Call for Experts on “Agroforestry” and “Diseases and pests in viticulture” by EC EIP-AGRI

Dear EPSO representatives,
This is relevant for science experts (you or your colleagues) in: Agroforestry and in Diseases and pests in Viticulture.
European Commission (DG RTD and DG AGRI) continues actions under the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) “Agricultural productivity and sustainability”. This is an umbrella activity bringing Horizon 2020, Common Agricultural Policy and other policies and programmes (European and national) together.
The EC is calling for experts in new focus groups on specific agricultural topics to facilitate innovative actions in the fields of:
Agroforestry: pathways to integrate woody vegetation with specialised crop and livestock systems
– Main question: How to develop agroforestry as a sustainable farming system which can boost agricultural productivity and profitability?
– First meeting: 30 November-1 December 2016
Diseases and pests in viticulture
– Main question: How can we increase resilience of grape vines to pests and diseases and support the productivity of the sector in sustainable ways?
– First meeting: 25-26 October 2016
The full list and status of the ongoing and completed Focus Groups is included below this email.
Each focus group will have up to 20 experts chosen by the EC DG AGRI according to their competences and to covering a reasonable balance of expertise and interest (e.g. scientists, farmers, advisors, representatives from industries, environmental NGOs, consumer groups, etc.). Focus groups are expected to last for 12-18 months and the frequency of meetings is estimated to be twice a year.
The groups will explore practical innovative solutions to problems or opportunities in the field, and draw on experience made with related useful projects and aim at the sharing and exchange among actors involved into those projects (researchers, farmers, advisers etc.). The groups will also discuss and document research results and implications for further research activities that will help to solve practical problems in the sector. These may be related to production, processing, consumption, transport or other issues. The tangible output should be focused on practical knowledge and where to get that knowledge as well as ideas for operational group projects.
The call for experts to the focus groups has been published at:

Fai clic per accedere a 20160607calltext_fg21_23.pdf

The application form is at:
https://ec.europa.eu/eip/agriculture/en/content/eip-agri-focus-groups-expert-application-form
Deadline for applications to the EC is 11 July 2016.
We very much encourage our experts in these areas to complete the online ‘expression of interest’ to be considered for such an expert group as these will have long-term impact on science policy towards research, agriculture, competitiveness issues.
Please make a strong submission to be considered and inform us so we can support your application. Please highlight any muli-actor experience you have – collaboration with farmers (or their organisations), foresters, extension services etc., across disciplines. The motivation of the applicant should be explained properly, a long list of publications should not be entered, although the 3-4 most relevant publications may be useful. Applications are scored on Expertise, Motivation, and Extent of Professional Capacity (eg, Education and Experience). The selection is designed to ensure a good balance of different types of actors and geographical distribution.
For more info on the EIP-AGRI please consult the EPSO Briefing at the following address: http://www.epsoweb.org/file/1905
With best wishes
Dr Karin Metzlaff, Executive Director,
Dr. Calum MacKichan, Publications Officer,
European Plant Science Organisation, EPSO
Rue de l’Industrie 4, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
calum.mackichan@epsomail.org, Tel/Fax: +32 2 213 62 62 / 69, www.epsoweb.org