On the 1 December, the CCRI will be welcoming researchers from the Institute of Agriculture Economics and Information and the Department of Rural Development in the Czech Republic.
The Institute of Agriculture Economics and Information is involved in a variety of research projects, though the main focus of this particular visit to the UK is to examine the UK LEADER experience in order to help them develop and improve their own LEADER approach in the Czech Republic. The Institute is also part of the PEGASUS consortium, an EU project which is investigating the provision of public goods and ecosystem services from agriculture and forestry, for which the CCRI is one of 14 pan-European partners.
As well as the CCRI, the three Czech researchers – Marie Trantinová, Marta Mrnuštík- Konečná and Jiří Hrabák – will also be also be visiting some LAGs (Local Action Groups) who are responsible for delivering the LEADER community-led delivery of Rural Development Plan grants in England. LEADER works on the theory that local people have a better knowledge of local challenges that need to be addressed and of the resources and opportunities available.
