The success story of agri-photovoltaics under EIP-Agri: Green energy and agriculture in harmony – the 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 farming 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, environmental protection, improved productivity, and the strengthening of 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 involvement of various stakeholders to work together on solutions that address the challenges and needs of agriculture in Europe.

The EIP-Agri initiative is part of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the European Union 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 for proposals of the European Innovation Partnership Programme “Productivity and Sustainability in Agriculture” (EIP-Agri) in Lower Saxony

The European Innovation Partnership Programme "Productivity and Sustainability in Agriculture" (EIP-Agri) has launched its seventh call for project proposals in Lower Saxony, Germany. The aim of this funding program is to support and test innovative ideas from farms, research institutions, and advisory organizations in practice. Funding for a project lasting approximately three years can amount to up to €500,000. Interested parties have until October 5th to submit project proposals to the Chamber of Agriculture.

EIP-Agri promotes collaboration between stakeholders in the forestry, agriculture, and food sectors to drive innovation in agriculture. To date, various projects addressing diverse topics have been supported under EIP-Agri. Examples include laser-assisted control of invasive plants, the use of insects to convert agricultural waste into fertilizer, and the application 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. Through the EIP-Agri program, farms, research institutions, and advisory organizations are given the opportunity to put their ideas into practice, thereby making a significant contribution to increasing productivity and sustainability in agriculture.

EIP-Agri focuses on the practical implementation of innovative ideas on real farms. 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 under the EIP-Agri program have achieved impressive results. For example, laser-assisted weed control has demonstrated how innovative technologies can efficiently address the problem of unwanted plants on agricultural land. The use of insects to convert agricultural waste into valuable fertilizer is another successful project that offers not only ecological benefits but also economic advantages.

One promising area supported by EIP-Agri is the use of technologies to improve animal welfare. By employing artificial intelligence, neural networks, and big data, animal behavior and health can be closely monitored to ensure humane husbandry and to identify potential health problems early on.

For future projects, the EIP-Agri program in Lower Saxony is open to a wide range of topics that are particularly relevant to agricultural practice. The focus is on nutrient management, climate protection, and sustainable crop production, as these represent key challenges that farmers in Lower Saxony must address.

Interested parties wishing to participate in the EIP-Agri program in Lower Saxony can find comprehensive information and the application process on the website of the Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture. Dr. Benjamin Kowalski from the EIP Network Lower Saxony is also available as a contact person for questions and advice.

Press release dated July 28, 2023

Seeking innovative ideas: For the seventh time, Lower Saxony is calling for project proposals within the framework of the European Innovation Partnership "Productivity and Sustainability in Agriculture" (EIP-Agri). This funding measure, part of the German Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the European Union, aims to develop and practically test innovative ideas from agricultural businesses, research institutions, or advisory bodies. The maximum funding amount for a project, which typically lasts three years, is €500,000. Project outlines can be submitted to the Chamber of Agriculture by noon on October 5th.

Lower Saxony's Agriculture Minister Miriam Staudte: "The transformation of agriculture is a major challenge that we will only master with good ideas, strong commitment, and ambitious research initiatives. With EIP-Agri funding, we are contributing to developing the solutions of the future." Minister Staudte saw firsthand how well this can work during her summer tour of the Cloppenburg district last week: At the Fleming farm, the "Waterwise" demonstration project uses a robotic irrigation system that utilizes renewable energy and shows how fields can be irrigated more precisely and efficiently in the future. The project is funded by EIP-Agri.

What is EIP-Agri about?

The core objective of this initiative is to initiate, test, and improve innovation processes in agriculture through better collaboration between stakeholders in the forestry, agricultural, and food sectors within the framework of an operational group. The initiative is aimed at anyone who wants to advance agriculture in Lower Saxony with sound, new, and practical ideas. Farmers, research institutions, advisory organizations, and other stakeholders—such as agricultural or IT start-up companies—are all encouraged to participate.

Which projects are being funded?

Within the framework of the first six calls for proposals, 73 innovative projects have already been approved in Lower Saxony. The spectrum of these projects ranges from the laser-assisted elimination of ragwort on pastureland and the development of a fully automated bioreactor that uses insects to convert agricultural residues into fertilizer, to concepts for improving animal welfare through the use of artificial intelligence (AI), neural networks, and big data. Innovative projects for climate and/or peatland protection, or projects testing new methods for organic farming, are also conceivable.

