1. Maarja Malm and Lehti Veeväli INCENTIVES AND MONITORING THE AKIS IN ESTONIA

2. INCENTIVES FOR RESEARCH The Ministry of Education and Research (MER) implements national research policy, organises the financing and evaluation of the activities of R&D institutions, and co- ordinates international research co-operation at a national level. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications (MEAC) finances innovative projects through Enterprise Estonia Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) coordinates agricultural research, education and training.

3. INCENTIVES FOR APPLIED RESEARCH The instruments of the Estonian R&D funding system are: funding of research and development infrastructures -(ministries in their field); targeted financing in fundamental research – MER; baseline funding – MER; research grant funding for short term study projects and innovative projects – MER (Estonian Science Foundation) and MEAC (Enterprise Estonia); national research and development programs – (ministries in their field), MoA finances agricultural applied research through the 3 national programmes: “Applied Research and Development in Agriculture 2009-2014”, ”National programme for plant breeding 2009-2019” and “Conservation and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture 2007-2013“; Rural Development Plan 2007-2013 – cooperation in the development of new products, processes and technologies in the sectors of agriculture, food and forestry.

4. INCENTIVES FOR APPLIED RESEARCH In Estonia, agricultural research mostly is carried out by the Jõgeva Plant Breeding Institute, Estonian Research Institute of Agriculture and Estonian University of Life Sciences (EMÜ). Also the University of Tartu and Tallinn University of Technology. Research institutes under the jurisdiction of the MoA: Jõgeva Plant Breeding Institute (plant breeding); Estonian Research Institute of Agriculture (plant production and protection, soil, feed and food quality and safety).

5. INCENTIVES FOR UNIVERSITIES (1) Estonian University of Life Sciences (EMÜ) - (animal husbandry, veterinary, economy, sociology, environment, plant sciences, food sciences); University of Tartu - (environmental sciences, biology); Tallinn University of Technology - (biotechnology, food sciences).

6. INCENTIVES FOR UNIVERSITIES (2) In Estonia, it is possible to study based on professional higher education, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral curricula, as well as integrated bachelor’s and master’s curricula. Studies at the level of higher education are funded from the budget of the MER within the scope of state-commissioned education. The total expenditure of a study place is calculated by multiplying the base expenditure of the study place by the coefficient established for a field of study (or a curriculum as an exception).

7. INCENTIVES FOR UNIVERSITIES (3) The number of students at the Estonian University of Life Sciences in 2009/2010 : 4898 ( 7.1 % of the total number of Estonian students); 1482 of these ( 30.3% ) were specialized in agricultural fields; 239 students were studying in food processing and production curricula groups in bachelor’s and master’s programmes. Curricula studyinggraduatedstudyinggraduatedstudyinggraduatedstudying 2007/20082007/20092008/20092008/20102009/20102009/20112010/2011 bachelor 796155759134808120818 master 108732286022353230 doctoral 104611361126114 integrated bachelor and master 308213212333735341 professional higher education 8413781369660

8. EXPERIMENTAL STATIONS 5 in plant production 1 in animal husbandry and veterinary 1 in limnology Experimental stations of University of Life Sciences are financed via university budget. Experimental stations of Agricultural Research Centre (ARC), under the jurisdiction of MoA, are funded by allocations of MoA via ARC budget.

9. INCENTIVES FOR UNIVERSITIES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS (1) Number of researchers of Estonia by gender and fields of science (2008) Source: EUROSTAT

10. INCENTIVES FOR UNIVERSITIES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS (2) Estonian publication output by scientific fields 2005-2009 Source: ISI REUTERS INCITES Scientific fieldPapersCitationsCitations per Paper % of Papers Cited Agricultural Sciences2929113,12 (EU27 3,09)62,7% Humanities181530,29 EU27 0,48)15,5% Medical and Health Sciences 1 0437 1036,81 EU27 6,56)70,2% Natural Sciences3 02314 7324,87 EU27 4,99)67,3% Social Sciences4359462,17 EU27 2,13)44,8%

11. INCENTIVES FOR UNIVERSITIES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS (3) Evaluation criterions: Contemporary and innovative range of topics of research Participating in various international cooperation networks Research groups have at their disposal the necessary working and auxiliary facilities The working facilities are modern and fit for purpose Research groups are access to databases, specialized literature and other research infrastructures A sufficient number of research staff Successfully supervised doctoral dissertations A sufficient number of articles in international journals or peer- reviewed research monographs Patents or plant variety rights etc

