The FARMWELL project’s Hungarian, British, Dutch, Belgian, Italian, Greek, Polish and Romanian consortium members, with the participation of the Institute of Agricultural Economics (AKI) and the Hungarian Social Farms Alliance (MSZFSZ) representing Hungary, discussed the current issues, possible synergies, and future plans of the project in an online partner meeting on 19-20 January 2022.
All partner institutions were actively involved in the implementation of the program. From each country concerned, a good practice of social innovation that is relevant to the project and inspiring was presented; thematic working groups discussed several key aspects of social innovation affecting the well-being of farmers; the partners outlined their plans for further activities of their national practice groups; they also briefly introduced the social innovation which is intended to be examined in more detail; and, through examples they received guidance on the result and impact assessment methodology of the innovation to be examined.
The Open Farm – Zala Valley Network (operated by the Zala Thermal Valley Association) was chosen by AKI as a good practice to be introduced to the Hungarian practice group and the wider farmer society, as well as to be subject of further analysis. The members of the Hungarian practice group will have the opportunity in February 2022 to get familiar with this almost unique open farm initiative in Hungary, which also served as a basis for dialogue for the thematic working group on trust and cooperation led by AKI staff in the online partner meeting. The presented network cooperation was well-received by the participants of the working group, and generated genuine interest, numerous questions, and constructive suggestions from the international partners.
In addition to the above, the partner meeting also included the sharing and discussion of information related to the communication, management and financial issues and further steps of the project.
