2024
CAP
interaction
innovation
monitoring & evaluation
The CAP Networks are essential for promoting the exchange and dissemination of knowledge and innovations within the agricultural sector. With the introduction of the EIP-Agri initiative, particularly through the Rural Development Programs (RDPs) for 2014-2022, there has been an intensified focus on fostering collaboration among Operational Groups (OGs).
In a regionalized country like Italy, the risk of information dispersion among the various OGs is considerable. Each region may develop its unique innovations and practices, which can lead to a fragmented understanding of practices and resources.
This fragmentation may hamper effective knowledge sharing and limit the potential for collaborative learning across regions. A national database to centralize information about OGs is essential to mitigate these issues, enabling stakeholders to access comprehensive data on projects, results, and innovations. By fostering a more integrated approach, such a database would not only streamline communication but also enhance the overall effectiveness of the CAP Networks and the EIP-Agri initiative.
The Italian OG database has been set up by the Italian NRN to collect information since the OGs 2014-2022 at national level, by avoiding the dispersion of information about partnerships and innovations. Its searchable features, which include project details and participant information, allow for effective knowledge sharing and informed decision-making, ultimately strengthening the agricultural sector's innovation capacity. The database also supports transparency and accountability by documenting all project materials and outcomes.
The database enables users to apply various filters for enhanced searchability, including Region, project title/acronym, partner name, keywords, innovation topics, sector/value chain, focus area, programming period, project status, and timing. This functionality ensures that users can easily find specific information relevant to their interests and needs.
The database for Operational Groups (OGs) has been developed based on the Italian “NRN common format’” for practice abstracts (PAs). This excel format not only aligns with the information requested by the EIP-AGRI common format but also integrates additional data categories to ensure a holistic view of each project (Table 1). By capturing a broader spectrum of information - including partner details, project objectives, innovation descriptions, and impacts - this database enhances the capacity for knowledge sharing of innovative practices across the sector.
Table 1: Information requested in the Italian NRN common format for OGs PAs
It is worth noting that this additional information is not recorder neither by AGRIDATA.
The database collects also the material (pdfs) of the OGs, including videos, events and workshops materials and the final reports of the OGs projects where available.
The database is updated through the submission of OGs PAs by Regional MAs. Once the OGs are selected, the Regional MAs send the relevant PAs to the CAP Network. This mechanism ensures that crucial information about the activities and innovations of the OGs is systematically collected and integrated into the database. Due to privacy issues, some of the data can be directly downloaded from the website by the users.
The data collected in the database are downloadable for every OG in pdf format, and are automatically elaborated to create graphical representations, statistical summaries, and tables such as the following examples:
Moreover, the collected information is also used to prepare periodic reports by the CAP Network on the progress of the implementation of Operational Groups at regional and national level.
The database will continue to be maintained throughout the 2023-2027 programming period and will be updated with new Italian Operational Groups.
