1. Towards Operational groups in Flanders (belgium)
Anne Vuylsteke

2. Case 1: organic farmers’ networks
What challenge / opportunity does “OG” discuss?
Exchange of practical knowledge and information
Bottom-up approach to identify demand-driven research questions in organic farms
How did the “OG” start, who initiated?
Bioforum and Landwijzer in collaboration with the Dutch Louis Bolk Institute, after the Dutch example
What have been the key success factors for the “OG”?
Guidance / facilitation Bioforum and Landwijzer
Interest and active involvement of the farmers
Coupling with applied research funding (CCBT)
How have (national) policies contributed to the “OG”?
Funding by the Flemish Government

3. What challenge / opportunity does “OG” discuss?
Case 2: Sietinet, the ornamental plant production technology and innovation network
What challenge / opportunity does “OG” discuss?
Importance of technological advances in ornamental plant production to remain competitive in the world market  cooperation with knowledge institutes and improve the access to scientific knowledge
How did the “OG” start, who initiated?
Demand by the sector (60 companies), but submitted / managed by the research institutie
What have been the key success factors for the “OG”?
Innovative companies and the specificity of the knowledge needed
Good work by the scientist working on the project
Funding  but limited in time (project has ended)
Dense network with many informal interactions
How have (national) policies contributed to the “OG”?
Grant by IWT (80% government funding, 20% companies)

4. What challenge / opportunity does “OG” discuss?
Case 3: the coordination centre for extension and support on sustainable fertilization - water quality groups
What challenge / opportunity does “OG” discuss?
Supporting policy of the Nitrate Directive: addressing poor water quality
Local networks of farmers and applied researchers try to explain (and address) red measurements
How did the “OG” start, who initiated?
Government in cooperation with experimental stations
What have been the key success factors for the “OG”?
Process is still young: not always easy to involve farmers
Voluntary participation is crucial
Combination of activities within the Coordination Centre for Information and Support on Sustainable Fertilization
How have (national) policies contributed to the “OG”?
Clear need to improve the situation
Financial support to make it happen

5. Cases that would not qualify as OG
Demand by a farmer or a single company to solve his particular problem / knowledge gap
1 farmer with specific knowledge institute / advisor
knowledge is generated tailored to the specific business
Knowledge remains private, between the partners
Farmers’ or mixed groups solely aimed at lobbying and advocacy
Producer and branch organisations continue their usual (not innovation-related) activities
Existing steering boards (of experimental stations, projects, …)

6. Bottlenecks for farmers to discuss and be active in innovation
Different groups of farmers have a different degree of involvement
Frontrunners are active and search for innovation opportunities
Frontrunners and early adopters visit experimental stations and attend information activities
Others only rely on commercial information
Main bottlenecks
Lack of time
No tradition to pay for advice
Big differences between sectors (animal versus plant, within animal / plant)
Difficult to access and test available knowledge
No real innovation instruments for agriculture
Funding for on-farm research is scarce / non-existent
Exclusion from generic instruments (90% does not qualify as an SME because of legal structure)
Research is the driving actor in the agricultural research and innovation

7. How can EIP / Operational Groups address these bottlenecks?
Provide money for facilitation (process money)
Address frontrunners and use them as examples for their colleagues
Improve accessibility of knowledge
Allow / fund experienced researchers to spend part of their time on interaction with the sector

8. How can Operational Groups be set up and farmers be motivated ?
Set-up of operational groups
In function of the needs
Demand by the sector, but others will have to write the proposal and do the administration
Initiators should have a clear view on the finality and the activities (costs) needed to get there
Motivation of farmers
Trust and empowerment
Clear objectives and benefits
Reward their efforts in field trails, on-farm experiments, …
Search for methods for interaction between face-to-face meetings

9. Bottlenecks in linking farmers with other stakeholders?
Farmers already interact with
Farmers’ associations
Experimental stations
Innovation support centre
ILVO
Others
Correct entry point (who to contact?)
Different language  how to translate a very practical issue into a research question?
Trust