Policy Insights - Diversify to thrive

Farm diversification can help European farms – especially small ones – cope with economic vulnerabilities and global challenges, adopting strategies that fit their context and specific needs.

Strengthening the competitiveness of the agri‑food sector has long been a core objective of the CAP. The analysis of Member States’ CAP evaluations provides valuable insights into the progress achieved so far.

• Briefing - Examples of cooperation among farmers to support businesses’ income and resilience
• Case Study - EU funds advice clinics – Ireland
• Highlights Report - 1st meeting of the Thematic Group on Farm Diversification
• Highlights Report - 2nd meeting of the Thematic Group on Unlocking the Potential of Cooperation 
• Press Article - Advisors and winegrowers tackle severe fungal disease using drone-based data
• Press Article - New nursery protocol protects cork oak seedlings from major pathogen

A farmer turns her family farm into a sustainable, high‑quality producer of wines and extra‑virgin olive oils.

Mixed farm uses CAP investment support to modernise its livestock facilities, improve efficiency, animal welfare, and reduce its operating costs and environmental impact.

• Finland - Pink Free-Range Barn – better quality of life for farmers and animals
• France - FOSTER uses smart CAP credit to empower French farmers
• France - QANOPÉE: conservation and pre-multiplication of scions and rootstocks
• Greece - Enhancing agricultural efficiency through technological modernisation and sustainable practices
• Greece - Installation of rice drying and storage unit by the Farmer Group Macedonian Rice
• Greece - LEADER modernises, expands and diversifies cheese dairy in Crete
• Greece - Marbling Meat: innovative breeding methods improve cattle quality and value
• Greece - The Smaller Aegean Islands scheme: helping small farms remain viable and sustaining local food production
• Italy - New nursery protocol protects cork oak seedlings from major pathogen
• Italy - Organic cosmetics made from forestry by-products
• Lithuania - Boosting the supply of fresh, local produce to public institutions in Lithuania through collaboration
• Luxembourg -  Advisors and winegrowers tackle severe fungal disease using drone-based data
• Portugal - #TreeNuts – Sharing knowledge of strategies to boost the dried fruit sector
• Romania - Female farmers upscale sustainable vegetable production and nutrition in Romania
• Spain - Agrifood investment guarantees in Spain help fill financing gaps
• Sweden - Swedish farmer promotes the potential of peas as profitable protein crops

This was the second and last meeting of this Thematic Group (TG), which examine how to best utilise the CAP’s potential for improving water resilience in rural areas.

Guidelines - Evaluation of the green architecture of the CAP Strategic Plans

• Highlights Report - 1st Thematic Group meeting on the CAP's Role in Supporting Sustainable and Competitive Livestock Systems
• Press Article - A calculator for carbon sequestration in forestry

Farmers and nature benefit from better advisory services thanks to specialised EU rural development support in Germany for networks, cooperation and regional value chains.

Emissions from Irish beef herds are being mitigated by 260 million euros of CAP funding for farmers committed to optimising the profitability of herd genomics.

Other Good Practices

• Denmark - CAP support helps small farm boost nutritious sustainable food systems in Denmark
• France - Bio-waste management awareness project
• France - Festival for the environment and local biodiversity in rural France
• Germany - Funding cooperative nature conservation on farms in Saxony-Anhalt
• Germany - German Operational Group tests integrated strategy for farmland insects and avifauna
• Greece - Citrus zero waste production & renewable energy: sustainable product lines
• Greece - Installation of a smart drip irrigation system for vineyards with water reuse in a viticultural enterprise on the island of Santorini
• Hungary - Hungarian rural areas tackle invasive population problems using EU support
• Hungary - Soil health restoration and renewal promoting circular productivity solutions for Hungarian food systems
• Italy - Turning a disused quarry into a reliable irrigation source with CAP support

Drawing on academic research and practical experience, this Briefing offers a clear and accessible overview of social capital in the LEADER framework and helps LEADER stakeholders - particularly Local Action Groups - strengthen the added value of LEADER within their organisations and territories.

A new digital platform managed by the National CAP Network in Portugal maximises knowledge sharing, interaction and collaboration within the national Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS).

• Policy Insights - Media literacy in rural areas: building confidence and clarity in a digital age
• Press Article - ‘Determination, confidence and flexibility’ essential for new entrants to ensure successful takeover

Island communities in Cyprus used LEADER support to drive successful bottom-up action, developing new high-tech tourist trails and conserving key cultural assets.

A military-grade multirotor drone, with 11 trained operators, provides a range of civil support services for rural areas along the EU border with Russia in Finland.