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Baltic-Polish Conference 2024 and Grain Forum 2024

On 4-6 September 2024 the National Paying Agency (NPA) took part in the 23nd annual Baltic and Polish Paying Agencies’ Conference in Tartu, Estonia. The conference was hosted by the Agricultural Registers and Information Board (Estonian paying agency ARIB). Representatives of the paying agencies from Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Finland had an opportunity to exchange information, share best practices, and consult on daily operational issues, aimed at the effective and efficient implementation of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Group photo of around 40 participants in front of a wooden wall

Presentations were delivered on the achievements and experiences of paying agencies related to the administration of activities under the Rural Development Programmes and Strategic Plans 2023-2027, discussed current problems and challenges related to the implementation of activities within the framework of the CAP. Among those – presentations on data valorisation and the use of BI (Business Intelligence) dashboards to increase efficiency in ARIB, Estonia, optimisation of the process of handling agricultural investment applications by the Polish paying agency ARMA, information about the results of the first year of CAP reform related to IACS payments in Latvia, presented by the Latvian paying agency RSS.

During the conference, the NPA Deputy Director Tomas Orlickas delivered a presentation “AMS current and future impact”. In his presentation the NPA Deputy Director not only introduced to the audience the area monitoring system (AMS implementation) results in Lithuania, but also familiarised the participants of the conference with the ongoing international projects with the participation of the NPA, including the Horizon Europe project BirdWatch, with its objective to create a digital platform for the improvement of bird habitats in cultivated lands, using satellite data and optimizing the environmental protection measures (ecoschemes) of the Common Agricultural Policy, thus contributing to the biodiversity enhancement. The platform under development is based on the requirements and specifics identified by the project partners. It will be possible to achieve the project‘s ultimate objective of increasing biodiversity in certain territories with the help of the digital mapping platform. While using the platform with its optimisation module and following specific guidelines, the farmers will be able to identify habitats of bird species available at that site and to carry out the recommended actions. Thus favourable conditions will be created for those bird species to breed. This can be achieved by, for example, varying mowing regimes, planting or seeding with native tree and shrub species, or occasional soil disturbance.

This year’s workshops focused on the practicalities of implementing the monitoring system and the simplification of investment measures (artificial intelligence, control systems, simplified cost methods). On the final day the Lithuanian Paying Agency, NPA, was announced the host of the Y2025 Conference of the Paying Agencies of the Baltic States and Poland.
Annual meetings comprising discussions on the most pressing issues and technological solutions related to the administration of support for agriculture and rural development help to improve the support administration process and the activities of neighbouring paying agencies.

NPA participated in the Estonian „Grain Forum 2024“

A national conference „Grain Forum 2024“ organised by the Estonian Chamber of Agriculture and Commerce, took place in Tallinn, Estonia, on 19 November, 2024. Current trends in the grain sector, technological innovations and market prospects were discussed during the event. The questions on legal regulation of carbon farming in contracts with the producers at the national and the European level, food safety in Estonia and worldwide as well as other topics were touched upon during the event. About 60 representatives of the sector, including experts from the Estonian ministries, research organisations and business enterprises attended the conference.

The National Payment Agency (NPA), Lithuania, as well as the EU Copa-Cogeca have received invitation to take part in the conference as guests. Claude Soude, Vice-Chairman of the Oilseeds Working Group, Copa-Cogeca, spoke about the EU regulatory burden and ways of coping with it. Martynas Rimgaila, Adviser to the Direct Support Unit, Control Department, NPA, delivered a presentation “Inspection mechanisms and remote monitoring“ and introduced the audience to the NPA’s latest initiatives and solutions contributing to more effective control and supervision within the sector. In his presentation, the Adviser, inter alia, familiarised the participants of the conference with the ongoing international projects with the participation of the NPA, including the Horizon Europe project BirdWatch, with its objective to create a digital platform for the improvement of bird habitats in cultivated lands, using satellite data and optimizing the environmental protection measures (ecoschemes) of the Common Agricultural Policy, thus contributing to the biodiversity enhancement. The platform under development is based on the requirements and specifics identified by the project partners. It will be possible to achieve the project‘s ultimate objective of increasing biodiversity in certain territories with the help of the digital mapping platform. While using the platform with its optimisation module and following specific guidelines, the farmers will be able to identify habitats of bird species available at that site and to carry out the recommended actions. Thus favourable conditions will be created for those bird species to breed. This can be achieved by, for example, varying mowing regimes, planting or seeding with native tree and shrub species, or occasional soil disturbance.

Feb 27 – 28, 2023 Kick-Off Meeting

On February 27 and 28, 2023, we held the kickoff in the city of Turnhout in Flanders, Belgium.
We took a detour through the agricultural landscape and protected areas to spot some of our target birds.

Also many thanks to the people from Gustaaf Klimt for providing the location, food and bikes.

Read our summary publication here