The farmer innovation groups are established groups of organic arable farmers or farmer associations in various parts of Europe. Each group has an experienced coordinator (farmer, innovation broker or adviser) who will be the contact person for the project. A workshop with the groups will be organised at the beginning of the project (during the kick-off meeting) to identify and discuss bottlenecks, based on reports of EIP-AGRI Focus Groups and input from WP3.
Regular exchange between groups will take place during project meetings, as well as through electronic meeting facilities (e.g. phone, internet); and at the final project conference, which is open to a wider range of stakeholders. Thematic sub-groups focussing for example on soil fertility, fertilization strategies, weed management, pest and disease control, variety choice or specific systems (e.g. stockless) may be formed as appropriate.
A timetable for all activities affecting the farmer groups will be drawn up in the first year. The outcome will be a closer and more integrated collaboration between the groups and an intensive international exchange of experience and knowledge