Written by: Ephy Kouzi, FOCUS STC

The Future of EIP-AGRI Operational Groups: Challenges, Opportunities and Existing Support Services

On 14 May 2025, five EU-funded Thematic Networks united for a dynamic online workshop exploring the future of EIP-AGRI Operational Groups (OGs). Gathering stakeholders from across Europe, the event delivered practical insights, shared tools, and promoted collaboration to strengthen innovation in European agriculture.

A Joint Initiative for Impact

At the heart of the workshop was a shared commitment to the principle:

“Collaboration in Action: Unlocking the Potential of OGs.”

This key message was more than a slogan—it was a lived experience throughout the event. It captured the belief that strengthening collaboration across diverse actors is essential to unlocking the full potential of EIP-AGRI OGs.

The event, titled “The Future of EIP-AGRI Operational Groups: Challenges, Opportunities and Existing Support Services” was born out of the BBioNets project’s Standing Liaison Round Table cooperation initiative. Recognising shared goals and complementary strengths, five EU-funded Thematic Networks supporting EIP-AGRI OGs – BBioNets, FOREST4EU, NUTRI-KNOW, Soil-X-Change, and AQUAGRI-KNOW – came together to co-design and host this productive workshop. Being in different implementation stages, from newly launched initiatives to mature and well-established efforts, each project brought its own practical insights and tools.

Co-organising projects’ maturity: FOREST4EU & NUTRI-KNOW ‘mature’, BBioNets & Soil-X-Change ‘mid-term’, AQUAGRI-KNOW ‘new’.

A unique strength of the workshop was the active involvement of OG representatives, who contributed first-hand experiences from the field. Their participation ensured that the discussions remained grounded in the practical realities of agricultural innovation—highlighting both the barriers and enablers encountered by practitioners working directly with OGs across Europe.

By combining the perspectives of these on-the-ground actors with the strategic insights of project representatives and policymakers (officers from the EU CAP Network), the workshop demonstrated how multi-level collaboration can lead to more targeted support, smarter policy recommendations, and better-aligned resources.

The result was not just a productive exchange of knowledge, but a concrete example of how cooperation can drive meaningful impact for Europe’s agricultural communities.

Themes and Discussions

Participants explored several key topics central to the formation and sustainability of OGs:

• Enablers and support structures across various European contexts;
• Barriers faced by farmers and producers in forming or running OGs;
• Common challenges in EU-funded projects, including administrative complexity and cost-benefit issues;
• Tools, resources, and strategic approaches to encourage OG creation.

The organising projects presented practical materials and hands-on examples, with strong emphasis on peer learning and transnational collaboration.

Group photo taken during the meeting.

Looking ahead

Organisers expressed enthusiasm about building on the momentum generated by the workshop. Future actions include:

• The publication of a post-event report summarising findings and recommendations;
• Continued collaboration between thematic networks to enhance OG visibility and impact.

For more information or to access tools presented during the event, visit the official websites of BBioNets, FOREST4EU, NUTRI-KNOW, Soil-X-Change, and AQUAGRI-KNOW.