This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no 609448. www.impresa-project.eu is a collaborative research project assessing the economic, environmental and social impacts of research on European agricultural and food systems. It is supported by the European Union and executed by a consortium consisting of European universities, research institutes, a consulting company and a UN agency. With a is a 38 month budget of €2.5 million, project from 2013 until 2016. Questions • How does scientific research affect agriculture and why do certain insights lead to innovation and impact, and other insights do not? • How do research-based innovations reach farmers? • What are the causal chains for agro-ecological and socioeconomic impact of research on agriculture? • What factors enable, foster, or limit, the effectiveness of research on agriculture? In addressing these and related questions the project explores the connection between research and innovation in agriculture. The project takes stock of current research activities across Europe, identifies key research issues, and analyses public and private expenditures on scientific research on agriculture will estimate the economic, environmental and social benefits of research in selected European countries. This will contribute to better informed decisions regarding future research programmes in the EU and in EU Member States. Methodology will develop an impact assessment framework, combining primary and secondary data analysis with expert interviews, consultations and a set of case studies. The aim is to better understand and illustrate the feasibility of econometric analysis, given challenges of obtaining appropriate data. Case studies will be selected to cover a range of agroclimatic, socio-economic and sectoral conditions in six different countries. Impact The core impacts envisaged by relate to an enhancement of the capacity of scientific research on agriculture to address major societal challenges: in food security; mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change; and assisting with reform of agricultural policy to improve rural livelihoods and spatial equity. Research Steps The project consists of five steps, each one building on the other with feedback loops and an intensive interaction with relevant stakeholders. Project Design Framework for Impact Assessment partners are collaborating in a mixed-method framework for assessing the impact(s) of agricultural research. By engaging European experts in a stakeholder panel, the project will evaluate existing methods of research evaluation. The panel sessions ensure that the scientific and policy aspects of impact assessment are taken equally into consideration. Pilot Impact Assessment Methodology will then test the methodological framework. The aim is to try to disentangle the complex, multi-causal processes of interaction contained within the “black box” relationship between aggregate research effort and expenditure on one hand, and aggregate performance on the other. Stock-Taking of Current Investment into Agricultural Research is collecting and analysing data on current research expenditures to provide an overview of the level and scope of current scientific research on agriculture in Europe. The findings will improve our understanding of public and private investment in research. An analysis of available data will allow to develop recommendations for a better monitoring of agricultural research investments in the future. Analysis of the Connection Between Research and Agricultural Change to explore, in depth, Case studies will allow the link between research expenditure and agriculture in selected countries. To fully understand how research affects farm development, differentiates between the effects of research on technological capabilities and the absorptive capacities at farm and sector level. WP6: Project Coordination and Overall Management Investigation of Extent and Impact of SRA WP2: Agricultural Research Activity Data WP3: Case Studies of Science-Based Innovation in Agriculture and Food Systems WP4: Quantitative Analysis of Research Impact WP1: Concept Development and Learning WP5: Dissemination Learning and Dissemination provides a space for interaction and discussion on contemporary agriculture research issues between policymakers and scientists. It will achieve this primarily through its • Scientific Advisory Committee, • moderated e-conference, •workshops, •conferences, • scientific publications, • policy briefs, • other multimedia material. A ‘living document’ will evolve over the lifetime of as a formal expression of the project learning process. This document will also provide a mechanism for consolidation of results obtained from different work packages. Project Partners Institution Contacts Web / Email Peter Midmore (coordinator) W: www.aber.ac.uk E: [email protected] Olivier Chartier W: www.euroquality.fr E: [email protected] John Ruane W: www.fao.org E: [email protected] E: [email protected] Dominique Barjolle W: www.fibl.org E: [email protected] Simone Schiller W: www.ifls.de E: [email protected] Alma Mater Studiorum, Università di Bologna (UNIBO) Davide Viaggi W: www.eng.unibo.it E: [email protected] Università di Pisa (UNIPI) Gianluca Brunori W: www.unipi.it E: [email protected] Sergio Gomez y Paloma W: ipts.jrc.ec.europa.eu E: [email protected] Petya Slavova W: www.uni-sofia.bg/index.php/eng/the_ university E: [email protected] UK | United Kingdom Aberystwyth University (ABER) FR | France EUROQUALITY (EQY) UN | International Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) CH | Switzerland Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau (FIBL) DE | Germany Institute for Rural Development Research (IfLS) IT | Italy EU | Belgium Joint Research Centre –European Commission (IPTS – JRC) BG | Bulgaria Sofiiski Universitet Sveti Kliment Ohridksi SU (SU) Disclaimer: This publication has been funded by the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility project of the implementing partner of the and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. Project Contact: Prof. Peter Midmore Aberystwyth University, Rheidol Building, Llanbadarn, Aberystwyth, SY23 3AL UK E: [email protected] Phone: +44 (0)1970 62 2251 www.impresa-project.eu