An international rural forum organised by Partners VuS, Meridaunia and New Edu in 2023 found that villages in Central and Eastern Europe are losing their rural character.  It was stated at this event that “people had stopped growing vegetables, fruits, and livestock, and there were thousands of hectares of unused land, thousands of unemployed and young people are not interested in working at home, preferring to go abroad.” The Smart4food project was established to address this situation and to develop tools and training to encourage and support rural regeneration and sustainability.

Based on further research carried out by the consortium Partners three specific groups were identified as those who would benefit most from the innovation and intervention to address the challenges of sustainable agri-production, rural population decline and the challenges posed by climate change. The project aims to deliver the greatest benefits to:

Small And Family Farms and Smallholders: These are the backbone of EU agriculture, and have come under increasing threat in recent years. Lower levels of education and a lack of technological skills pose a serious obstacle to the effectiveness and sustainability of their small businesses.

Sustainability, Farming, and Community Education Bodies: While these bodies offer training and supports to the farming sector, they can lack the knowledge/pedagogical strategies to provide niche outreach support, training, and guidance to promote innovation and new trends in farming.

Farming and Regional Development Agencies: As thought Leaders in their local areas and regions, these Agencies will be a valuable resource to develop trust in the Smart4Food project, in turn, we will be offering valuable training tools and resources strategically developed to meet the needs of their clients.

The Smart4Food project is a great example of how collaboration across different sectors and the transfer of knowledge and skills can lead to synergies that benefit education, agriculture, and entrepreneurship. This multidisciplinary approach and the cooperation between the Partners from various locations across Europe brings strategic insights into who is most in need of the tools and supports the project is developing and in turn, most likely to benefit from the work of the project.