Task 1.1: Project coordination
Lead partner: IFOAM EU
Partners involved: All partners
IFOAM EU will be responsible for the overall coordination of the project. It will chair the project steering committee which will be composed of the leaders and co-leaders of the four work packages, as well as two representatives of the farmer innovation groups (to be nominated at kick-off meeting, see task 1.2). As scientific coordinator, FiBL will hold the vice-chair of the steering committee. The steering committee will be responsible for supervising and monitoring all relevant aspects of the project, especially the information flow between the different work packages and the Financial aspects.
The chair (IFOAM EU), with support from the vice-chair (FiBL), will prepare the agenda and documents of the meetings, as well as the minutes. The steering committee will meet approximately every six months, when possible face-to-face in conjunction with a general project meeting (see task 1.2), otherwise online in a conference call.
Task 1.2: Internal communication
Lead partner: IFOAM EU
Partners involved: All partners
IFOAM EU will be responsible for an effective and efficient flow of information among the project partners. To this end, it will set up an intranet as part of the online knowledge platform (see WP4). The project meetings will be very important for planning the activities and aligning communication between the project partners. There will be five in total. In the first phase of the project, the frequency of the meetings will be higher because it is crucial for the success of the project and requires close follow-up. Following meetings are planned: kick-off meeting hosted by FiBL (M1-M2), 2nd meeting hosted by AIAB (M7-M8), 3rd meeting hosted by PFT Ltd/ORC (M13-M14), 4th meeting hosted by AU/ ICROFS (M22-M23), and final meeting hosted by IFOAM EU (M34-M35). The hosting partner will be responsible for organising the meetings (venue, catering and accommodation), but the costs will be paid by the participants themselves. IFOAM EU, assisted by FiBL, will be responsible for the agenda, documents and minutes of the meeting.
Task 1.3: Quality management and reporting
Lead partner: IFOAM EU
Partners involved: All partners
Whilst each WP leader will be responsible for the implementation of its respective WP, IFOAM EU will monitor the overall progress of the project and ensure that reports, milestones and deliverables are delivered on time. It will ensure that all beneficiaries fulfil their obligations under the grant agreement and the consortium agreement. A monitoring procedure for the deliverables will be set up (see section 2.3.2.). IFOAM EU will be responsible for sending the deliverables as well as the periodic technical reports and periodic financial reports to the Commission. It will be the channel through which all communication between the Commission and the project partners will flow. IFOAM EU will administer the EU grant contributions and will distribute them according to the grant agreement and the decisions made by the consortium.
Task 1.4: Relations with policy makers
Lead partner: IFOAM EU
Partners involved: All partners
It is imortant that policy makers are aware of the thematic network so that the outcomes can guide next steps in the implementation of the EIP-AGRI. IFOAM EU will maintain a continuous dialogue with the European Commission (DG AGRI, DG RTD), the EIP-AGRI Service Point and Member States.
IFOAM EU and FiBL will bring the outcomes of the project to the EIP-AGRI High-Level Steering Board of which they are both member. When Focus Groups on related themes are set up, IFOAM EU will discuss with the Commission and the EIP-AGRI Service Point how OK-Net Arable can contribute (e.g. participate in meeting of Focus Group, visit of Focus Group to one of the farmer innovation groups). IFOAM EU will also inform the other thematic networks of relevant outcomes and try to create synergies whenever possible. In cooperation with TP Organics, the thematic network will be represented in several transnational research & innovation networks (ERA-Nets, JPIs). TP Organics is the European Technology Platform for Organic Food and Farming Research. The secretariat is hosted by IFOAM EU. TP Organics is vice-chair of the Stakeholder Advisory Board of FACCE-JPI and observer in ERA-Net CORE Organic.
The other project partners will be responsible for promoting the outcomes of the project at national level, for example by participating in EIP-AGRI conferences at national and EU level.