Rural entrepreneurship in relation to innovation

Perspectives from The Young Friends of the Countryside (YFCS)

BrusselsJune 2013

Definition 

Young Friends of the Countryside is a European membership association for future and young private landowners and rural business people aged between 18 and 35 years

old

Widely known by its acronym, YFCS is recognized by the European Union as an International Non Profit Organisation

Objectives

European Rural Business Opportunities

Estates & Historical Houses

Management

European Environmental

Policies

Estates & Historical Houses

inheritance

Channel ideas at EU level

through ELO

Leverage on members’ innovative

countryside experiences

YFCS – Connection with ELOELO General Assembly

ELO Consultative Committee

Policy GroupStaff

Board

Staff

Board

Members

Board

Members

Board

YFCS members are frequently informed on 16 carefully selected areas of focus – particularly in relation to rural entrepreneurship and its various opportunities

Natura 2000 Agriculture Forestry Climate Change

Biomass & Biofuels Green Tech Renewables Fisheries & Water

Soil & Pesticides Sustainable Hunting Historic Houses Transmission

Entrepreneurship Asset management EU lobbying EU policymaking

YFCS – Information

Global Challenges

Opportunities and threats leading to research and innovation – water 

• Water is a crucial production factor for food

production and environmental services

• The land manager, being aware of the crucial

importance of water in rural

enterpreneurship, implements research

ideas and develops innovative solutions, i.e.

• Rainwater harvesting, water reuse

• Biotechnology

• Crop rotations that make best use of

available water

• Adjustments of sowing dates

Food Security• Rising food prices increase the incentives for deforestation,

which again is a major cause of global warming.

• Climate effect of deforestation and conversion of pasture into crop land: 18 per cent.

• This is more than the climate effect of global manufacturing and more than the climate effect of global transportation.

World food security likely to become a significant political issue (civil unrest, migration). (Professor Harald von Witzke, 2013)

Agricultural innovation and food security

• Increasing price of food generates new employment and income opportunities for farmers, and for upstream and downstream industries.

• Research shows that agricultural research is among the socially most profitable investments in industrial countries and developing nations alike.

• Foster innovation and productivity growth: Agricultural research policy will have to be a key component in the new international agricultural policy agenda.

• Increase public agricultural research investment.• Encourage private agricultural research

investmenmt.