News
Improvements in Agricultural Innovation Knowledge Transfer
Representatives from the Research and Innovation Centre Pro-Akademia participated in workshops held on May 13, 2025, in Limassol, Cyprus, as part of the EcoReady Masuria living lab. The meeting focused on accelerating the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices by improving the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) and advisory services.
The workshops aimed to identify the main barriers and factors affecting effective knowledge exchange, as well as propose practical solutions for its enhancement.
During the workshops, several significant structural and systemic challenges were highlighted, such as the fragmentation of farms and an aging farming population. Participants pointed out the lack of cooperation and trust within the agricultural environment and the heavy reliance on advisory institutions for administrative tasks. Other issues include insufficient financial incentives for organic farming, slow implementation of innovations into eco-schemes, and still limited support for environmental practices.
Despite the challenges, several motivating factors were identified. The growing demand for sustainable food production and the presentation of positive success stories—especially from neighboring farms—were recognized as powerful peer learning tools. Increasing funding for advisory services and introducing performance-based grants could also stimulate innovation. Actively involving farmers in designing new solutions and showcasing tangible results of innovative practices were considered effective strategies. An interesting observation was that low soil fertility in some areas naturally drives the shift towards organic farming, due to relatively better yields.
The expert working group proposed a set of specific solutions, including the development of demonstration farms for visual communication of successes. Strengthening ties between researchers and advisors—potentially through a system of mandatory training and certification of advisors—was deemed important. Pesticide-free agriculture was discussed as a viable alternative between traditional and organic systems. Special emphasis was placed on bottom-up, farmer-led interventions, particularly in the context of local challenges such as water management.
The workshops provided valuable insights for improving innovation and knowledge exchange in the agricultural sector, particularly among small and aging farmers.
Thanks to such events, we can better understand the needs and challenges faced by farmers, and as a result, work together to develop effective solutions. It is also a great opportunity to share our experiences and promote good practices from Poland at the European level.
This sub-project has received funding from the project ECO-READY (grant agreement No. 101084201) through its Open Call, funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them