Smart Agriculture, Policy and Practice in Dialogue to Support the Adaption to Climate Change
Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge (METK), Estonian Research Council’s Brussels Office (ETAG), and Lithuanian Research Development and Innovation Liaison Office in Brussels (LINO) invite you to a roundtable discussion on the challenges of climate change – Smart Agriculture, a European dialogue on science, policy and practice in climate adaptation.
Climate change is no longer a distant threat — it is a present reality, reshaping agriculture, ecosystems, and rural life across Europe. From shifting growing seasons to emerging pests and extreme weather events, adaptation is no longer optional. It is an urgent, complex challenge that requires coordinated responses from science, policy, and practice.
The Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge (METK) plays a pivotal role in this transition through applied research and collaboration with farmers, policymakers, and local communities. This roundtable offers a platform to exchange insights and deepen cross-border cooperation on climate adaptation in agriculture and rural areas, with a focus on building resilient solutions for Eastern Europe.
Taking place during the week of the European Research and Innovation Days, the event will showcase METK’s role in agri-environmental innovation and highlight key outcomes from EU-funded projects such as AMBROSIA, Climate-Smart Advisors, CiNURGI, and the newly launched ClimateSmartResearch. These projects span critical areas of adaptation — biodiversity, soil health, nutrient cycling, systemic experimentation, and advisory systems.
The roundtable will address key questions:
How can Europe’s network of experimental research stations become engines of climate-smart innovation?
What mutual lessons can Eastern, Western, and Southern European rural areas offer in terms of adaptation?
How can we accelerate the uptake of scientific knowledge into policy and farm-level decisions?
What governance and knowledge-sharing frameworks are needed to close the gap between research, policy, and practice?
The programme will feature two expert panel discussions involving speakers from ministries, research institutes, advisory networks, and EU institutions, as well as short project pitches — offering concrete illustrations of how applied science is already helping rural areas adapt.
Join us to explore how European cooperation and knowledge exchange can turn today’s challenges into tomorrow’s climate resilience.
Venue:
Permanent Representation of Estonia to the European Union, Rue Guimard 11–13, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
PROGRAM:
| 09:30 | Doors Open |
| 10:00–10:15 | Welcome and Opening Remarks |
| Dr. Carmen Kivistik and Kristel Oitmaa, Representatives of Estonian Research Council Brussels Office | |
| Tadas Tumenas, Head of Office, Lithuanian RDI Liaison Office in Brussels | |
| Dr. Marko Kass, Director of Research, Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge | |
| Video Greetings by Jüri Ratas, Member of European Parliament | |
| 10:15–10:30 | Keynote by Dr. Marko Kass, Director of Research, Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge |
| 10:30–10:40 | Project Pitch by Dr. Liina Jakobson, Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge |
| 10:40–11:10 | Panel Discussion "From Lessons to Actions" |
| Learning how can Eastern European regions adapt smarter and faster by learning from the tested solutions and frameworks applied elsewhere in Europe? | |
| Moderator: Dr. Marko Kass, Director of Research, Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge | |
| Panellists: | |
| Dr. Liina Jakobson, Head of Department, Department of Plant Breeding, Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge | |
| Kaie Laaneväli-Vinokurov, Head of Representation in Brussels, The Estonian Chamber of Agriculture and Commerce | |
| Dr. Skaidrė Supronienė, Head of Microbiology Laboratory, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry | |
| 11:10–11:30 | Roundtable Discussion "From Lessons to Actions" |
| 11:30–11:40 | Project Pitch by Dr. Kristiina Laanemets, Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge |
| 11:40–12:10 | Panel Discussion II "From Knowledge to Policy – Shaping Adaptation Strategies Together" |
| What role can research and entrepreneurship play in shaping effective policy responses to climate change? | |
| Moderator: Kristiina Digryte, Counsellor for Agriculture, Permanent Representation of Estonia to the EU (tbc) | |
| Panellists: | |
| Amalie Bjørnåvold, Policy Officer, Climate Adaptation at DG AGRI, European Commission | |
| Dr Kristiina Laanemets, Head of Department, Department of Plant Biotechnology, Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge | |
| Peeter Seestrand, Director of Agriculture and Fisheries Division, Permanent Representation of Estonia to the EU | |
| Timo Varblas, Board member of Estonian Farmers’ Federation | |
| 12:10–12:30 | Roundtable Discussion "From Knowledge to Policy – Shaping Adaptation Strategies Together" |
| 12:30–12:40 | Closing Remarks & Next Steps |
| 12:40–14:00 | Networking Lunch |
Contact
Marko Kass
Director of Research, Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge
References
References
Climate change is no longer a distant threat — it is a present reality, reshaping agriculture, ecosystems, and rural life across Europe. From shifting growing seasons to emerging pests and extreme weather events, adaptation is no longer optional. It is an urgent, complex challenge that requires coordinated responses from science, policy, and practice.
The Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge (METK) plays a pivotal role in this transition through applied research and collaboration with farmers, policymakers, and local communities. This roundtable offers a platform to exchange insights and deepen cross-border cooperation on climate adaptation in agriculture and rural areas, with a focus on building resilient solutions for Eastern Europe.
Taking place during the week of the European Research and Innovation Days, the event will showcase METK’s role in agri-environmental innovation and highlight key outcomes from EU-funded projects such as AMBROSIA, Climate-Smart Advisors, CiNURGI, and the newly launched ClimateSmartResearch. These projects span critical areas of adaptation — biodiversity, soil health, nutrient cycling, systemic experimentation, and advisory systems.
The roundtable will address key questions:
How can Europe’s network of experimental research stations become engines of climate-smart innovation?
What mutual lessons can Eastern, Western, and Southern European rural areas offer in terms of adaptation?
How can we accelerate the uptake of scientific knowledge into policy and farm-level decisions?
What governance and knowledge-sharing frameworks are needed to close the gap between research, policy, and practice?
The programme will feature two expert panel discussions involving speakers from ministries, research institutes, advisory networks, and EU institutions, as well as short project pitches — offering concrete illustrations of how applied science is already helping rural areas adapt.
Join us to explore how European cooperation and knowledge exchange can turn today’s challenges into tomorrow’s climate resilience.
Venue:
Permanent Representation of Estonia to the European Union, Rue Guimard 11–13, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
PROGRAM:
| 09:30 | Doors Open |
| 10:00–10:15 | Welcome and Opening Remarks |
| Dr. Carmen Kivistik and Kristel Oitmaa, Representatives of Estonian Research Council Brussels Office | |
| Tadas Tumenas, Head of Office, Lithuanian RDI Liaison Office in Brussels | |
| Dr. Marko Kass, Director of Research, Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge | |
| Video Greetings by Jüri Ratas, Member of European Parliament | |
| 10:15–10:30 | Keynote by Dr. Marko Kass, Director of Research, Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge |
| 10:30–10:40 | Project Pitch by Dr. Liina Jakobson, Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge |
| 10:40–11:10 | Panel Discussion "From Lessons to Actions" |
| Learning how can Eastern European regions adapt smarter and faster by learning from the tested solutions and frameworks applied elsewhere in Europe? | |
| Moderator: Dr. Marko Kass, Director of Research, Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge | |
| Panellists: | |
| Dr. Liina Jakobson, Head of Department, Department of Plant Breeding, Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge | |
| Kaie Laaneväli-Vinokurov, Head of Representation in Brussels, The Estonian Chamber of Agriculture and Commerce | |
| Dr. Skaidrė Supronienė, Head of Microbiology Laboratory, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry | |
| 11:10–11:30 | Roundtable Discussion "From Lessons to Actions" |
| 11:30–11:40 | Project Pitch by Dr. Kristiina Laanemets, Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge |
| 11:40–12:10 | Panel Discussion II "From Knowledge to Policy – Shaping Adaptation Strategies Together" |
| What role can research and entrepreneurship play in shaping effective policy responses to climate change? | |
| Moderator: Kristiina Digryte, Counsellor for Agriculture, Permanent Representation of Estonia to the EU (tbc) | |
| Panellists: | |
| Amalie Bjørnåvold, Policy Officer, Climate Adaptation at DG AGRI, European Commission | |
| Dr Kristiina Laanemets, Head of Department, Department of Plant Biotechnology, Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge | |
| Peeter Seestrand, Director of Agriculture and Fisheries Division, Permanent Representation of Estonia to the EU | |
| Timo Varblas, Board member of Estonian Farmers’ Federation | |
| 12:10–12:30 | Roundtable Discussion "From Knowledge to Policy – Shaping Adaptation Strategies Together" |
| 12:30–12:40 | Closing Remarks & Next Steps |
| 12:40–14:00 | Networking Lunch |
Contact
Marko Kass
Director of Research, Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge
