ESTABLISHING A KNOWLEDGE NETWORK FOR AGRI-FOOD AND FORESTRY VALUE CHAINS – SPOTLIGHTING THE POTENTIAL OF TERRITORIAL BRANDS
Topic
High quality food products based on a rich traditional heritage and a large variety of agricultural and forestry raw materials are joint assets of the entire EUSALP area. Through the establishment of a knowledge network the transdisciplinary EUSALP-wide community of relevant actors and stakeholders as well as organizations and experts from the private and public sector, including centres of expertise in different subjects (agriculture, landscape, culinary, culture, tourism, commerce, craft, sustainable development), representatives of local communities, heritage communities as well as different decision makers will be connected to collaboratively generate, manage and share knowledge and information about innovative approaches within agri-food and forestry value chains to foster and improve sustainable local and regional development.
Aim
The objective of this initiative is to bring the different networks of territorial brands in the Alpine agri-food sector together and to trigger a lasting knowledge and experience exchange in the framework of an international conference. The network will be established by connecting already existing corresponding networks.
What has been achieved?
With the substantial contribution of its members AG6 successfully organized the international conference “Territorial Brands in the Alpine Region, A chance for a better valorisation of regional and local agri-food products!”, where more than 100 practitioners of the agri-food sector and experts met at EURAC Research in Bolzano/Bozen (IT) to discuss on the topic of territorial brands.
Given the potential for further development of territorial brands for local sustainable growth in the agri-food sector, EUSALP Action Group 6 was able to raise awareness on the topic and to review current trends among practitioners. The workshop featured contributions from territorial brand managers and experts on local development from all over the Alpine region.
Coherence with EUSALP Action Plan
This strategic initiative is fully in line with the EUSALP Action Plan, stating that one of the main features of the Alpine Region is its outstanding natural and cultural heritage and that “there is scope to find innovative ways of valorizing local products, benefitting local Alpine communities, ensuring the authentic nature of these products, and providing local business opportunities and through the entire value chain enabling a stronger connection between the core Alpine area and the surrounding urbanized areas”.
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Photo credits: © EURAC Research