12. INCENTIVES FOR EXTENSION (1) Estonian Extension Service Coordinating centre - Rural Development Foundation state budget (contract based, 546 892,- EUR in 2011) - main responsibilities: development, coordination and cooperation of FAS, disseminating the information, training the advisors, promotion of the FAS or even AKIS. Etc. Rural Development Plan (RDP) - setting-up services, development of advisory tools, personnel costs, training and practice of the advisors (6000- 120 000 EUR decreasing sum for 5 years) 15 local advisory centres – acknowledged by the minister of agriculture contract based money (857,- EUR/ a month) from the coordinating centre for disseminating the state and research information RDP - setting up services, training, etc (1600-25500 EUR) services provided to the farmers training and information activities to farmers (RDP measure 111) other services (book-keeping, project management, IT, etc.) paid by farmers 100%

13. INCENTIVES FOR EXTENSION (2) 2 14 certified advisors in total (animal husbandry, crop production, finance, forestry, bee-keeping etc) income depends on the type of contract they have with the advisory centres (most of the advisors are self-employed) Individual advice (supported by RDP measure 114), farmers pay 25-100% Trainee allowance for new advisors and their supervisors “basic salary” for new advisors (animal husbandry and crop production) to help them “on their feet” (250 EUR per month) “free of charge” advice to the farmers - 2h – helps to find new clients organizations providing the information (ministries, research institutions, etc.) Organize information days and trainings on the field (usually free of charge). www.pikk.ee – information for farmers, etc. www.pikk.ee Publications –publishing and dissemination

14. INCENTIVES FOR AG. EDUCATION (1) Vocational Education in Estonia 10 vocational schools (agriculture, horticulture, forestry, food industry) (30 in total) Possibilities to gain the vocational education Vocational education without the requirement for basic education - implemented in 2006/2007 for people who have exceeded the age for compulsory school attendance (17 years) without acquiring a basic education Vocational education based on a basic education Secondary vocational education studies - based on basic education, a secondary education is acquired in addition to the vocation. Vocational education based on secondary education Vocational study in basic schools and upper secondary schools

15. INCENTIVES FOR AG. EDUCATION (2) Budget Vocational studies are funded from the area of administration of the MER in the national budget through state-commissioned education. The expenditure of a study place is calculated by multiplying the base expenditure (established annually) with the coefficients for the groups of curricula and forms of study at the vocational educational institutions The base expenditure in 2010 - 1262 EUR Coefficents in: Forestry - 2,4 Agriculture - 2 Horticulture - 1,8 Food industry - 1,5 The Ministry of Agriculture has implemented : Practical training support (since 2002) – paid to the agricultural producer or food processor, who takes students as trainees to its enterprise and supervises them Education allowance (since 2003) – paid to the “good” students, who acquire vocational education in agriculture and have the obligation to live and work in rural areas for at least 3 years after graduating Vocational schools are eligible to organize the training and information activities to adults (RDP measure 1.1)

16. INCENTIVES FOR AG. EDUCATION (3) Number of students (in Estonia in total ca 28 000) Field of vocational education2005/062006/072007/082008/092009/102010/11 Horticulture609701871895926872 Forestry245268294280252266 Agriculture (crop production and animal husbandry)549605516441431538 Food industry1004850789791885823 Total240724242470240724942499

17. Number of students entering and graduating Field of vocational study2007/082008/092009/10 2010/11 Entrants Graduates Entrants Graduates Entrants GraduatesEntrants Horticulture389193310201375249320 Forestry93901016511690110 Agriculture (crop production and animal husbandry)135150152134154115219 Food industry319199333223446266389 Total93663289662310917201038 INCENTIVES FOR AG. EDUCATION (4)

18. OTHER PLAYERS Museums Estonian Museum of Agriculture Estonian Dairy Museum The Farm Museum of C.R.Jakobson organize activities for families and children to promote the rural life and agriculture; organize in cooperation with research institutes conferences. Laboratories, inspectorates, boards, centres and offices within the jurisdiction of MoA Unions and associations Agencies and organisations in the field of agriculture Societies and cooperatives Commercial agencies and firms (trainings, consultations, etc)

19. COOPERATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT PLAYERS OF AKIS Most of the abovementioned players are located across the country and information is accessible through web- based instruments. In this sense AKIS has been made accessible to the producers and other players. The question is, do they use it? Do they cooperate? The answer is Yes and No! Lack of human resources – staff members are working for different players, which brings along positive and negative aspects Lack of finances – due to economical crisis, the level of financing was decreased for different players of AKIS

20. MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF AKIS POLICY Different components of AKIS are financed by several development plans Development plans include different indicators, which have to be fulfilled (number of training days per advisor, number of advised producers, number of doctoral students in agricultural field, number of trainees practicing in enterprises, etc.) The progress of implementing the development plans are reported to the government and Parliament, either quarterly or annually, depending on the issues

21. MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF AKIS POLICY Components of AKIS are evaluated Studies Reports Audit (ministry internal, National Audit Office of Estonia)

22. Thank you! Lehti Veeväli lehti.veevali@agri.ee Maarja Malm maarja.malm@agri.ee www.agri.eelehti.veevali@agri.eemaarja.malm@agri.ee www.agri.ee