Boosting Excellence in Experimental Research for Agri-Food Economics and Management

Project Information

AgriFoodBoost

Grant agreement ID: 952303

DOI

10.3030/952303

Project closed

EC signature date 10 June 2020

Start date 1 October 2020

End date 31 March 2024

Funded under

• Twinning of research institutions

Total cost

€ 899 315,00

EU contribution

€ 899 315,00

Coordinated by

SVEUCILISTE U ZAGREBU AGRONOMSKI FAKULTET
Croatia

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - AgriFoodBoost (Boosting Excellence in Experimental Research for Agri-Food Economics and Management)

Reporting period: 2022-01-01 to 2024-03-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

AgriFoodBoost is a 3-year project led by the University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture (FAZ) that focuses on the application of experimental economics in the fields of agriculture, food and environment. It was developed in collaboration with three renowned partners: University of Bologna, Agricultural University of Athens and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences .

The main objective of the AgriFoodBoost project is to enhance the research excellence and scientific visibility of agri-food economics at the Faculty of Agriculture in Zagreb and to support FAZ in becoming a regionally leading centre for experimental agri-food economics and management.
AgriFoodBoost twinning will enhance the scientific, innovation and academic capacities of FAZ researchers in order to become competitive in the scientific market. The project will help improve networking between faculty and industry and increase the capacity of FAZ researchers to offer new expertise to the agri-food industry.

AgriFoodBoost activities include researcher exchanges, thematic summer schools and workshops, expert visits, participation in conferences, the establishment of a laboratory for experimental economics and a research HUB, which aims to bring together universities, industry and public administration. Special attention has been given to early stage researchers, including long-term visits and dual supervision, participation in summer schools, workshops and PhD conferences. A specific task will help to improve the project management/administration skills of FAZ researchers and administrative staff. Communication, dissemination and exploitation activities include efforts to raise awareness of recent developments in experimental economics among the scientific community in Croatia and neighbouring regions. In addition, these activities target businesses and policy makers with the aim of increasing their awareness and understanding of the goals of the experimental economy, its potential areas of application and its benefits. It also aims to promote experimental economics to the public as a support for rational and responsible decision-making in order to achieve a positive societal and economic impact on society.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

All planned activities were successfully completed. Five summer schools and eight workshops were organised, exceeding the number originally planned. These events covered various topics related to experimental and behavioural economics as well as scientific publishing and project management.

The workshops and summer schools were attended by members of the AgriFoodBoost project, but also by (young) scientists from different countries. This diverse participation enabled excellent interaction and the establishment of new collaborations between researchers. The participation of scientists from Croatia and abroad, including both young and experienced scientists, is one of the most important successes of this project.

A total of 12 short-term and three long-term mobilities were organised at all three partner institutions. These mobilities gave the researchers the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the scientific activities at the host institutions.

Together with the project partners, the FAZ researchers successfully organised an international scientific seminar entitled "Experimental and Behavioural Economics Research in Agri-Food and the Environment" as the 183rd Seminar of the European Association of Agricultural Economists (EAAE). In addition, members of the AgriFoodBoost team prepared and organised a session at the XVII Congress of the European Association of Agricultural Economists (EAAE).

Nine research studies were conducted, three of which were organised in the Laboratory of Experimental Economics. Several joint scientific papers were prpared
and others are in preparation.

FAZ scientists were involved as partners in seven new Horizon Europe project proposals (of which one was approved and five are in the evaluation phase) and coordinated one ERA Chair project proposal.

Two events were organised with the aim of bringing science together with stakeholders from the agri-food sector.

The dissemination of the project and its results was extensive. The research results were presented at numerous national and international conferences and in several institutions in Croatia and the region. The result of the dissemination activities is an increased interest in experimental economics both in Croatia and in the region.

The media reported on the project, which led to new co-operation with relevant stakeholders.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The AgriFoodBoost project gave FAZ researchers the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from internationally leading researchers in the field of experimental economics. This strengthened their knowledge and skills to properly apply experimental economics methods and make their research designs more powerful.
Collaboration with international partners in the AgriFoodBoost project has increased FAZ's scientific visibility and their integration into the European Research Area by joining international consortia preparing EU-funded proposals.
The leading role in the AgriFoodBoost project enabled the expansion of FAZ staff's management and administrative skills.
The project gives FAZ researchers the opportunity to improve their collaboration and knowledge transfer to the business and government sectors.
Particular attention is paid to raising awareness and disseminating the project results. Therefore, project activities are continuously published on the project website (https://agrifoodboost.agr.hr/) and via social media. 

Workshop on Academic Writing and Publishing

First experimental auction AT FAZ

Project team members at the final conference

183rd EAAE seminar organised bythe project partners