Welcome to the First AgEnRes Newsletter!
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!
AgEnRes Newsletter - Main Achievements of the project
Let’s kick off with a quick round-up of updates:
- Building Momentum: We've been hard at work refining our project framework, hosting stakeholder workshops, and laying the foundation for key deliverables. Plus, we're getting ready to release our highly anticipated position paper, which will kick off crucial policy discussions.
- Data Powerhouse: We've made great advances in developing an EU-wide database, integrating essential data. Our research teams are also making waves at major conferences, sharing insights on fossil-energy dependence and agricultural efficiency.
- On the Ground Impact: Practical progress is in full swing, from prepping data to developing financial tools that help farmers mitigate price risks. We're also integrating behavioural insights into our models, enhancing the AgEnRes toolbox’s accessibility and quality.
- Steady Leadership: With our Stakeholder Advisory Board now established and monitoring procedures in place, governance is solid. We're also upholding the highest ethical standards, guided by our dedicated External Ethical Advisor.
- Full Steam Ahead: AgEnRes is gaining momentum, with exciting developments and collaborations driving us forward toward a resilient and sustainable future!
Past Events This Year
Alongside our work, we’ve been active at several events, both online and in person:
AgEnRes Events
- Project Kick-off: The Hague, February
We launched AgEnRes with a kick-off meeting in The Hague, where we set the stage for our first year.
- Internal Modelling Workshop at IIASA: June 6-7
In early June, we gathered in Vienna to refine our AgEnRes models, focusing on Open Science and FAIR data principles to better align with the EU’s Green Deal.
- First AgEnRes Stakeholder Workshops
In June, we hosted two critical online workshops to engage stakeholders in shaping the EU’s agricultural energy transition:
- 17 June: Policies for Energy Independence and Resilience
- 24 June: Innovations for Resilience and Energy Independence
- Internal Workshop on Energy-Saving Technologies: 24 July
We held a workshop to create key EU-wide databases on energy use and energy-saving technologies, aiming to enhance our modelling capabilities and support policy decisions.
There’s so much happening—it’s so exciting, but also a bit overwhelming! If you also feel this way, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We’ve created a handy brochure with a sleek visual roadmap of all our events up to 2027, so you can plan ahead and stay informed. Download our project brochure now to see the next steps and milestones at a glance!
External Events
We’ve also participated in several key external events:
- EU Multi-Actor Working Group's First Workshop of the BEATLES Project
AgEnRes joined this workshop hosted by AEIDL, exploring EU policy perspectives, CAP interventions, and smart farming innovations.
- European Workshop on Efficiency and Productivity (EWEPA) in Faro, Portugal
Our WP3 team attended this workshop from 18th to 21st June, discussing ongoing research on agricultural efficiency and productivity.
- IAMO Forum 2024
From 26th to 28th June, AgEnRes partners engaged in discussions on the role of agricultural land in sustainability, social justice, food security, and economic prosperity.
Photo credits: Markus Scholzs (c) IAMO
- 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists in New Delhi
AgEnRes participated in the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (CAE), organised by the International Association of Agricultural Economists, held in New Delhi from August 2nd to 7th. During this conference, we had the opportunity to provide four presentations on how to deal with energy price fluctuations in the European agricultural sector, chaired by our co-coordinator Frederic Ang (WUR). Jonathan Brooks (Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Agricultural Economics) and David Wuepper (University of Bonn) were the discussants.
Upcoming News and Events
Publication of Joint Position Paper in Autumn
We’re excited to announce our joint Position Paper, set for publication in Autumn. This paper will present our vision for a resilient European agriculture sector, integrating feedback from our audience.
- Next Stakeholder Workshop: A harmonized energy indicator list for science-policy exchange
Join us in November for a workshop focusing on the metrics and models essential for advancing agricultural resilience and energy independence. This will be our last spot until 2026 and, trust us, you don’t want to miss it!
Spotlight on Our Sister Projects
We’re excited to hand over the mic to our sister projects for their latest updates!
- Recent Publications: BEATLES has made significant progress with five new articles published in highly impactful academic journals
- Book Chapter: Additionally, the book chapter authored by the BEATLES project on "Smart Farming Technologies and Sustainability" is now available!
- Synergy Days 2024: Mark your calendars! BEATLES will be participating in Synergy Days on October 14-15, 2024, in Barcelona. Be sure to visit their booth and catch their project presentation.
- Webinars and Workshops: The BEATLES project has kicked off a series of webinars and workshops, with all recordings available here. Stay tuned for their upcoming 2nd webinar and workshop!
- ERSA 2024 Special Session: LAMASUS hosted a special session on EU and regional policy in sustainable land use management during ERSA 2024, held from August 26-30, 2024.
- New Datasets Released: LAMASUS has made new datasets available on ZENODO, including the Annual Corine Land Cover Time Series (2000-2018) and Land Use Management Data Sets.
- Geodatabase Update: The LAMASUS Land Use Management Geodatabase has been updated in Geo-wiki, featuring enhancements in grassland map validation and area transitions.
- Upcoming Annual Meeting: The LAMASUS annual meeting is scheduled for November in Seville, Spain.
- Policy Board Meeting: The LAMASUS Policy Board met in June 2024, sharing insights and shaping the project's future direction.
Stay connected for more updates from AgEnRes and our sister projects as we continue our collaborative journey towards a more resilient agricultural future!
News Items from Our Website
Don’t miss our blog series, Voices of AgEnRes, where we interview our Work Package Leaders to get their insights on the AgEnRes project.
This wraps up our first AgEnRes Newsletter. Thank you for your ongoing support and participation! We look forward to sharing more updates as we continue our journey towards enhancing energy resilience in European agriculture.
