The workshop dedicated to the promotion of new forest value chains, was organised by the EIP-AGRI network with support of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management, and took place in Vienna from 10-11 November.

CEPF was represented among a diverse group of approximately 80 participants from foresters to researchers, advisers, innovation support agents, authorities managing rural development programmes, representatives of forest industry and NGOs. 

The aim of the workshop was not only to address and close the innovation gap between research and practice but also to present and share examples of existing value chains and explore concrete opportunities for developing innovative value chains of forest products and services which are currently under-used. This includes food products, non-food products, agroforestry and leisure and recreational uses. 

All examples presented and discussed at the workshop can be found in the final report as well as all presentations and workshop documents are available at EIP-AGRI website.

The European Innovation Partnership on Agricultural productivity and Sustainability (EIP-AGRI) works to foster competitive and sustainable farming and forestry that 'achieves more and better from less'. EIP-AGRI was launched in 2012 to contribute to the European Union's strategy 'Europe 2020' for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. This strategy sets the strengthening of research and innovation as one of its five main objectives and supports a new interactive approach to innovation: European Innovation Partnerships.

The final report can be found under following link.