During the period of 16^th and 18^th of September 2025, a Kick-Off Conference within the frame of the TRANSFER Danube project (InTegRAted moNitoring System For agro-climatic risks within DanubE Region), co-funded by the Interreg Danube Region Programme, took place in Bucharest, Romania.

The event started with a welcome speech from the General Director and the Head of the Agrometeorological Department of the Lead Partner organization, the National Meteorological Administration. That was followed by a TRANSFER Danube general presentation, where partners discussed the timeline, main objectives, and expected outputs and deliverables of the project. A 2023-2027 Strategic Plan from the perspective of environmental and climate challenges was presented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Romania), as well as the Best Practice Catalogue for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management in Agriculture. Each project partner then presented their institution, their experience in the field, the main activities of their organization, and how the team can contribute to the implementation of TRANSFER Danube's tasks.

The second working day was dedicated to the management and administrative works and representatives of the Interreg Danube Region Programme provided insights on project management, as well as key aspects on administrative and financial issues. A review of the activities related to Specific Objective 1, responsibilities of partners, and the next steps were made. An overview of the progress on Specific Objective 2, tasks for partners, and follow-up actions was also showcased.

On the last third day of the event, the focus was on summarizing activities under Specific Objective 3, and the upcoming tasks were discussed. The event concluded with a review of the communication and dissemination activities, and a debate was organized on the monitoring, evaluation, and upcoming events of the TRANSFER Danube project.

More about TRANSFER Danube:

The project aims to analyze the new patterns of climatic extreme events (drought, floods, heat waves, e.g.) and design the necessary tools for agriculture in the Danube region in order to be able to properly adapt and respond to such challenges. 

This will be done by developing and implementing a Danube transnational e-platform that will integrate climatic and water resources, as well as agriculture database, maps, knowledge, tools, modelling, good practices for water management, for reducing drought in order to be prepared and adapt to climate change in the vulnerable areas for crops (winter wheat and maize) in the Danube Region.

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The TRANSFER Danube project (InTegRAted moNitoring System For agro-climatic risks within DanubE Region) officially launched on the 1^st of April 2025, marking the beginning of a significant cross-border initiative to strengthen climate resilience in agriculture across the Danube Region.

Implemented within the Interreg Danube Region Programme under the thematic priority “A greener, low-carbon Danube Region”, the project addresses the growing impact of climate change on agriculture. It focuses on analysing emerging patterns of extreme weather events—such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves—and on developing innovative tools and strategies to support sustainable adaptation in the agricultural sector.

A key output of the project will be the development of a transnational Danube e-platform. This platform will serve as an integrated hub of climate, water resources, and agricultural data, providing access to maps, models, good practices, and response strategies. It will also support knowledge transfer and promote cross-border cooperation by offering tools tailored to help stakeholders - especially those in vulnerable crop regions (with a focus on winter wheat and maize) - adapt to the increasing challenges of climate change. In cooperation with partners across the Danube Region, the project will establish a standardised monitoring system for the phenological status of selected agricultural crops. This will form the basis for evaluating crop-specific water balances and yield projections, ultimately strengthening climate resilience in farming communities.

Beyond technological solutions, TRANSFER Danube seeks to raise awareness among policy makers and the private agricultural sector about the long-term effects of climate change on agricultural productivity. The project’s main target groups include local and regional decision-makers, agricultural policy experts, and farmers, all of whom will benefit directly from the project’s outputs. By encouraging transdisciplinary cooperation and improving the dissemination of scientific knowledge, the project aims to increase the impact of climate and agricultural research across the Danube Region. The tools and strategies developed through TRANSFER Danube will not only serve local needs but also offer transferable solutions adaptable to other European regions facing similar climate-related challenges.

The project consortium brings together 11 partners from 9 countries: Romania, Croatia, Hungary, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Montenegro, and Austria. The partners will gather for the official in-person opening conference, hosted by the lead partner, the National Meteorological Administration of Romania, in Bucharest in September 2025.

The total project budget is EUR 1,842,379.96, of which EUR 1,473,903.96 is covered by the Interreg Danube Region Programme co-funded by the European Union (more information about the programme: https://interreg-danube.eu/). The project will be implemented over 30 months, running from April 2025 to September 2027.

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For more information, visit our project website: https://interreg-danube.eu/projects/TRANSFER-Danube.

The first annual review meeting of the TRANSFER Danube project under the Interreg Danube program was successfully held on April 21–22, 2026, in Pazardzhik, Bulgaria.

During the one-and-a-half-day event, the partners reviewed the results of the project’s first year, the activities carried out, as well as financial and technical progress. The program placed particular emphasis on technical consultations related to the project’s objectives, defining future tasks, and strengthening cooperation within the partnership.

The meeting contributed to the effective implementation of the project and to further strengthening cooperation aimed at the integrated monitoring of agroclimatic risks in the Danube region.

Eszter Mimi Kocsis, International Project Manager at CCDA Nonprofit Ltd., participated in the event.

The first domestic professional meeting of CDDA Nonprofit Ltd.'s "InTegRAted moNitoring System For agro-climatic risks within DanubE Region" (TRANSFER Danube) project was successfully held today in Tatabánya.

The aim of the meeting was to present the project and initiate a joint dialogue on the possibilities for managing agro-climatic risks in the Danube region.

As part of the program, Eszter Mimi Kocsis, international project manager at the Central Danube Development Agency Nonprofit Ltd., gave a presentation on the Agency's role in the TRANSFER Danube project.

The event was organized by the Rába-Danube-Váh European Territorial Association Limited Liability Company within the framework of the TRANSFER Danube project.

The opening conference of the TRANSFER Danube project ("InTegRAted moNitoring System For agro-climatic risks within DanubE Region") was held in Bucharest from September 16 to 18, 2025, as part of the Interreg Danube program, organized by the Romanian National Meteorological Service.

The 3 day event brought together 11 partner organisations from across the Danube region united by a shared mission to strengthen climate resilience in agriculture with our shared goals:

• Monitoring agro-climatic risks
• Improving resilience in agriculture
• Developing integrated data platforms and models
• Sharing best practices for climate adaptation

The project will deliver an innovative e-platform integrating agrometeorological, hydrological, and agricultural data—supporting farmers and policymakers with tools for climate adaptation, especially for vulnerable crops such as winter wheat and maize.

Our shared mission? To foster data-driven, ecosystem-based approaches that strengthen agricultural productivity in the face of climate change.

Over the 3 days, we:

• Explored the project’s vision, tools, and agrometeorological innovations
• Dived into programme rules, reporting, and financial coordination
• Built strong collaboration around communication, planning, and next steps

It was an inspiring three day full of knowledge exchange, technical deep-dives, and regional collaboration – with sessions covering drought monitoring, soil erosion modelling, climate indices, and more.

Ms. Réka Kenesei, Senior International Manager at CDDA Nonprofit Ltd., participated in the event.

Ms. Mimi Eszter Kocsis, International Project Manager
E-mail: kocsis.eszter@kdmfu.hu