Digital transformation of agriculture is a cornerstone of the EU’s Green Deal, Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) – including the CAP Strategic Plans (NSPs) – and the broader European digital strategy. Public rhetoric emphasises the technical promise of precision farming, sensor‑driven decision support, and AI‑enabled crop management. Research projects and policy discourse have been focusing on the same issues for over a decade. However, there is a lack of robust policy frameworks that support sustainable digitalisation and a persistent implementation gap that hampers sustainable and scalable adoption of digital tools in agriculture. The CAP is being revised at the moment which makes a discussion on these topics very timely.
The CODECS project has responded by developing policy recommendations and several policy tools that translate scientific evidence into actionable levers for decision‑makers at EU and national levels. However, validation of these tools is essential before they can be embedded in forthcoming policy, legislation or funding programmes. Engaging policymakers early ensures that the recommendations align with ongoing legislative cycles and that any identified legal or administrative constraints are addressed promptly. Moreover, several sister projects are producing overlapping yet distinct policy messages. A systematic comparison will:
- Highlight thematic synergies that can be addressed at the EU level
- Surface gaps where the CODECS approach can provide unique value
- Facilitate exchange between researchers and policymakers. The meeting will build on established trust while expanding the dialogue to incorporate fresh perspectives from the newest policy cycles.
In sum, this third CODECS science-policy interface meeting will serve as the decisive step that moves CODECS recommendations from draft to policy‑ready, while positioning the project within the broader ecosystem of EU digital agriculture.
Presentations:
- CODECS: An overview – Gianluca Brunori, University of Pisa & CODECS Coordinator
- EU policy landscape for agricultural digitalisation – Serafin Pazos-Vidal, European Association for
Innovation in Local Development (AEIDL)
- Policy analysis and roadmap – Emils Kilis and Stanislavs Seiko, BSC
- Policy foresight workshops – Niamh Mahon, James Hutton Institute
- Guidelines for local digitalisation strategies – Blanca Casares (AEIDL)
- Why it’s important to have a checklist – Raquel Pastor, AEIDL
- Key messages and recommendations from Farmtopia – Alexandra Aslanidou, GreenSupplyChain