The Institute of Agricultural Economics is a partner in the recently started AdvisoryNetPEST project, that is funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe Framework Programme for Research and Innovation and will be implemented between 2024 and 2028. The overall objective of the project is to network and upgrade advisory services across the EU to increase the sharing of knowledge and the adoption of innovative solutions to reduce the use and risks of pesticides. The members of the international consortium represent research, innovation, advisory and other professional agricultural organisations from 14 European countries, led by the Portuguese consultancy CONSULAI.
AKI, as work package leader will map related projects and initiatives, organise EU-wide workshops and other collaborative activities, as well as convene and coordinate national AKIS workshops. As a National Network Lead in the project, AKI is responsible for the development and ongoing coordination of a network of advisors at national level, identifying and evaluating Novel Approaches, and training and informing advisors to prepare them to advise on reducing the use and risks of pesticides.
The kick-off meeting of AdvisoryNetPEST took place in Lisbon, Portugal, between 27-29 February 2024, during which participants reviewed the activities planned in the project work packages, agreed on conceptual issues, participated in a field study visit to the Portuguese AGROMAIS crop production cooperative and planned the steps of the first year of project implementation. Our institute was represented at the kick-off meeting by two colleagues of the Sustainability Research Directorate, Eszter Takács and Zsófia Balogh.
