Base de Datos de Proyectos de PDR
Tasty – A Partnership to Boost Competitiveness of the Regional Organic and Local Produce
Summary
A cooperation initiative brought together a number of actors of the agri-food chain such as research institutes, producers, food companies and Horeca in order to boost the competitiveness of the Southern Savonia organic agricultural production.
Background
A wide range of high-quality food ingredients are grown in Southern Savonia region. The region accounts for some of Finland’s largest producers of organic milk, leaf vegetables, organic root vegetables, cultivated berries and herbs. The availability of such wide range of high-quality food produce creates good opportunities for a number of entrepreneurial initiatives in the food industry and represents a valuable resource for public professional kitchens (city halls, schools, hospitals etc.) in the region.
Objective
Taking advantage of the high-quality food offer of the region, the main objective of the project, led by the Helsinki University’s Ruralia institute, was to establish a supply-chain of organic and local produce from the field to the “end users” such as public kitchens, restaurants and catering in a customer-oriented manner. Ultimately the aim of the initiative was to improve the competitiveness of the Southern Savonian local and organic produce.
Main activities
Thanks to the EAFRD support: i) information was compiled about the range of agricultural products available from the region’s organic and local food producers; ii) a network of producers was created in order to improve the reliability of supply and develop cost-effective logistics models; iii) discussion events, food fairs and visits were organised for all the actors of the food-chain; iv) targeted information was produced for public-sector decision-makers.
Results & Benefits
The project enhanced significantly cooperation between actors involved at different stages in the food-supply chain and improved the promotion of the South Savonian local and organic food products. It also contributed to generate a better understanding of each other’s needs among the different actors involved. The report of the results of the project activities was delivered to representatives of public authorities’ raising awareness about the local food’s contribution to the regional economy.
Lessons learnt
The competitiveness of the agri-food sector has several dimensions. One of these involves recognising the value of the local production and build public awareness around it in order to attract the interest of decision-makers and local entrepreneurs. The cooperation initiatives promoted under measure 124 provided the space and the means for the actors of the food-supply chain to meet and reflect on each other’s needs and boost together the competitiveness of the sector.
Project location and other information
Southern Savonia
Region
Etelä-Savo
RDP Territory
Mainland
Total project cost (€)
321 880
EAFRD contribution (€)
130 361
National contribution (€)
159 331
Private contribution (€)
32 188
Project website
Contact name
Hanna-Maija Väisänen
Languages for contact
English, Finnish
At a glance
Country
Finland
Final beneficiary type
Other
Budget range
€100 000 - €500 000
Start date:
01/01/2011
End Date:
31/12/2012
Theme / Measure:
Competitiveness of Agriculture & Forestry
Restructuring, developing physical potential, and promoting innovation
124: Cooperation for development of new products, processes and technologies
Keywords:
Food quality , Organic farming, Cooperation, Local food
Last update
19/06/2014