RURAL INNOVATION SPECIAL REPORT | NOV. - DEC. 2020 https://eurac.tv/9R-t With the support of RURAL INNOVATION SPECIAL REPORT https://eurac.tv/9R-t Rural areas in Europe face particular challenges: lower median income than big cities, lack of social and cul- tural life, lack of internet infrastructure, and depopula- tion. By mid-2021, the European Commission wants to articulate a new long-term vision for rural areas, say- ing they have a special role to play in the transition to a green and sustainable Europe. Contents Can Europe buck the trend of deprivation in rural areas? 4 Dutch MEP: We have to close the gap between rural and urban areas 6 Scientists look at triggering rainfall, saving water to tackle droughts 9 ‘From grass to glass’: how dairy can go green 12 The importance of local governments in the transition to a Circular Economy: the example of Fryslân and Leeuwarden 15 4 SPECIAL REPORT | RURAL INNOVATION | EURACTIV Can Europe buck the trend of deprivation in rural areas By Kira Taylor | EURACTIV.com In the Netherlands, the city of Leeuwarden may be among those succeeding to shape a new reality for Europe’s rural areas. [jbdodane / Flickr] ural communities make up those woes, with droughts and soil “Too many bright young people 45% of EU territory, but face degradation damaging agricultural are leaving to choose jobs and dreams Rpersistent problems caused by land and natural areas that are key in the city,” she told participants at a social isolation, which are increasingly for biodiversity and meeting the EU’s webinar in July. compounded by climate change. In climate goals. the Netherlands, a small municipality In September, the European has decided to take the matter into its In a recent poll, 75% of European Commission launched a public own hands. farmers said that climate change has consultation on its new initiative for already impacted their daily work. So a long-term vision for rural areas, Rural life across the EU is often innovative solutions to address these due to be published in mid-2021. This viewed through postcards of dramatic issues and drive new business into Communication will support a debate scenery and picturesque villages, but rural communities is seen as essential at European level on the future of rural for the 96 million Europeans who to reversing the trend. areas and the place they should have live in rural areas, the reality is often in our society. grimmer: a lack of public services, In her agenda for Europe, Ursula fewer job prospects, and an ageing von der Leyen, the President of the Iratxe García Pérez, a Spanish population. European Commission, highlighted lawmaker who leads the socialist and the need to support rural areas, saying democrats (S&D) in the European Climate change is adding to EU regional funds had to go further. Parliament, firmly rejects the notion Continued on Page 5 SPECIAL REPORT | RURAL INNOVATION | EURACTIV 5 Continued from Page 4 that rural areas are old-fashioned. and the other was that Leeuwarden technology sector. had the most polluted river in the “The future of Europe’s local Netherlands,” said Friso Douwstra, “This strengthens the global realities can only be shaped locally,” Vice Mayor of Leeuwarden. position of the European water she said. Innovations from the WaterCampus technology sector,” the campus says have transformed it into a vibrant on its website. Katrīna Miška-Idū, of the Latvian river. Rural Forum, European Rural Youth In fact, building economic and Parliament, echoed this, saying: According to Douwstra this shows social resilience was always at the “Synergies between expertise that that rural areas can tackle their heart of the project. Before the launch older generations can provide and weaknesses. “See if you can solve your of its two campuses, Leeuwarden innovative and creating solutions weaknesses by creating innovative only had three universities of applied that the youth can bring out is the solutions to tackle those problems. sciences and had a low education and key to the success of bringing new When you do, you can use that to high unemployment level compared energies to rural areas.” solve problems internationally,” he to other places in the Netherlands. added. Miška-Idū wants to turn the The city now has a university tide by linking old technology and Today, the Leeuwarden campus and over 250 European and knowledge with new ideas. Speaking WaterCampus boasts itself as “a American stock exchange companies at the July event, she said she sees meeting point of the Dutch water as part of the Water Alliance. progress as going back to nature and technology sector” and has the Creating academic positions was key rural roots with “a brand-new spirit”. ambition of playing a “uniting role to revitalising the city, as