Project summary:As demand for energy increases across the world, climate change simultaneously has begun to visibly impact all countries. To mitigate climate change, it is necessary to ensure that economic development will prioritise carbon-neutral bioenergy fuels, especially those that harness energy from agricultural residues.  The family-owned business ‘Klimis’ produces lime putty and quicklime. In the process they use olive stones as a source of heat energy. The olive stones are a waste product from the olive oil production in the region. As the olive pips do not completely combust in this process, a black powder is created as a bioproduct. Reusing this residue offers an opportunity to create an additional source of income and protect the environment from the discarded residue. The business owners experimented for 15 years before developing and finally placing their own olive barbecue briquettes in the Greek market in 1992. They designed and assembled their own machinery from scratch which included mixers, press machines and dryers and then tested if they could produce this new by-product effectively. 

Project summary:Katja Temnik became a young farmer and bought an abandoned five-hectare (ha) farm to invest in the biodynamic production of herbs and take advantage of an opportunity for personal development. Katja wanted to create a new business model that combines organic farming to protect the environment, create employment and at the same time provide education services while being socially inclusive. Financial support from multiple Rural Development Programme (RDP) measures was used to create diverse organic plantations: hazelnuts (1.4 ha), herbs (2.1 ha), high-trunk orchard (0.7 ha) and to purchase machinery for stripping, cutting, and packing herbs and a hammer mill.

Project summary:Organically bred sheep and goats can play a key role in preserving the landscape and biodiversity in the steeper meadows and pastures in Zasavje, a picturesque valley in the Sava Hills in central Slovenia. However, local breeders were facing difficulties in selling their meat due to the low prices and the lack of interest in such meat from consumers since there is a lack of knowledge about it. The beneficiary, the organic breeder Mr Uroš Macerl, used Rural Development Programme (RDP) funds to set up a slaughtering facility on his farm. In this way, the quality of meat would be improved as the animals would go through less stress. This would also open new opportunities for him and other local breeders to sell their high-quality meat directly to consumers and improve their profitability.

Project summary:The ‘Laurissilva Forest’ is classified as an UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. It also holds the distinction of Community Importance Site - Natura 2000 European Network (Madeira’s Laurissilva and Mountain Massif sites) and is part of the Madeira Natural Park area.  Support from the Madeira Rural Development Programme (RDP) was used to achieve the sustainable restoration of visitor access walkways and to establish an education and interpretation programme and leisure areas.

Project summary:Meat and milk production by feeding animals hay (without silage) is a traditional farming method which is in decline. Ensuring that this type of farming does not disappear is very important since it has minimum environmental impact and limited labour requirements.  An EIP Operational Group was set up to establish a stable system of production, processing, promotion and marketing of hay fed meats and milk, and to develop a collective brand (SENENO) to increase the recognition and market penetration of the products.

Project summary:The production of vegetables in Slovenia covers the demand of the country only during the production season, i.e. between May and October. Off-season, vegetable production is insufficient to cover the market. European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) beneficiary, Mario Kurtović, saw this as an opportunity to meet demand. He decided to invest in the hydroponic cultivation of lettuce and herbs in pots (the technique of growing plants without soil). Investment support under Rural Development Programme measure M04 enabled him to acquire a biomass-burning heater, construct new nurseries for the ground cultivation of vegetables and also assemble a hydroponic line to cultivate lettuce and herbs.

Project summary:NECT’ARTS is a transnational cooperation project (TNC) between three wine-producing regions: Uzège-Pont du Gard (south of France), Cotes des Bar, Champagne (north east of France) and Tinutul Vinului (Romania). For the three partners, wine-growing is of major importance to their local economy. This TNC project involved a series of actions to connect local know-how (savoir-faire) and engage artistic creativity in relation to wine production (using artist residencies). This was done by comparing and exchanging experiences, promoting wine production and organising study visits and exchanges between wine-producers.

Project summary:This EIP (European Innovation Partnership) Operational Group focused on the concept of a comprehensive model of agri-food production management ‘from farm to fork’, using innovative cultivation technologies and process management tools for introducing plants to cultivation according to new cultivation technology.  Breakthrough technologies based on agroforestry systems were developed and tested. This enabled a significant improvement in the condition of soil and water, increasing biodiversity and adapting to climate change, while increasing the profitability of agricultural and food production. The introduction of wild-growing herb species, including endangered ones, has resulted in the development of health-promoting products in the form of teas and spices.