ICT-AGRI · Coordination of European Research on ICT and Robotics in Agriculture and Related Environmental Issues

This horizontal ERA-NET proposal is cutting across several themes in the Cooperation Programme: Theme 2 (Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology), Theme 3 (Information and Communication Technologies) and Theme 6 (Environment including Climate Change). The overall strategic objective - also beyond the time frame of the ERA-NET proposal - is a contribution to increase quality, effectiveness and efficiency of national research programmes within Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Robotics for a competitive, sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture. The goal of the ERA-NET is to enable the creation of a European-facing open network of mutually accessible and complementary research programmes which are able to respond to the rapidly developing needs of common European policy drivers. In the pursuit of this goal the ERA-NET will review existing research and future needs, develop instruments and procedures for transnational funding activities, create a strategic transnational research agenda and programme and establish linkages to related networks and disciplines. The ERA-NET will work closely together with the Collaborative Working Group in this research area. The aim is to support the application of ICT and Robotics in the creation of environmentally efficient agro-technologies as a solution to an efficient implementation of new EU policies on mitigation and adaptation of climate changes, environmental regulations and legislation, traceability, food safety, agro-environmental and rural developments. The ERA-NET will contribute significantly to the European Research Area by improving the coherence and coordination of ICT-AGRI research programmes across Europe and the development of joint research calls at an early date. It will also bring added value and leverage to the extensive research effort undertaken by Member States' own initiatives ensuring that the research undertaken is the best and also gives the best value for money.