one hired for the rest of Europe as well”. PHD worker will provide two or three LOCAL SOLUTIONS TO lower paid jobs. GLOBAL PROBLEMS With the effects of climate change becoming more severe, momentum “Our unemployment rate is In the Netherlands, the city of is growing behind innovation to dropping. The education rate is Leeuwarden may be among those tackle water-related issues ranging rising. We see that the academic succeeding to shape a new reality for from floods to water scarcity and culture in the city is growing. That’s a Europe’s rural areas. drought. culture we want to give floor to in our city,” said Douwstra. Until recently, the small In January, the Netherlands municipality situated in the northern will host an international Climate There are also very practical part of the country was struggling Adaptation Summit, bringing benefits. On the dairy campus, with problems typical to rural together experts and politicians from research into membranes to filter communities, including an ageing across the globe to discuss solutions milk onsite will mean lower pressure population and lack of high paid jobs. for adapting to extreme rainfall, on road traffic. drought, heatwaves and sea level In a bid to reverse the trend, the rise. Participants will also exchange “We will have 55,000 less vehicle city developed two research centres – best practices on how cities and rural movements,” said Douwstra. “I won’t a water and a dairy campus – tapping areas can build up resilience against have to invest the amount of money into public and private investment weather extremes. that I had to before in repairing sources in order to develop world- roads. I will have less pollution from class innovative solutions for rural In Leeuwarden, the water campus the vehicles.” areas. aims to play its part by offering a meeting point for scientists, “The start of the WaterCampus businesses and governments from was based on two things. One was the all over Europe in order to foster social economic situation of our city world class innovation in the water 6 SPECIAL REPORT | RURAL INNOVATION | EURACTIV INTERVIEW Dutch MEP: We have to close the gap between rural and urban areas By Kira Taylor | EURACTIV.com Jan Huitema at European Parliament plenary session joint debate on the common agricultural policy [Benoit Bourgeois / European Parliament] nnovation in agriculture and Parliament. He is a member of the to close that. We need to because beyond is vital to close the widening Committee on the Environment, Public otherwise, and you see it already a little Igap that leads to polarisation and Health and Food Safety and Delegation bit, there will be polarisation, some tension between rural and urban for relations with the United States. He tension, and some misunderstanding. areas, says Jan Huitema MEP. Rural spoke with EURACTIV’s Kira Taylor. development plans must be made Closing the gap is the overall goal. with the local community and not just What are the key issues that need How to do that? First of all, it’s good in Brussels offices, he argues. to be addressed in rural areas at the to have good infrastructure in a rural moment? area and also to have some sort of an Jan Huitema is a Dutch MEP investment climate that people can with the centrist Renew Europe There is a gap between urban start their business or that jobs are political group in the European regions and rural regions. We have being created. Continued on Page 7 SPECIAL REPORT | RURAL INNOVATION | EURACTIV 7 Continued from Page 6 The European Union is [working recreational role for a lot of people, Enforcement is an issue across a lot of on] broadband internet. That’s one of so it’s a multifunctional community. different sectors. What do you think the key issues that should be solved in The production of sustainable and needs to be brought in to support and these modern times and it’s essential renewable energy is one of these. enforce these policies? for a good infrastructure and a good investment climate. The European Union has schemes like The new Common Agricultural just transition and regional funds. Policy is an excellent example. Of How have the issues in rural areas What more do you believe is needed to course, it’s not decided yet, but the been added to by climate change? support these rural areas? Commission proposed that greening measures should be transformed They see the effects of climate There should be a clear link in eco-schemes. Those schemes change. For example, farmers have between actions that deliver on the will no longer be monitored by an big problems with drought. It has reduction of CO2 emissions and administration-based approach, but a an effect on the whole rural area, a some sort of payment or reward. You result-oriented approach.