News

• Three thematic meetings will facilitate the direct exchange of knowledge between European innovation projects

• The topics of the meetings are: plant genetic resources, robotics and artificial intelligence, and the production of plant proteins

• The call for applications will be open until February 20th, both for hosting these visits and for participating in them.

Agricultural innovation continues to be central to agro-rural development. Cross-visits —transnational meetings where different Operational Groups share results, methods, and solutions in the field—are becoming a key tool for accelerating knowledge transfer in agriculture, livestock, forestry, and rural development.

The European CAP Network has launched a new call for proposals to organize three cross-visits during the week of June 15, 2026 , focusing on plant genetic resources, robotics and artificial intelligence, and the production of plant proteins in a climate transition context.

Call for applications 2026

The EU CAP Network invites EIP-Agri Operational Groups (European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability, also known as EIP-Agri ) to express their interest in hosting or participating in one of the three planned cross-visits. The topics selected for 2026 are:

1. Plant genetic resources : The visit dedicated to plant genetic resources will explore how to conserve and use plant diversity to strengthen food security and increase resilience to climate change. Agricultural intensification has reduced the diversity used, increasing vulnerability to pests, diseases, and extreme weather events. This visit will cover:

• The role of local varieties and wild relatives as a source of essential adaptive traits (drought tolerance, disease resistance).

• The socio-economic value of these varieties through territorial brands, niche markets or short chains.

• Innovations such as participatory improvement, agroforestry systems, and polycultures.

• New products and short supply chains that revive the use of traditional varieties.

2. Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Applied to Agriculture : This visit, focused on robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), will demonstrate how these technologies are driving the transformation of the agricultural and forestry sector, addressing challenges such as labor shortages, reduced inputs, and precision management. Topics to be covered include:

• Agricultural robots for weeding, harvesting, pruning, sowing or mowing.

• Systems based on sensors and computer vision for the early detection of pests and diseases.

• Predictive models to estimate yields or improve water use.

• Identifying adoption barriers, such as costs, digital training, interoperability, and data issues.

3. Protein crop production in the face of climate change : the third visit will focus on the production of protein crops, essential for animal and human nutrition, and increasingly relevant in the context of climate change. The main themes are:

• Its ability to fix nitrogen, improving the soil and reducing synthetic fertilizers.

• Its natural resilience to water stress, high temperatures, and disease.

• The growing importance of local supply chains that reduce dependence on imports.

• Innovations in rotations with legumes, mixed cropping systems and optimized input management.

• Approaches that improve water retention, soil health, and agronomic adaptation to extreme climate scenarios.

These visits will allow us to learn about innovative solutions directly in the field, compare approaches, and generate new ideas among projects facing similar challenges.

What is a cross-visit?

A cross-visit is a transnational meeting that brings together several Operational Groups   This trip is designed to foster practical learning, share methodologies, and discuss solutions to common challenges. It promotes knowledge exchange, peer learning, and the dissemination of innovations developed in real-world projects. These dynamics reinforce the impact of the results achieved by the Operational Groups and encourage the creation of new collaborations in the field of agricultural innovation.

Call deadlines

The call for applications will remain open until February 20, 2026. Projects can simultaneously apply to host a cross-visit or participate as attendees. The specific locations for each meeting will be announced in the second half of March, once the host applications have been selected. These visits offer a unique opportunity to observe innovations in operation and assess their applicability in other European territories.