ISHS Acta Horticulturae 495: WCHR - World Conference on Horticultural Research
EUROPEAN UNION AGRICULTURE PROGRAMMES AIR AND FAIR, 1992–98. RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION (RTD & D) PROJECTS IN HORTICULTURE |
| Author: | B. Donini |
| Abstract:
European Community objectives are to promote and harmonise research in the major European primary production sectors of agriculture, horticulture, forestry, fisheries and its links with inputs and processing industry. The Community policy and approach of the Programme for RTD & D in the field of Agriculture and Agro-industry (including Fisheries) "AIR (1990–94)" and in Agriculture and Fisheries (including Agro-industry, Food technologies, Forestry, Aquaculture and Rural development) "FAIR (1994–98)" are based on the keywords: (i) "market led" the fulfil of quantitative and qualitative demands of the market and consumer, (ii) "qualitative" the research goals directed towards the quality of production rather than quantity, (iii) "innovative" the projects aim towards a remarked high innovation potential of products and systems. In Horticulture, the EU programme concerns with the aspects of (i) optimisation of methods, systems and primary production chain (more economically and ecologically sustainable production, quality production, etc.); (ii) development and application of advanced breeding methods to develop improved varieties resistant to pests, diseases and weeds and (iii) application of advanced and optimised technologies and processes leading to improved quality of products. The EU research programme are open to public and private research institutes, industrial firms, small and medium enterprises established in the Member States and the projects are transnational and involve at least participants two from different Member State. Most of the RTD project are carried out through "shared cost" actions carried out by research centres, university, private companies etc. and with the Community participation in the cost of the RTD (50%) and through "concerted actions" consisting in the co-ordination of RTD project and with the Community participation (only for the co-ordination up to 100%). The project, which must fall within the scope and the objectives of the programme, should be of precompetitive character with scientific and technical excellence and novelty and the results should require further development to produce marketable products or processes. This presentation underlines some of the projects financed by the EU in the major topics and subarea of the horticultural sectors. | |
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