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Price volatility is one of the most significant risks in agricultural production. Farmers must navigate unpredictable fluctuations in input and output prices, which can threaten their profitability and long-term stability. Financial tools—such as forward contracts, futures, options, and price insurance—offer mechanisms to mitigate these risks. However, despite their potential benefits, adoption rates among farmers remain surprisingly low.

Fertiliser plays a crucial role in ensuring global food security. However, its overuse can lead to environmental pollution, while the energy-intensive production of mineral nitrogen fertiliser contributes significantly to carbon dioxide emissions. In response, the European Union and its member states have introduced policies to regulate fertiliser use at the farm level. Despite these efforts, farmers often deviate from the recommended fertiliser application rates—not only overapplying but also underapplying fertiliser. Such behaviour challenges traditional economic models based on profit maximisation and rational choice theory, highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of what drives farmers' fertiliser decisions.

From in-depth discussions to lively dinners, our three-day meeting at the University of Trento brought together the Work Package 5 team for a highly productive and engaging session. Hosted by our colleagues at the University of Trento and joined by colleagues from Wageningen University & Research and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, we made significant progress across all tasks, refining our systematic literature reviews, finalising survey instruments, and conceptualising innovative risk management tools for farmers.

 

AgEnRes continues to push boundaries in agricultural innovation, addressing one of the sector's most pressing challenges: reducing dependence on fossil fuels while maintaining efficiency and resilience. Deliverable D1.2, "Mapping, categorisation, and selection of technologies", advances on these goals, presenting comprehensive findings on the path toward sustainable farming practices. 

In the face of rising energy prices and climate challenges, agriculture stands at the crossroads of transformation. AgEnRes aims to navigate this intersection by exploring strategies for energy independence and resilience in farming. Deliverable D1.1, the project’s first major output, explores the policies shaping this transition. From the EU Green Deal to national implementation, it provides a roadmap to understanding how policy frameworks can help—or hinder—the journey toward sustainable agriculture. 

Here’s what we found during our work: 

We’re thrilled to bring you the first edition of our AgEnRes Newsletter! Though we’ve only been up and running for less than a year, we’ve already made significant progress. There’s plenty to share, so grab a warm drink, get comfortable, and let’s dive in!

The AgEnRes project relies on expert teams to deliver its ambitious goals, and Work Package 9 (WP9) is no exception. Responsible for Communication, Dissemination, and Exploitation, WP9 is led by Krisztina Tóth, Senior Manager, and Diego Ibáñez Rodríguez, Communication Manager, both from GEONARDO. Together, they ensure that AgEnRes reaches its target audiences effectively, translating complex scientific findings into actionable insights and fostering engagement across sectors.

In this interview, they share their perspectives on their organisation’s role, the project’s challenges, and the potential impact on agricultural communities.

In the latest Voices of AgEnRes blog post, we introduce Petr Havlík and Tamás Krisztin from IIASA, who lead Work Package 7 (WP7). They discuss their roles in enhancing agricultural models to better incorporate energy dimensions, the challenges they face, and the exciting developments ahead. Petr and Tamás share insights on how their work will improve policy assessments, benefiting farmers and agricultural communities. Read the full interview to explore their innovative approaches in agricultural economics and energy integration.

In this edition of our Voices of AgEnRes blog series, we feature Franziska Appel from the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies. Franziska shares how her Work Package aims to inform policymakers with more realistic models, ultimately benefiting farmers and agricultural communities.  

Read the full interview to learn about the innovative approaches being taken in agricultural modelling. 

In this edition of our Voices of AgEnRes blog series, we feature Tobias Dalhaus from Wageningen University, leading Work Package 5 (WP5). Tobias shares his insights on developing financial price risk management tools to reduce farmers' financial exposure to input price extremes. Read the full interview to discover the promising advancements in agricultural financial management!