climate change as well as increasing consumer demands. Focusing on opportunities is crucial like the bioeconomy, innovative approaches, enhancing resource efficiency and biodiversity. Farmers and agri-cooperatives are already actively contributing to implementation of the Cork 2.0 declaration and are committed to support its action plan. The Cork 2.0 declaration provides a great opportunity to further invest and innovate in the agriculture and forestry sectors to enable us to respond to future challenges and to contribute to jobs and growth, he insisted.
Wrapping up, Mr Pesonen underlined the need to improve infrastructures in rural areas and to have adequate broadband access and digital skills to unleash the promise of digital farming. Recent breakthroughs in genetics, robotics, drones, remote sensing, precision agriculture could help farmers and agri-cooperatives to step into the future of farming, achieving ambitious targets and responding to dynamic markets. “We believe that the debate in the assembly provides enough elements on how to improve, with the support of Rural Networks, stakeholders involvement, policy quality and raise awareness of Rural Development Policy. Copa and Cogeca will continue to actively contribute to the work of the networks and to support a smart, sustainable and competitive agriculture and forestry sector”, he concluded.
