In the framework of the Strength2Food project, Eco-Sensus, a local non-profit organization based in Hungary, the Faculty of Economics of the University of Belgrade, and the NGO EUTA, Serbia, implemented a joint pilot action to expand co-operation and regional food labelling. The pilot action aimed at finding ways in which fresh, healthy, and quality food products can become accessible to local, regional, and international markets via farmers’ co-operation and regional branding, thus increasing opportunities and returns to local farmers. The key recommendations of this pilot action are as follows: For sector practitioners: - Increase innovation of the agricultural sector, both at production and marketing level, to improve farmers’ income; - Opt for organic production and invest more in product labelling and branding; - Develop tools to support local production that take into consideration economic and non-economic factors; - Explore consumers’ preferences to develop effective and sustainable local food systems; - Promote the development of new cooperatives of small farmers. For policy makers: - Restructure national incentive systems for small farmers; - Establish quality and safety standard control systems to support export-oriented practices; - Promote common branding for regional products; - Discourage unfair trade practices; - Make grant and tender procedures more accessible and ensure funds for innovative producers‘ initiatives; - Facilitate multi-stakeholder connections and public-co-operative-partnerships.
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Strength2Food
Strengthening European Food Chain Sustainability by Quality and Procurement Policy
Agricultural run-off and subsurface drainage tiles transport a significant amount of nitrogen and phosphorus leached after fertilization. alchemia-nova GmbH in collaboration with University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna developed two multi-layer vertical filter systems to address the agricultural run-off issue, which has been installed on the slope of an agricultural field in Mistelbach, Austria. While another multi-layer addressing subsurface drainage water is implemented in Gleisdorf, Austria. The goal is to develop a drainage filter system to retain water and nutrients. Both multi-layer filter systems contain biochar and other substrates with adsorption properties of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus). The filter system can be of practical use if an excess of nutrients being washed out is of concern in the fields of the practitioner by keeping the surrounding waters clean. This approach may result in economic value by re-using the saturated biochar as fertilizer and improving the soil structure, thus increasing long-term soil fertility. Link: https://wateragri.eu/a-bio-inspired-multilayer-drainage-system/
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No 858735This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No 858735. FACTSHEET NANOCELLULOSE MEMBRANES FOR NUTRIENT RECOVERY Key information Functionalized nanocellulose membranes can take up nitrate and phosphate. These membranes can be put in a water treatment unit. As the membranes are biobased, degradable materials, they can after use be added to the soil, thus returning the leached nutrients back for their original purpose providing fertilizers (nutrient recycling).
This case study is drafting new legislation that allows renting forestland for multiple purposes in order to increase economic efficiency and maintain a balance between all ecosystem services. This Russian case works on regulation mechanisms so that people renting forestland can use it for multiple purposes, and to include ecosystem services in the Forest Code.