This methodological case study explores the ‘Think Local’ programme in Scotland, UK, in its collaborative approach to short supply chains, including farmers’ markets, farm retail, food tourism, and regional food and drink networks, to add value for rural producers.
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This issue of the EU Rural Review explores some of the latest thinking and practice in how rural entrepreneurship can be supported to take advantage of emerging opportunities and latent potential in order to develop new forms of successful rural business.
Without seeking to ignore the many challenges facing Europe’s rural areas, the issue overviews new opportunities emerging from sectors ranging from the biotechnology to the experience economy and from possibilities created by new information technologies to changing consumer demand.
Finally, it examines how the Rural Development Programmes can be deployed strategically to take advantage of these opportunities, finding smarter ways to deliver effective business support and making targeted efforts to overcome some of the specifically rural challenges.
This edition of the EAFRD Projects Brochure explores how Rural Development Programme (RDP) funding – co-financed by the EAFRD – has been used not only to support individual rural businesses, but also to create the kind of enabling environment that allows businesses to prosper in rural areas.
Supporting rural business usually means providing strategic interventions that can increase the likelihood of successful, self-sustaining economic activities in rural areas.
The projects highlight inspiring examples of how to provide advice, training and networking opportunities to rural businesses, as well as targeted investment in the digital and physical infrastructure needed by rural business, both on-farm and in other rural sectors of activity.
This issue focuses on opportunities for “improving competitiveness of primary producers by better integrating them into the agri-food chain” – one of the Focus Areas of EU Rural Development policy.
The publication provides an overview of the various means for adding value in food and drink supply chains. It goes on to explore major market opportunities for rural producers in terms of: increasing the rural market; improving access to urban markets; and accessing the market for public food.
The publication stresses the importance of targeted strategies for supporting smarter supply chains using effective links with research and the Rural Development Programmes (RDPs).
This edition of the EAFRD Projects Brochure presents examples of methods and approaches that have been used across Europe to deliver results on the topics of rural broadband, digital access to market, farm modernisation, market development, rural diversification and sustainable communities.
It hopes to provide inspiration on how to develop the strategies and tools for different types of rural areas to be economically competitive, while at the same time preserving their natural resources and social cohesion.
The United Nations has declared 2014 the International Year of Family Farming, the primary aim of which is to promote, develop and strengthen all types of family-oriented agriculture as a socially valuable, economically viable and environmentally sustainable model.
Innovation is at the heart of the Europe 2020 strategy, which aims to promote smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Today, European farmers are faced with the dual challenges of having not only to produce more, but also to do so in a sustainable manner. The reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) sees innovation as a key driver of sustainable agriculture and rural development.
How Rural Development Programmes (RDPs) are contributing to the promotion of local food production and short supply chains.
