Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

 

The overall objective of CASA was to support and facilitate the development of a consolidated Common Agricultural and wider bioeconomy reSearch Agenda within the European Research Area.

CASA has achieved this by supporting the Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR), which has already contributed since 2005 significantly to this objective, in its efforts to move to the next level of performance as a research policy think tank.

SCAR plays an important role in coupling research and innovation and in removing barriers to innovation in Member States (MS) and Associated Countries (AC), and aims to make it easier for public-public and public-private sectors to work together in delivering innovation that tackles the challenges faced in the bioeconomy area.

SCAR involves representatives from 37 countries (status 11/2019).

More information on SCAR, its bodies, activities and outcomes are available on this website.

The four specific objectives accomplished in CASA were:

1. Increased and broadened participation, interaction and collaboration of MS and AC with each other and also with the Directorate-Generals (DG) of the European Commission in the different SCAR bodies
2. Improved quality of outputs and outcomes of SCAR and its Strategic Working Groups (SWGs) and Collaborative Working Groups (CWGs) as well as Foresight Group creating added value for greater impact
3. Strengthening the production of more strategic policy advice for the coming years improved by SCAR within the evolving landscape of the broader bioeconomy based on an increased and broadened participation facilitated by CASA
4. Improved overall organisation, communication and dissemination of SCAR activities, outputs and outcomes for greater impact

Main results achieved by CASA (Sept.2016 - Aug.2019):

Related to the objective 1

• 7 SCAR national meetings were organized: Increase of awareness on SCAR and its activities in less involved Member States and Associated Countries like Bulgaria, Hungary, Greece, Poland, Portugal, and the Baltic countries.
• Active engagement of new delegates in SCAR bodies: 21 mentees mentored by 11 mentors with representation of the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and UK.
• 19 workshops facilitated for SCAR bodies: SWG Bioeconomy, SWG Food Systems, SWG Forest, SWG AKIS and SWG ARCH as well as the Foresight Group (also matching objective 2).
• 17 studies facilitated for the SCAR SWGs and SCAR CWGs (also matching objective 2).
•  2 Studies facilitated for SCAR Plenary and SG analyzing the representativeness and participation of countries involved in SCAR; one study at the start of CASA and one close to the end of CASA.
• Recommendations aimed to improve the utilization and implementation of the outcomes of future foresight studies with the lack of financial support as one of the potential threats for its effective implementation (also matching the objective 2).

Related to the objectives 2 and 3

• Completion of a SWOT that identifies priority areas for an improved structure, activities and impact of the SCAR, and aimed to a more inclusive decision-making process for this committee.
• 9 recommendations for better alignment between the SCAR WGs as well as between the SCAR and its WGs and beyond, including linkages with other DGs and SCAR national mirror groups.
• The set-up of a structure and guideline for future SCAR Foresight processes as well as on the implementation of the SCAR Foresight outcomes.
• Completion of an impact assessment framework alongside a strategy with implementation plan.
• Drafting of scenarios for the after-CASA period, where in-kind dedication on top of daily workload and budget constrains are indicated as potential threats.

Related to the objective 4

• Enhanced branding and visibility of SCAR.
• Main outreach activities and outputs: 2 overarching SCAR Conferences (one was available through web-stream), 56 non-scientific publications, 21 trainings, 27 dissemination activities in external events, 1 centralized SCAR website (with a total of 842 items: 166 articles, 304 PDFs documents, 362 images, 9 forms and 1 video), 5 newsletters, 8 roll-ups and 17 flyers (including updating).
• Main targeted profiles: over 10,500 policy makers, 1,000 researchers and 34 industry representatives.
• In the figure below the four specific objectives of CASA are matched to the activities and outcomes in relation to the corresponding communication and dissemination target groups. These groups are listed in the outer margin of the figure.

Infographic: Overview of communication and dissemination

 

For further information please also visit the CORDIS website on the CASA project:

• https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/206008/factsheet/en
• https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/206008/reporting/en

The reporting period data becomes available when accepted by the EC. 

CASA Consortium, 28th November 2019

 

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	This Coordination and Support Action is funded through Horizon 2020, Societal Challenge Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry, Marine, Maritime and Inland Water Research and the Bioeconomy.