Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Tools4CAP (Innovative Toolbox empowering effective CAP governance towards EU ambitions)
Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2024-06-30
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is undergoing significant changes under the New Delivery Model (NDM), as established by Regulation EU 2115/2021. This introduces Strategic Plans (SPs) and new monitoring, review, and evaluation requirements. Furthermore, the 2019 European Green Deal (GD) sets 2030 sustainability targets that influence the new CAP. In light of these changes, policymakers must adapt to shifting priorities and unexpected challenges.
Within those changes, Tools4CAP aims to support the design, monitoring, and evaluation of CAP-SP by providing Member States with tailored methods and tools. This project empowers policymakers to achieve the green transition, sustainability, and resilience goals by offering ready-to-use quantitative and qualitative solutions, such as modelling tools (e.g. CAPRI, GLOBIOM), participatory decision tools, and new data and monitoring technologies (e.g. satellite tech, FMIS, social media analytics). Additionally, Tools4CAP will assess the feasibility of new methods for SP design, like economic experiments and logic modelling, and evaluate farm-level modelling tools, such as the Slovenian TKMG-tool. SP design processes will be enhanced by adapting quantitative tools for diverse contexts and developing tailored participatory approaches. New data sources for monitoring, to simplify and integrate existing frameworks will also be explored.
Tools4CAP will foster the dissemination and replication of good practices across MS, enhancing the monitoring and evaluation process for 2023-2027 and improving the next-generation Strategic Plan design. The project focuses on five objectives:
• Provide a shared knowledge base and evaluation of methods and tools for SP design and implementation.
• Identify and adapt innovative methods and tools from recent research and EU initiatives.
• Empower end users to adopt innovative solutions with methodological guidance and best practices.
• Establish a replication lab for practical demonstration and uptake of innovative SP solutions.
• Set up a capacity-building hub to transfer knowledge and operational capabilities, fostering mutual learning and science-policy dialogue.
Within those changes, Tools4CAP aims to support the design, monitoring, and evaluation of CAP-SP by providing Member States with tailored methods and tools. This project empowers policymakers to achieve the green transition, sustainability, and resilience goals by offering ready-to-use quantitative and qualitative solutions, such as modelling tools (e.g. CAPRI, GLOBIOM), participatory decision tools, and new data and monitoring technologies (e.g. satellite tech, FMIS, social media analytics). Additionally, Tools4CAP will assess the feasibility of new methods for SP design, like economic experiments and logic modelling, and evaluate farm-level modelling tools, such as the Slovenian TKMG-tool. SP design processes will be enhanced by adapting quantitative tools for diverse contexts and developing tailored participatory approaches. New data sources for monitoring, to simplify and integrate existing frameworks will also be explored.
Tools4CAP will foster the dissemination and replication of good practices across MS, enhancing the monitoring and evaluation process for 2023-2027 and improving the next-generation Strategic Plan design. The project focuses on five objectives:
• Provide a shared knowledge base and evaluation of methods and tools for SP design and implementation.
• Identify and adapt innovative methods and tools from recent research and EU initiatives.
• Empower end users to adopt innovative solutions with methodological guidance and best practices.
• Establish a replication lab for practical demonstration and uptake of innovative SP solutions.
• Set up a capacity-building hub to transfer knowledge and operational capabilities, fostering mutual learning and science-policy dialogue.
In its initial phase, Tools4CAP established the fundamental framework for supporting the CAP SPs. The initial phase was dedicated to the creation of a comprehensive inventory of the methods and tools employed in Strategic Plan design and in the preceding programming period. The inventory encompasses all EU-27 MS, providing a detailed account of the tools that are anticipated to be employed for the monitoring, review and evaluation of Strategic Plans. Based on the inventory and the gaps identified, Tools4CAP focussed on three main operational areas: quantitative modelling and forecasting tools, participatory approaches and decision-making tools, and data and technologies.
During the first 18 months of the project, the foundations for demonstration and uptake of the identified methods and tools were put forward, in coordination with EU-level actors and leveraging of previous efforts. In the next phase of the project, activities will focus on developing the foreseen case studies by setting up a replication lab to demonstrate de potential use of different innovative solutions identified. It will further develop methodological guidelines and facilitate transfer of knowledge as well as capacity building through the Tools4CAP Academy. Furthermore, Tools4CAP will produce a Handbook that incorporates a self-assessment tool. This will serve to guide end users in selecting suitable solutions and identifying good practices.
During the first 18 months of the project, the foundations for demonstration and uptake of the identified methods and tools were put forward, in coordination with EU-level actors and leveraging of previous efforts. In the next phase of the project, activities will focus on developing the foreseen case studies by setting up a replication lab to demonstrate de potential use of different innovative solutions identified. It will further develop methodological guidelines and facilitate transfer of knowledge as well as capacity building through the Tools4CAP Academy. Furthermore, Tools4CAP will produce a Handbook that incorporates a self-assessment tool. This will serve to guide end users in selecting suitable solutions and identifying good practices.
The success and lasting impact (at policy, societal economic and scientific level) of Tools4CAP depends on the effective uptake of information and results by end users. Tools4CAP ensures that the final outputs and results of the project are tailored to the specific needs of end-users across MSs and provided in an accessible, user-friendly format.
During this first period, the projects network started to be established by mobilising knowledge among Tools4CAP participants, end users, policymakers, stakeholders, and the scientific community. This network aims to build the capabilities of end users and policymakers, enhancing CAP governance towards a green transition and improving contributions to EU goals. By fostering a collaborative environment, Tools4CAP ensures that innovative solutions are effectively integrated and utilised across MSs, driving progress towards sustainability and resilience in agriculture and related sectors. This aims at increasing the impact of the project.
Effective communication and dissemination are crucial to facilitate the further exploitation of project results and maximise the project’s impact. The Tools4CAP Academy will facilitate knowledge transfer to end users through capacity-building webinars and a toolkit designed to foster the replication and further adaptation of innovative tools and models across Member States. The training materials developed will be translated into at least 16 EU languages and will be openly available beyond the project’s duration to further foster knowledge transfer, uptake, and impact of project results. Tools4CAP will strengthen the interface between science and policy through stakeholder engagement platforms and capacity-building webinars that reinforce the exchange between scientists, tools developers, and policymakers to amplify the project's impact.
During this first period, the projects network started to be established by mobilising knowledge among Tools4CAP participants, end users, policymakers, stakeholders, and the scientific community. This network aims to build the capabilities of end users and policymakers, enhancing CAP governance towards a green transition and improving contributions to EU goals. By fostering a collaborative environment, Tools4CAP ensures that innovative solutions are effectively integrated and utilised across MSs, driving progress towards sustainability and resilience in agriculture and related sectors. This aims at increasing the impact of the project.
Effective communication and dissemination are crucial to facilitate the further exploitation of project results and maximise the project’s impact. The Tools4CAP Academy will facilitate knowledge transfer to end users through capacity-building webinars and a toolkit designed to foster the replication and further adaptation of innovative tools and models across Member States. The training materials developed will be translated into at least 16 EU languages and will be openly available beyond the project’s duration to further foster knowledge transfer, uptake, and impact of project results. Tools4CAP will strengthen the interface between science and policy through stakeholder engagement platforms and capacity-building webinars that reinforce the exchange between scientists, tools developers, and policymakers to amplify the project's impact.