Work Packages
Strength2Farm brings together different areas of expertise to better understand the challenges farmers face and find ways to address them.
The project is organised into nine work packages, covering everything from research and practical solutions to digital tools and collaboration with farmers and other stakeholders.
Led by Wageningen University (WU)
Objective: To ensure that Strength2Farm runs smoothly, with all partners working together towards the project’s goals.
Overview: WP1 oversees the overall coordination of Strength2Farm. It brings partners together, keeps activities on schedule and ensures that the project is managed responsibly and effectively.
Main activities
- Coordinate project activities, partners and meetings.
- Monitor progress, resources and deadlines.
- Ensure quality, ethical standards and responsible data management.
Led by Agrosense
Objective: To better understand what influences farmers’ bargaining power and how it can be measured.
Overview: WP2 explores how agricultural value chains work and the factors that affect farmers’ relationships with buyers. It develops the foundations for analysing bargaining power and comparing different situations across agricultural sectors and countries.
Main activities
- Develop a conceptual framework to understand agricultural value chains and farmers’ bargaining power.
- Identify indicators to measure bargaining power and exposure to unfair trading practices.
- Collect survey data and organise existing information to support research across the project.
Led by Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO)
Objective: To understand how market conditions, business relationships and policy changes affect farmers’ bargaining power.
Overview: WP3 uses agricultural data, economic analysis and computer models to explore how farmers and other market actors interact. It also examines different scenarios to understand which changes could improve farmers’ position.
Main activities
- Develop simulation models to explore how farmers, buyers and other market actors interact.
- Use machine learning and predictive methods to analyse market behaviour.
- Carry out economic and statistical analyses using agricultural market data.
- Develop interactive visualisations to explore possible scenarios and outcomes.
Led by Wageningen University (WU)
Objective: To identify business approaches and policy measures that can help farmers negotiate better conditions.
Overview: WP4 looks at practical ways to strengthen farmers’ position, drawing on real-world examples from Europe and beyond. It explores how farmers can benefit from working together, improving relationships with buyers and accessing supportive policies.
Main activities
- Conduct case studies involving consortium partners and agricultural organisations.
- Examine different business solutions, including cooperatives, producer organisations and new forms of collaboration with buyers.
- Compare approaches and experiences from European and non-European countries.
- Assess existing policies and develop recommendations for improving farmers’ bargaining power.
- Develop an educational serious game to support learning, training and advisory activities.
Led by Newcastle University (UNEW)
Objective: To make useful information and practical digital tools more accessible to farmers and other stakeholders.
Overview: WP5 develops a multilingual online platform that brings together Strength2Farm’s digital resources. These tools will help users access knowledge, explore agricultural market information and better understand farm margins.
Main activities
- Develop the Strength2Farm digital tools platform and AI-supported chatbot.
- Create a Farm Margin Checker to improve access to information on margins.
- Study how consumers use information and test the tools with potential users.
Led by Innogestiona Ambiental (INNO)
Objective: To ensure that the project reflects real-world needs and that its results can be useful in different agricultural settings.
Overview: WP6 connects the research with the people who experience agricultural market challenges first-hand. Through workshops and discussions, farmers, cooperatives, advisors and other stakeholders help shape, assess and improve the project’s findings and solutions.
Main activities
- Organise workshops bringing together farmers, cooperatives, advisors, policymakers and other stakeholders.
- Hold local, in-person workshops to gather experiences and discuss potential solutions.
- Organise European-level workshops and online exchanges to review project findings.
- Gather feedback to test and improve project results.
- Explore how solutions could be applied in different countries and agricultural contexts.
Led by European Association for Innovation in Local Development (AEIDL)
Objective: To introduce Strength2Farm, connect with its audiences and establish how project information will be shared.
Overview: WP7 lays the foundations for communicating Strength2Farm’s activities and results. It develops the project’s website, visual identity and communication plans, making information accessible to farmers, researchers, policymakers and other interested audiences.
Main activities
- Develop the project’s communication and stakeholder engagement plan.
- Create the Strength2Farm website, visual identity and communication materials.
- Build connections with relevant organisations, networks and audiences.
Led by European Association for Innovation in Local Development (AEIDL)
Objective: To keep stakeholders informed and help emerging project findings reach relevant audiences.
Overview: WP8 continues the communication and outreach activities established in the first phase. As the project progresses, it focuses on sharing knowledge, communicating findings and keeping the project’s online resources updated.
Main activities
- Review and update communication and engagement activities.
- Share research findings, project news and resources.
- Maintain and develop the website and communication channels.
Led by European Association for Innovation in Local Development (AEIDL)
Objective: To share the project’s final results and encourage their use beyond Strength2Farm.
Overview: WP9 focuses on making the project’s findings, tools and recommendations widely accessible. It supports the longer-term use of results and brings stakeholders together to discuss what has been learned and how it can be applied.
Main activities
- Promote final research findings, tools and recommendations.
- Support the wider use and continued accessibility of project resources.
- Organise the final European project event in Brussels.