The call for projects is generally open to all topics. However, there are key areas that are particularly important for addressing the challenges facing agriculture in Lower Saxony, such as nutrient management, climate protection, and more sustainable production systems in crop farming.

Source: Press release dated August 3, 2023

The Minister for Agriculture and Consumer Protection, Miriam Staudte, highlighted ten innovative and sustainable agricultural 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 capacity of forest seeds, and crop rotation using solar-powered robots. Other initiatives include laser-based weed control, direct seeding in forestry, and UV radiation to combat avian influenza.

To be eligible for EIP funding, projects must ensure collaboration between farmers, researchers, advisory services, and at least three stakeholder groups. The main objective of EIP Agri is to promote innovation for competitive, sustainable, and animal-friendly agriculture. Since 2016, 73 projects have been supported in Lower Saxony, and the program has expanded to Hamburg. Funding of up to €500,000 is available for projects in crop production, biotechnology, the 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:

Photoplasm

The "Photoplasma" project is dedicated to using plasma technology to improve plant growth and combat pests. By using photoplasma, chemical pesticides can be reduced, thus decreasing environmental pollution.

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 environmental impact but also lowers fertilizer costs.

GROW

"GROW" is a pioneering project that focuses on the implementation of AI-driven agriculture. By using artificial intelligence, farmers can optimize their resources, increase crop yields, and simultaneously minimize the use of water and pesticides.

AgriPV Fieldgarden

“AgriPV Fieldgarden” is a fascinating project that explores the integration of photovoltaic modules into agricultural land. 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. The use of optics allows valuable information about the condition of the forest to be obtained, leading to more precise forest management.

Forestforward

"Forestforward" focuses on sustainable forestry practices that protect biodiversity and reduce CO2 emissions. This project contributes to preserving forests as important carbon sinks while simultaneously promoting the conservation of natural habitats.

ForestCare

The "ForestCare" project aims to improve forest protection through the use of state-of-the-art technology. Drones, sensors, and big data analytics enable the early detection of pests and diseases, allowing for timely countermeasures.

InaviVUS

“InaviVUS” is a pioneering project that focuses on the sustainable management of water resources in agriculture. Through intelligent irrigation systems and water management, water consumption can be reduced while simultaneously increasing irrigation efficiency.

Phage therapy

Phage therapy is a promising approach to combating antibiotic-resistant pathogens in agriculture. Phages are viruses that can specifically attack bacteria and thus represent an alternative method for controlling 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 contribute to making agriculture and forestry more sustainable but also have positive effects on the environment and society as a whole.

To ensure a positive future for agriculture and forestry, it is crucial that such innovative projects continue to be supported and promoted. EIP Agri plays a vital role in this by providing the necessary financial resources to advance these promising initiatives.

An overview of currently running 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 presented the funding approvals to the project managers today (Thursday). They will be supported by the European Innovation Partnership "Productivity and Sustainability in Agriculture" (EIP Agri) funding program. A total of €4.1 million – primarily from EU funds – will be provided for the new projects.

“These new projects will help to master the transformation of agriculture. Good ideas and commitment, motivation and leadership are what 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 ministry.

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

Other projects focused on topics such as weed control using laser technology, direct seeding methods in forestry, and combating avian influenza viruses using special UV lamps. To receive EIP funding, all projects must demonstrate collaboration between farmers, researchers, advisory institutions, and other stakeholders (at least three).

The current sixth call for proposals included projects from the forestry sector for the first time. Four projects are from the forestry/woodland sector. The next, seventh call for proposals is just around the corner. The submission deadline will be in autumn 2023.

What is EIP Agri?

The core objective of this funding measure is to strengthen the transfer of innovation for a competitive, sustainable, and animal-friendly agricultural and food sector. It is aimed at all those who recognize the innovation potential of agriculture, are willing to try new things, and want to contribute their own expertise to a project.

These partners from science, agricultural practice, and consulting work on each project intensively address specific problems over a three-year period. There are virtually no limits to the topics: projects on sustainable plant production, biotechnology and the circular economy, animal-friendly livestock farming, and key technologies such as artificial intelligence and digitalization receive funding of up to €500,000.

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 jointly managed by the Lower Saxony administration.

Source: Press release dated June 20, 2023