The European Innovation Partnership’s impact on Welsh farming and forestry
The European Innovation Partnership (EIP) Wales was established to support innovation in the agriculture and forestry sectors by bringing together farmers, foresters, researchers and technical specialists to test new ideas and address practical challenges. The programme funded 46 collaborative projects across Wales between 2016 and 2023. Based on a model used across Europe, EIP aimed to encourage innovation, improve productivity and sustainability, and share learning across the wider sector.
What we did
Wavehill undertook an independent evaluation of EIP Wales, combining analysis of programme monitoring data with surveys, interviews and case study research. The evaluation examined how the programme was delivered, the outcomes achieved for participating businesses, and the extent to which learning and innovation had spread beyond the projects themselves.
What we found
The evaluation found that EIP Wales successfully supported farmer-led innovation, with participating businesses reporting changes to management practices, improvements in business performance and increased confidence in adopting new approaches. Innovation Brokers were identified as a particularly important feature of the programme, helping participants develop ideas, manage projects and access specialist expertise.
The research also highlighted wider benefits through stronger collaboration between farmers, researchers and advisers, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange and the dissemination of new ideas across the sector.
Why it matters
The findings demonstrate the value of combining small-scale innovation funding with expert facilitation and practical knowledge exchange. The evaluation generated lessons for the design of future innovation support programmes, highlighting the importance of collaboration, farmer-led innovation and effective mechanisms for sharing learning across the industry.
For more information about this project, contact Ioan Teifi – ioan.teifi@wavehill.com.
The report is available to read here.
