Funding Call Now Open to Support European Farm Advisors to Embrace Digital Tools and Technologies
The FAIRshare (Farm Advisory Digital Innovation Tools Realised and Shared) project launched in November 2018 and it aims to enable a more digitally active farm and farm advisory community.
Funding Call Now Open to Support European Farm Advisors to Embrace Digital Tools and Technologies
The project focuses on bridging the digital divide evident between, and within, advisory services by encouraging and supporting farm and agricultural advisors to adopt or adapt existing Digital Advisory Tools and Services (DATS) and by conducting training and networking activities to share experiences among advisors in using DATS. It is envisaged that by supporting farm advisors to become more proficient in using DATS, they will then be best placed to support farmers in participating in the digital age given their key role and position in the Agricultural and Knowledge Innovation System (AKIS).
To engage with farm, agricultural and forestry advisors directly, the project aims to fund a number of User Cases, or living labs, targeting agricultural, farm and forestry advisors, to help support engagement with a range of DATS across Europe. Applicants can include a farm or agricultural advisory service, a cohort of advisors within an advisory service, or a group of independent advisors. While a number of UCs have already been established as part of the FAIRshare project, FAIRshare now intends to fund a further 13 UCs valued at €30,000 each. A public tender process has launched to select these UCs and they will be spread across Europe in 4 regions or lots as determined below:
Lot 1. West Europe - France, Ireland, UK, Spain, Portugal - 3 UCs that will be co-ordinated by Teagasc.
Lot 2. North East Europe -Lithuania, Latvia, Finland, Denmark, Poland, Estonia, Norway, Sweden - 3 User Cases which will be co-ordinated by LAAS (VIESOJI ISTAIGA LIETUVOS ZEMES UKIO KONSULTAVIMO TARNYBA).
Lot 3. South East Europe - Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Greece - 4 User Cases which will be co-ordinated by SEASN (MREZA SAVJETODAVNIH SLUZBI JUGOISTOCNE EUROPE).
Lot 4. Central Europe - Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria - 3 User Cases which will be co-ordinated by ZLTO (ZUIDELIJKE LAND- EN TUINBOUWORGANISATIE VERENIGING).
FAIRshare will support each selected user case with funding of up to €30,000. It is intended that these UCs should run up to 6 months. User Cases can be broad and adopt many different approaches. Some examples could include, but are not limited to, the adaptation and adoption of specific digital tools, skills and training development, capacity building and communication activities within advisory organisations to support digital tools adoption.
Whatever the scope, funding proposals should bear in mind the funding amount (€30,000) and the short time frame (6 month). User case funding can be used to meet the user cases own costs including aspects, for example, such as staff time, travel, translations, workshops, study trips, training or licencing of key DATS, adaption costs etc.
Professor Tom Kelly, the Principal Investigator of the FAIRshare project, stated “This is a great opportunity for advisors and their organisations to get funding for specific digitalisation actions which are needed to improve services to farmers”.
Proposals are now being accepted through a public procurement competition, which is available here.
The deadline for applications is 14:00 (CET) on Monday March 14th 2022.
For more information and updates regarding the tender you can follow FAIRshare social media accounts on Twitter, Linkedin or Facebook or contact the FAIRshare Project Manager Teresa Hooks at Teresa.Hooks@Teagasc.ie
Notes:
- Eligible applicants: Proposals will be only be considered if they are centred on farm, forestry or agricultural advisors. Lead applicants can include an advisory service, a cohort of advisors within an advisory service, or a group of independent advisors.
- This tender is NOT for the development of new tools.
- Organisations who are already beneficiaries or involved in the FAIRshare project are not eligible.
- Submissions can only be made via the E-tender system and using the response document provided.
- The FAIRshare project is an EU funded Horizon 2020 Project with the grant agreement number 818488.