On April 18th, Fundación Global Nature (FGN) was invited to participate in the workshop “Agroecología, Resiliencia al Cambio Climático y Cooperación para el Desarrollo" (Agroecology, Climate Change Resilience and Development Cooperation” at the Valencia Politècnica University.

FGN gave an overview on the progress of the project, presented some of the assessment results in Spain and explained some of the global proposals to fight against climate change from the farming sector that were presented some days later to the European Commission and the Members of the European Parliament in Brussels.

For a year, the independent analysis and consulting agency PHINEO has tested non-profit organizations that care about climate change in Germany for their effectiveness. The findings of the study are now published in the new PHINEO climate protection report "reduce, compensate, engaging." On 18 April eleven projects received the “Effective”-Seals for their exemplary work, including the project "AgriClimateChange – combating climate change through farming by the Lake Constance Foundation.

Prof. Dr. Claudia Kemfert by the German Institute for Economic Research eV congratulated the successful representatives of the organizations at the award ceremony in Berlin with the words "You are needed!". The "energy revolution from below" will be much more successful than the "energy revolution from above". Also Carel Mohn of the European Climate Foundation, sponsoring partner of the report, discussed in the subsequent workshop on the contribution of civil society to the energy revolution.

On behalf of the project team of Lake Constance Foundation Patrick Trötschler took the honors in Berlin: "We are delighted with this award. It is beautiful and important, if you get independent confirmation that one's work is actually effective. This is also a good sign to the funders in our project." The project is carried out with the support of the LIFE + financial instrument of the European Community. Other sponsors are the Ministry of Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection of the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg, the Demeter National Association of Baden-Wurttemberg, Bioenergy region Lake Constance and Sparkasse Singen-Radolfzell.

Within the scope of the project AgriClimateChange Lake Constance Foundation advises 24 pilot farms in Baden-Wuerttemberg in terms of energy saving and reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. "We have jointly developed a computer program and a methodology with partners in France, Italy and Spain and adapted to the local conditions. So we can make a climate-Check with every farmer and then develop specific measures for climate protection. So that the farmer not only can save CO2 but also often save money, "explains Patrick Trötschler the goal of the European pilot project.

The project ends in December 2013. After this pilot phase, the Lake Constance Foundation wants to open their analysis and consulting methodology to other farmers. For that the foundation is looking for project and funding partners. The PHINEO “Effective”-Seal that proves the significant impact and transparency of the project hopefully will help to convince potential donors and supporters that their money is well spent in "AgriClimateChange".

From left to right.: Dr. Philipp Hoelscher (direction analysis and research PHINEO gAG, Patrick Trötschler (deputy managing director Lake Constance Foundation), Prof. Dr. Claudia Kemfert (German Institute for Economic Research eV (DIW); photo: PHINEO gAG/Linda Hanses.

On 9th-12th April 2013 a meeting was held at Solagro’s headquarters in Toulouse (France). The participants discussed the upcoming activities, such as the Manual that will be published this year. It will include case studies taken from the pilot farms included in the ACCT assessments.

Another discussion topic was the European Conference that will be held in Toulouse on 9-10th October 2013. The Conference will bring together politicians, representatives of the European Institutions (the Parliament and the Commission), and representatives of different key stakeholders , such as retailers or consumers associations. Farmers whose farms have been assessed in the project will be given the floor at the Conference together with the technicians who implemented the assessments. In addition, there will a space for networking at the end of the first day.

During the meeting held last week the AgriClimateChange partners also discussed and compared their results and fine-tuned the measures and proposals regarding farming and climate change that they concluded after more than two years of intensive work with the farmers. These conclusions will be presented to MEP (Members of the European Parliament) as well as to representatives of the European Commission at the meeting that will be organised at the European Parliament in Brussels next 25th April.

The Town Hall of Benitatxell (Alicante) has launched a programmed called “BIOMoscatell al Poble Nou de Benitatxell” to promote Moscatel, a grape variety much appreciated for eating, producing raisins or making wine. The aim of this campaign is to generate a production of excellence, to preserve one of the most characteristic landscapes in the Valencia Region and to involve young farmers in their cultivation. The strategy is focused on the organic conversion of the vineyards and the cooperation with different entities, such as the Universitat Politècnica de Valencia o Fundación Gobal Nature.

During these days, technicians from the Town Hall and Fundación Global Nature are assessing 4 Moscatel vineyards to have a better knowledge of the benefits, in terms of energy and GHG reduction, that farmers could have converting their crops into organic.