This European Seminar discussed practical opportunities and key factors for enabling resource-efficient use and management of water and soils through the Rural Development Programmes (RDPs). It brought together rural development stakeholders involved in RDP implementation at the European, national, regional and local levels.
The event concluded that resource efficiency is key for the long-term functioning of the rural economy. The true benefits and best practices for achieving resource efficiency need to be communicated better to farmers, as part of strategies applied at a territorial scale. The RDPs can be crucial in supporting resource-efficient land management practices, knowledge transfer, advice, cooperation and physical investments. This includes lessons for improving the use and strategic combination of relevant RDP Measures and implications for Rural Development policy design and delivery up to and beyond 2020.
The event built on the broader ENRD thematic work on 'Resource Efficiency', including aspects such as water use efficiency, soil and nutrient management, and soil conservation and carbon sequestration.
