European Rural Development Network

The European Rural Development Network (ERDN) dates back to 2002. It was established to integrate the efforts and competences of various European research institutions in their joint works on the state and paths of transformation of rural areas, in particular farming, with the view to extension of the EU and its future policies. Thus, the main objectives of the ERDN are parallel to the Community’s idea of building the European Research Area for agriculture and rural development. The Network is meant to encompass the leading research centres studying rural development in Europe, and in particular in its central, eastern and south-eastern countries. The Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics – National Research Institute (IAFE-NRI), Warsaw, Poland, is responsible for coordination of its activity. The involvement of institutions, but mostly all of its individual members, makes it – apart from a research network – a forum for knowledge and information exchange based on mutual friendship, trust and goodwill. This decides on the unique character of the ERDN, where informal ties (social capital) and commitment of a group of people from various countries is the value added of the strictly scientific work. It is our achievement that we are proud of. Simultaneously, each new member of the Network is happily welcomed and quickly finds his or her place and inspiration for research work. One of the main features of rural development is its complexity. Observations and analyses of the situation in rural areas should be carried out based on different scientific points of view which will help to determine the vision for the future. The main objectives of the ERDN are: networking between researchers of different scientific backgrounds and countries of origin to analyse the state, perspectives and strategies of action with respect to the development of rural areas in Central-Eastern European Countries; international and intergenerational knowledge transfer through joint research in the area of rural development; advancing international scientific cooperation in rural development and agriculture, in particular drawing on the Network’s experience in international scientific research programmes; sharing and promotion of scientific experiences and achievements of the participants of the ERDN to support policymakers and stakeholders concerned with sustainable development of European rural areas. The efforts of the Network’s members in investigation of rural processes provide extensive information needed to understand the specificity of rural development in CEE, especially in the context of the EU policy reforms and enlargements. Different scientific backgrounds, international origin of the ERDN experts and over a decade of successful cooperation help to prepare complex and interdisciplinary solutions for research and policy making. The members of the Network are representing the leading universities and research institutes in Central-Eastern Europe. The Network takes efforts aimed at common elaboration of research topics in the fields strategic for rural development and wining new institutional partners. The cooperation involves exchange of publications, statistical data, joint initiatives to raise funds from the EU Framework Programmes and other entities (such as: the International Visegrad Fund, the EEA and Norway grants and national programs), exchange of scientists and numerous meetings during seminars, conferences and scientific workshops.