The i2connect-projekti, käynnistettiin marraskuussa 2019 ja sen on määrä valmistua syys-lokakuussa 2024, represents a significant initiative aimed at strengthening the role of farm and forestry advisory services across Europe. It was co-financed under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, bringing together more than 40 partners from over 20 maat, including agricultural chambers, advisory organizations, tutkimuslaitoksia, and innovation networks. Key stakeholders involved include the European Forum for Agricultural and Rural Advisory Services (EUFRAS) and national bodies like the French Chambers of Agriculture.

The core objective of i2connect is to empower agricultural advisors, improving their capacity to support farmers in innovaatioprosessit through yhdessä luominen, verkottuminen, and knowledge-sharing. With the ever-increasing challenges facing European agriculture—such as climate change, environmental sustainability, and digital transformation—the role of advisors is becoming more critical. Advisors need to foster interactive innovation, a collaborative process that enables farmers to develop and implement new solutions tailored to their local realities.

Key Achievements and Activities

  1. Capacity Building: i2connect has focused on improving the skill sets of advisors by offering comprehensive training programs, työpajoja, and tools. These have centered around advisory techniques like participatory innovation and how to facilitate effective farmer-led innovation projects.
  2. Networking and Knowledge Exchange: The project fostered cross-border learning by creating an international advisory network. This enabled advisors from different regions to exchange experiences and knowledge, helping to spread best practices across the EU.
  3. Interactive Innovation Projects: A core element of i2connect has been to support real-life innovation projects, known as “living labs,” where advisors and farmers collaborate in developing new solutions in a hands-on environment. This process highlights the importance of an inclusive approach to problem-solving in agriculture and forestry.
  4. Advisory Tools and Resources: The project produced several valuable tools, including an interactive knowledge platform and a toolbox designed to support advisors in facilitating innovation. These resources are publicly accessible and designed to be used by both advisors and farmers.

The i2kytke final conference will take place from the 1st to the 3rd of October 2024 in Varna, Bulgaria. This project aims to empower advisors and facilitators to tukea interaktiivisia innovaatioprosesseja maa- ja metsätaloussektoreilla. Tämä tapahtuma on suunnattu useille kohderyhmiä: EIP-AGRI fasilitaattorit, advisors in agriculture, forestry or rural development, their managers, innovaatioiden tukipalvelut, trainers for these various groups, as well as researchers working on interactive innovation and public authorities. Se on viimeinen tilaisuus löytää tuloksia i2connectista: kansalliset AKIS-tutkimukset, in-depth case studies of interactive innovation projects across Europe, koulutussisällöt ja materiaalit, työkalupakki fasilitaattoreille, a pool of trained experts – kouluttajat, neuvonantajat, managers and students – who can be contacted via i2connect’s “Advisory Services Database”… Nämä tulokset esitellään julkaisussa interaktiivisessa muodossa, inviting contributions and reflections from participants. Tulee myös kenttäkäynnit löytää innovatiivisia hankkeita Bulgariassa, ja aikaa epävirallisille keskusteluille ja verkottuminen osallistujien välillä (katso liitteenä oleva esityslistaluonnos + majoitustarjous).

Voit rekisteröidy tässä. Please feel free to contact the i2connect coordination team (sylvain.sturel@apca.chambagri.fr ja agathe.darret@apca.chambagri.fr for any question and to prepare your participation in the conference. We look forward to greeting you in Varna!

i2connect-final-conference-agenda