Implementation of the National system of agricultural knowledge and innovation: synergy between Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine, NRFU and EU Project IPRSA

On September 30, a meeting of state and regional authorities on the implementation of the National agricultural knowledge and innovation system (AKIS) in Ukraine was held as part of the EU Project Institutional and Policy Reform of Small-Scale Agriculture (IPRSA). Representatives of the Department “Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine”, NRFU, took part in the event.

The Head of Department, Igor Taranov, presented the opportunities offered by the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon Europe to the participants. He noted the importance of Ukraine’s participation in the Programme, which is a source of additional funding for domestic researchers and innovators. Besides that, the Head of the Office talked about the opportunities provided by the Programme in the context of EU Missions related to the agricultural sector: A Soil Deal for Europe, Adaptation to Climate Change, as well as the New European Bauhaus. In particular, he discussed the amount of funding and calls open for submission within these components of the Programme.

The key speakers at the event were representatives of the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine and the EU Project IPRSA. Mykola Moroz, representative of the Ministry of Economy, presented Ukraine’s Strategy for the Development of Agriculture and Rural Areas for 2025-2030. Among other things, he spoke about the potential of AKIS to support the implementation of tasks within this strategy. For their part, EU Project IPRSA participants Mark Redman and Ross Bull reviewed the current AKIS approach, including the activities of seven regional hubs, and presented cases from AKIS.

The event was organised by the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine. The purpose of the event was to discuss approaches to the development of agriculture in Ukraine for 2025-2030, to agree on the directions for the development of the AKIS in Ukraine and to determine the role of regional hubs in supporting the implementation of strategic goals for agricultural and rural development.

It should be noted that that event became a platform for joint work on strategic decisions on the further development of the agricultural sector and Ukraine’s integration into the European Research Area.