On November 28th and 29th, the FoodCoP project officially launched in Fundão, Portugal, marking the beginning of an exciting new initiative to transform rural food systems across Europe.
The European Union has recognised the growing need for sustainable growth in rural areas, where bioeconomy solutions, which include sustainability in agriculture, fishing and food and feed production, have the potential to drive long-term economic development and environmental sustainability.
Currently, the bioeconomy sector supports 17.5 million jobs and contributes €2.2 trillion to the European economy, with projections suggesting this could rise to €3 trillion by 2050.
Supported by the EU’s Horizon Europe programme, the new FoodCoP research project will drive transformations in food systems within rural areas, including in the production, distribution, consumption and waste management of food.
Professor Damian Maye, Dr Aimee Morse and Pippa Simmonds from the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI) will collaborate with 13 partners from nine countries across Europe, including SMEs, universities, regional innovation networks, and research organisations, on the FoodCop project to develop inititiatives to make rural food systems more sustainable and self-sufficient.
A key part of the two-year project is a community of Start-up Villages – regions across Europe dedicated to knowledge exchange, innovation and entrepreneurship to stimulate local economies – which is an expansion of a concept originally devised by the CCRI.
Prioritising resource efficiency and waste reduction, the Start-up Villages will be dedicated to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship to stimulate local economies, make them attractive places to live and work, and create a model of sustainability that can be replicated across Europe.
Damian Maye, Professor of Agri-Food Studies within the CCRI, said: “Through community engagement, knowledge sharing, and placed-based action, FoodCoP aims to make rural food systems more sustainable and self-sufficient.
“By facilitating the exchange of best practices, FoodCoP aims to drive systemic change, ultimately leading to a more efficient and equitable food landscape and break the innovation divide between cities and rural communities.
“FoodCoP is a hugely exciting and innovative project and I’m immensely proud that the University through the CCRI was involved in designing the conceptual framework for the project – the Start-Up Village concept – which will be integral to its success.
“The opportunity to work in partnership with a range of organisations from several different countries will bring unique experience and expertise to the project, as well as strengthening our international connections.”
