THE ROLE OF ESCORENA (EUROPEAN SYSTEM OF COOPERATIVE RESEARCH NETWORKS IN AGRICULTURE) IN AGRICULTURE KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

ESCORENA system was established in 1974 by FAO and European research institution. The European System of Cooperative Research Networks in Agriculture is an umbrella for cooperation between research institutions focused on food, agriculture and related fields. The ESCORENA is a bridge between FAO and agriculture to e.g. inform about newest FAO priorities elaborated in 2013, namely: supporting farm and production restructuring including agriculture, forestry and fishery; fostering land consolidation process; supporting local development strategies through participatory approach; strengthening capacity for rural stakeholder; integration of smallholders and SMEs into the value chain; providing support on adding value to products and services, activity and income diversification. Joint activity of high ranking specialists and agriculture research centers within ESCORENA under auspices up to now is characterized by e.g. organizing some thousands global consultations, conferences, workshops, seminars, and some knowledge share-fairs etc., which took place not only in Europe but in Near East, Africa, Asia, North and South America. ESCORENA and Networks which belong to ESCORENA publish recognized Journals like: Journal of Natural Fibers (in co-operation with INF&MP), Scientific Bulletin of ESCORENA (in co-operation with Arad University, Romania), EUROFLAX Newsletter, Buffalo, Nuts and allied. The examples of spreading/sharing knowledge and technology transfer e.g. in the scope of bast fibrous plants: starting production of linseed and derived products in Balkans countries (after the FAO/ESCORENA conference in Banja Luka, B&H, 2004), growing interest in production and processing of flax and linen goods in China (after conference in Shenyang, 2001) and renewed interest in flax and linen in Norway, Finland, Sweden (after conference in Tampere, 1998), also in East European and Asian countries after the FAO/ESCORENA congress at famous Vavilov Institute (1998) in St. Petersburg, Russia. Plans for future: elaborate more farmer focused approach, improve efficiency of technology transfer, continuation of publishing and organizing workshops and meetings, apply for funds e.g. through COST Actions and other.