The success story of agri-photovoltaics under EIP-Agri: Green energy and agriculture in harmony - example of Lower Saxony

EIP-Agri stands for “European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability”. It is a European Union initiative that aims to promote innovation in agriculture and develop more sustainable agricultural practices.

The main objective of EIP-Agri is to support agricultural innovation and promote the exchange of knowledge and best practices between farmers, research institutions and other relevant stakeholders. This collaboration aims to find solutions to current challenges in agriculture, such as the sustainable use of resources, protecting the environment, improving productivity and strengthening rural communities.

EIP-Agri funds pilot projects, workshops, seminars and other activities aimed at testing and disseminating innovative approaches in agriculture. It is a participatory approach that encourages the participation of different stakeholders to work together on solutions that address the challenges and needs of agriculture in Europe.

The EIP-Agri initiative is part of the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and plays an important role in promoting sustainable and competitive agriculture in Europe.

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Promoting innovative ideas in agriculture: The seventh call of the European Innovation Partnership Program “Productivity and Sustainability in Agriculture” (EIP-Agri) in Lower Saxony

The European Innovation Partnership Program “Productivity and Sustainability in Agriculture” (EIP-Agri) has launched the seventh call for project ideas in Lower Saxony, Germany. The aim of this funding program is to support innovative ideas from farms, research institutions and consulting organizations and to test them in practice. The funding for a project that lasts around three years can be up to 500,000 euros. Interested parties have until October 5th to submit project proposals to the Chamber of Agriculture.

EIP-Agri promotes collaboration between stakeholders in forestry, agriculture and food to drive innovation in agriculture. To date, various projects have been funded under EIP-Agri that deal with different topics. Examples include laser-assisted removal of invasive plants, the use of insects to convert agricultural waste into fertilizer, and the use of AI, neural networks and big data to improve animal welfare.

Promoting innovation in agriculture is crucial to meeting the challenges of the modern agricultural industry. The EIP-Agri program gives agricultural businesses, research institutions and advisory organizations the opportunity to put their ideas into practice and thus make a significant contribution to increasing productivity and sustainability in agriculture.

The focus of EIP-Agri is on the practical implementation of innovative ideas in real agricultural operations. This allows potential obstacles and challenges to be identified early and solutions to be developed to improve the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural practices.

Projects already implemented and funded under EIP-Agri have achieved impressive results. For example, laser-assisted removal of invasive plants has shown how innovative technologies can help efficiently manage the problem of unwanted plants in agricultural areas. Using insects to convert agricultural waste into valuable fertilizer is another successful project that not only brings ecological benefits but also makes economic sense.

One promising area supported by EIP-Agri is the use of technologies to improve animal welfare. By using artificial intelligence, neural networks and big data, the behavior and health of animals can be closely monitored to ensure animal-friendly husbandry and to detect potential health problems at an early stage.

For future projects, the EIP-Agri program in Lower Saxony is open to a variety of subject areas that are particularly relevant to agricultural practice. The focus is on nutrient management, climate protection and sustainable crop production, as they represent key challenges that farmers in Lower Saxony have to face.

Interested parties who would like to participate in the EIP-Agri program in Lower Saxony can find extensive information and the application process on the website of the Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture. If you have any questions or need advice, Dr. Benjamin Kowalski from the EIP Network Lower Saxony is available as a contact person.

Press release from July 28, 2023

Looking for innovative ideas: For the seventh time, Lower Saxony is calling for project ideas to be submitted as part of the European Innovation Partnership “Productivity and Sustainability in Agriculture” (EIP-Agri). This funding measure from the German strategic plan of the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is intended to develop and practically test innovative ideas from agricultural businesses, research institutes or advisory institutions. The maximum funding amount for a project that usually lasts three years is 500,000 euros. The project outlines can be submitted to the Chamber of Agriculture by October 5th at 12 p.m.

Lower Saxony's Agriculture Minister Miriam Staudte: “The transformation of agriculture is a major challenge that we will only master with good ideas, a lot of commitment and ambitious research initiatives. With the EIP-Agri funding, we are helping to develop the solutions of the future.” Minister Staudte saw how well this can work last week as part of her summer trip to the Cloppenburg district: irrigation is used on the Fleming farm With the “Waterwise” demonstration project, a robotic system was used that uses renewable energies and shows how fields can be irrigated more specifically and more economically in the future. The project is funded by EIP-Agri.

What is EIP-Agri about?

The core objective of the measure is to initiate, test and improve innovation processes in agriculture through better cooperation between the actors in the forestry, agriculture and food industries within the framework of a so-called operational group. This addresses everyone who wants to advance Lower Saxony's agriculture with good, new and practice-oriented ideas. Farmers, scientific institutions, consulting organizations and other actors are in demand - for example start-up companies from the agricultural or IT sectors.

Which projects are funded?

As part of the first six project calls, 73 innovative projects in Lower Saxony have already been approved. The spectrum of projects ranges from the laser-assisted elimination of ragwort on pastures to the development of a fully automatic bioreactor that converts agricultural residues into fertilizer with the help of insects, to concepts for improving animal welfare through the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and neural networks and big data. Innovative projects for climate and/or peatland protection or projects that try out new methods of organic farming are also conceivable.

In principle, the project call is open to specific topics. However, there are key areas that are particularly important for solving the challenges of Lower Saxony's agriculture, such as nutrient management, climate protection or more sustainable production systems in crop cultivation.

Source: Press release from August 3rd, 2023

The Minister of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, Miriam Staudte, has highlighted ten innovative and sustainable agriculture and forestry projects in Lower Saxony that are supported by the European Innovation Partnership “Productivity and Sustainability in Agriculture” (EIP Agri). These projects address challenges such as automated bioreactors for agricultural residues, rapid tests to check the germination of forest seeds and crop rotation with solar-powered robots. Other initiatives include laser-based weed control, direct seeding in forestry and UV radiation to combat bird flu.

To be eligible for EIP funding, these projects must ensure collaboration between farmers, researchers, extension organizations and at least three stakeholders. The main goal of EIP Agri is to promote innovation for competitive, sustainable and animal-friendly agriculture. Since 2016, 73 projects have already been supported in Lower Saxony, and expansion has taken place to Hamburg. The funding of up to 500,000 euros is available for projects in plant production, biotechnology, circular economy, animal husbandry, artificial intelligence and digitalization.

Some of the recognized projects that contribute to more sustainable practices and technological advances in agriculture and forestry are:

Photoplasma

The “Photoplasma” project is dedicated to using plasma technology to improve plant growth and control pests. By using photoplasma, chemical pesticides can be reduced and thus the environmental impact can be reduced.

AbDü – From waste to fertilizer

“AbDü” is a promising project that aims to convert agricultural waste into valuable fertilizer. This innovative technology allows waste to be recycled efficiently, which not only reduces the impact on the environment but also reduces the cost of fertilizers.

GROW

“GROW” is a groundbreaking project that deals with the implementation of AI-controlled agriculture. By using artificial intelligence, farmers can optimize their resources and increase crop yields while minimizing the use of water and pesticides.

AgriPV Fieldgarden

“AgriPV Fieldgarden” is a fascinating project that explores the integration of photovoltaic modules in agricultural areas. These dual-use areas allow farmers to both produce electricity and grow food, contributing to more efficient land use.

OPT4FORST

The “OPT4FORST” project develops and implements advanced optical technologies for forestry. Through the use of optics, valuable information about the condition of the forest can be obtained, leading to more precise forest management.

Forestforward

“Forestforward” deals with sustainable forestry practices that protect biodiversity and reduce CO2 emissions. This project helps preserve forests as important carbon sinks while promoting the preservation of natural habitats.

ForestCare

The “ForestCare” project aims to improve forest protection through the use of the latest technology. With the help of drones, sensors and big data analysis, pests and diseases can be detected early so that countermeasures can be taken in good time.

InaviVUS

“InaviVUS” is a groundbreaking project that deals with the sustainable management of water resources in agriculture. Smart irrigation systems and water management can reduce water consumption while increasing irrigation efficiency.

Phage therapy

“Phage therapy” is a promising approach to combat antibiotic-resistant pathogens in agriculture. Phages are viruses that can specifically attack bacteria and therefore represent an alternative method for combating diseases in livestock.

Examples of innovative strength and commitment

These projects are excellent examples of the innovative strength and commitment of farmers, researchers and interest groups in Lower Saxony and Hamburg. Their efforts not only help make agriculture and forestry more sustainable, but also have a positive impact on the environment and society as a whole.

In order to continue to shape the future of agriculture and forestry positively, it is crucial that such innovative projects continue to be supported and promoted. EIP Agri plays an important role in this by providing the necessary financial means and resources to advance these promising initiatives.

An overview of currently ongoing projects can be found at https://www.eip-nds.de/operationelle-gruppen.html .

Minister Miriam Staudte congratulates 10 new EIP projects

Ten more innovation projects for sustainable agriculture and forestry can begin in Lower Saxony. Agriculture Minister Miriam Staudte handed over the funding notices to those responsible for the project today (Thursday). They are supported by the European Innovation Partnership “Productivity and Sustainability in Agriculture” (EIP Agri) funding measure. A total of 4.1 million euros – mainly from EU funds – will be made available for the new projects.

“These new projects help to master the transformation of agriculture. Good ideas and commitment, motivation and leadership skills count. The EIP projects reflect all of this.” The submitted ideas are “as diverse as the challenges in agriculture and forestry,” said Lower Saxony’s Minister for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Miriam Staudte at the event in her home.

Three teams were able to present their project ideas there: One project is developing a fully automatic bioreactor for agricultural residues and converts them into valuable fertilizer with the help of the black soldier fly. Another project optimizes a rapid test for the germination of forest seeds and develops a rechargeable automatic planting device that places the seeds safely and quickly in the ground. The third project presented implements a multi-year crop rotation concept using photovoltaic systems (Agri-PV), which is to be managed using solar-powered robotics.

Other projects dealt, for example, with weed control using laser technology, direct seeding in forests or combating bird flu viruses using special UV radiation lamps. In order to receive EIP funding, all projects must demonstrate collaboration between farmers, researchers, advisory institutions and other actors (but at least three).

In the current sixth project call, projects from the forestry sector were integrated for the first time. Four projects come from the forestry/forest sector. The new, and therefore seventh, call is already imminent. The deadline will be autumn 2023.

What is EIP Agri?

The core objective of the funding measure is to strengthen the transfer of innovation for a competitive, sustainable and species-friendly agriculture and food industry. This appeals to everyone who recognizes the innovation potential of agriculture, who is willing to try out new things and who wants to contribute their own expertise to a project.

These partners from science, agricultural practice and consulting for each project work intensively on specific problem solutions over a period of three years. There are hardly any limits to the topics: projects on sustainable plant production, biotechnology and circular economy, animal-friendly livestock farming and key technologies such as artificial intelligence and digitalization receive funding of up to 500,000 euros.

EIP AGri has been offered since 2016; Since then, 73 innovative projects have been or are being funded in Lower Saxony. In the future, EIP Agri will also be offered in Hamburg and will be supported by the Lower Saxony administration.

Source: Press release from June 20, 2023