IT Sligo participation in the recently awarded HNV-LINK H2020 project
Work of IT Sligo on High Nature Value farming is getting an important boost from a prestigious Horizon 2020 project called HNV-Link, which stands for High Nature Value Farming: Learning, Innovation and Knowledge. This is a 13-partner consortium, which grew out of the EIP Focus Group on HNV farming. With an overall budget of 2.2 M€, the project started in April 2016 and will last for three years.
IT Sligo will work closely with the Irish partner Burrenbeo Trust. The partnership is part of an international network focusing on innovations that support HNV farming systems and communities by simultaneously improving their “socio-economic viability” and “environmental efficiency”. A set of “learning areas” – including the Burren as well as many other iconic landscapes across Europe – will be used to evaluate innovation examples and innovation gaps, not only technical and commercial innovation but also social, institutional and policy innovation. There is also an ambitious dissemination plan for engaging farmer groups, researchers and other actors beyond the 10 learning areas.
The project will support grassroots activities (such as exchange visits), which are always highly demanded by practitioners on the ground. Among the major outputs is an atlas of innovations feasible within HNV farming areas. The project will also host an “Innovation Fair” to foster peer learning. Finally, HNV-Link will identify existing educational material and expose educators and students alike to HNV concepts, challenges and opportunities. The project’s website and other communication channels will be established by mid-2016.
If you want to get an update and follow the project, you can contact the HNV-Link communication person – Irina Herzon (herzon@nullmappi.helsinki.fi) (in English) or a national contact person Dr. James Moran at IT Sligo moran.james@nullitsligo.ie or Burren contact point Brigid Barry trust@nullburrenbeo.com
HNV-Link Coordinator:
Institut Agronomique Mediterrannéen de Montpellier (CIHEAM-IAMM) – France
HNV-Link LINK Partners:
European Forum on Nature Conservation and Pastoralism (EFNCP) – United Kingdom
University of Evora, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas – Portugal
University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj Napoca – Romania
Society for Territorial and Environmental Prosperity (STEP) – Bulgaria
County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland – Sweden
Application des Sciences de l‘Action (AScA) – France
Institute of Technology Sligo, Centre for Environmental Research Innovation and Sustainability – Ireland
University of Thessaly, Department of planning and regional development – Greece
University of Helsinki. Department of Agricultural Sciences – Finland
Local action group LAG 5 – Croatia
Conservatoire d’Espaces Naturels Languedoc-Roussillon – France
Fundación Entretantos – Spain
