German Innovation Office EIP Agricultural in Schleswig-Holstein ready to support Operational Groups

The region Schleswig-Holstein’s Innovation Office EIP Agricultural started its work 1 July 2014. With their Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 approved, they are one of the first offices to open shop. Their tasks are ambitious.

Carola Ketelhodt, head of the innovation office explains: “The Innovation Office will deal with information exchange and public relations within the EIP Agricultural network in our region. We will support the future Operational Groups with information, assistance and support during the planning, implementation and the execution of the project ideas.” 

Schleswig-Holstein is one of the 13 German regions implementing EIP-AGRI. Carola continues: Crosslinking different (future) Operational Groups within Schleswig-Holstein and within the North German cooperation with Lower Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has our priority.” Active public relations ensure information exchange on future project results and by doing this supports the knowledge transfer towards practice. 

A leading role for farmers and foresters

Member States / regions can integrate EIP-AGRI in their Rural Development Programme, which offers financial support to Operational Groups. They offer the possibility to develop, test and apply innovative approaches.

From 2015 onwards, the state of Schleswig-Holstein offers funding for innovative projects within Operational Groups. Carola: “Operational Groups will increase sustainability, resource protection and agricultural productivity. This will attract dedicated farmers, researchers and entrepreneurs towards new forms of cooperation. The implementation of EIP together with Operational Groups in Schleswig-Holstein is based on the ‘bottom-up’ principle: the need for innovation comes from practice, where farmers and foresters play a leading role in the development of solutions.”

45 innovative projects at the table

The first call for Operational Groups / innovative projects closed on 31 October 2014. 45 project applications were submitted. Carola: “Topics vary from soil / humus, cattle health, native protein crops, grassland to organic farming. At this moment (26 February 2015) all applicants can revise their applications according to the new information that came in from the EU commission.”

On 22 and 23 April 2015 a jury will select the best projects. The start of these projects is planned for 1 June 2015. Carola concludes: “We are really looking forward to supporting our farmers and foresters, to create a sustainable and productive agriculture!”

More information

The Innovation Office EIP is based at the
Chamber of Agriculture Schleswig-Holstein
Green Kamp 15-17
24768 Rendsburg
Tel. 04331- 9453- 114/105
Eip-agrar@lksh.de

Further information and posters describing the project proposals can be found here.

Is your Member State / region setting up its own EIP-AGRI Innovation Office? Then the EIP-AGRI Service Point would like to know! We are always looking for examples to inspire others.