Description
Focusing on rural development under the framework of the Human Right to sustainable nutrition, the project’s purpose is to increase capacity and encourage small producers and school communities, in the centre of Portugal, to adopt more sustainable development strategies. The target groups are small farmers and youth, with whom the lack of sustainability in small properties, the poor cooperation between local stakeholders and more sustainable life styles will be addressed. The goal is to integrate local producers in local networks through training, awareness-raising and mobilization of youth through workshops and volunteering activities, and the enhancement of local networks towards sustainable development through intergenerational activities and a national seminar. The undertakings under the scope of this project will be divided between the promoter, a municipal company, a non-profit association and a development NGO.
Summary of project results
In the rural areas of central Portugal, the following problems are present: lack of sustainability (rural abandonment and recurrent forest fires); fragile cooperation between local actors, and consequent lack of participation in decision-making; insufficient integration of local public policies; non-existence of effective local chains/networks for commercialisation; need for more sustainable lifestyles. In order to cope with these problems the project has trained 18 small farmers on food quality control and bio production and has produced a Manual on biological agriculture; has raised awareness for sustainable and local-based food in 530 young people (through summer schools and camps for example); and has streamlined local networks between academics and scientists, and local population of various ages (intergenerational meetings) on sustainable living and territorial development. A manual of good practices has been produced as well in order to replicate the project and its methodology as the number of consumers of local products has increased substantially thus showing the project success. A pedagogical bio farm has been created too. The project has surpassed its ambitions regarding young awareness raising but was a bit short regarding involvement of public entities (8) and farmers participating in local networks (18); anyway the outcomes seem very promising and the potential for replication is clear – as it was indicated during project presentations in Brussels (workshop on Regaining control of the food systems) and Paris (COP 21).
Summary of bilateral results