The role of EIP-AGRI Operational Groups as a driver for innovation in viticulture

European policies play a crucial role in helping farms and stakeholders in the agri-food sectors to proactively engage in digital and environmental transitions. Among them, the European Partnership for Innovation in Agriculture (EIP-AGRI), which was established in 2014, has proven significant in promoting sustainable production models and value chains in Europe. Operational Groups (OGs) within the Partnership provide "interactive innovation" platforms in which research institutions work with farmers, advisors, businesses, NGOs and other interest groups to co-create innovative solutions for agriculture and forestry as well as rural communities; the rationale is that when farmers and foresters are engaged in the process, the solutions are more likely to be based on their concrete reality and thus relevant.  While the benefits of the participatory, multi-actor and bottom-up approach of OGs have been widely acknowledged, little is known about the drivers and barriers influencing the process. This contribution explores their role in the wine sector, applying a mixed methods approach to analyse the perceptions of OG stakeholders from different Italian regions. Interviewees have been asked to what extent they believe the EIP-AGRI OGs serve as drivers of innovation and provide a network able to foster knowledge exchange, and what they perceive to be their barriers to innovation. By addressing this knowledge gap, this study will provide some insights and good practices to improve EIP-AGRI policies at regional, national and European levels.