About

The project rEdESIGN is aiming to boost the cooperation between social businesses on rural areas active in the agri-food sector in regions of Crete (Greece), Sicily (Italy) and Andalusia (Spain), through the building a European network of regional and local authorities with converging priorities on social economy and creating space and opportunities at EU level for learning and collaboration. The consortium has been built to ensure the achievement of foreseen results in the most cost-effective way, while at the same time covering the diverse needs of the target groups in terms of content developed and activities implemented. It consists of seven partners. It includes one Regional government, two local government Bodies, one Chamber of Commerce one VET one developmental agency, and one structural developmental body.

Project Objectives

Perform an overview of existing materials (main recommendations and good practices) from previous projects on the issue of social economy and social innovation for the resilience of rural communities
Identify and sharing of best practices in social economy in the agri-food sector in rural areas in partner countries
Develop a collaboration network for gathering, for sharing best practices gather a formulating a common key, and learning with focus on boosting the resilience, the greening and the digitalization of social economy enterprises and SMEs active in rural areas.
Present best practices in close collaboration with stakeholders via onsite visits to rural SMEs in the social economy and/or hands-on training.
Understand existing practices and/or challenges of other consortium partners through a set of parallel collaborative sessions (inter-active workshops).
Develop policy recommendations based on shared good solutions, for building resilience of local rural communities through social economy.
Stakeholder engagement, for boosting inter-regional learning between social economy stakeholders (public and private sector)

What rEdESIGN is set to achieve

Food Systems

The project's focus on the agri-food sector encompasses the entire food system, from production to distribution and consumption. By sharing best practices and promoting collaboration, the project contributes to the development of resilient and sustainable food systems in rural areas. This aligns with the call's emphasis on fostering sustainable agriculture and food systems.

Sustainable Agriculture

The project specifically targets the agri-food sector in rural areas. It aims to identify and promote sustainable practices within this sector. Through onsite visits, hands-on training, and collaborative workshops, the project encourages the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices that contribute to environmental conservation, resource efficiency, and the long-term viability of rural communities.

Social Entrepreneurship

The project places a strong emphasis on social economy enterprises and SMEs in rural areas of partners; regions. These entities often operate as social enterprises, seeking not only economic viability but also social and environmental impact. By identifying and sharing best practices, creating collaboration networks, and developing policy recommendations, the project directly supports and fosters social entrepreneurship within the agri-food sector.

Resilience

One of the project's specific objectives is to build resilience in rural communities through social economy initiatives. This aligns closely with the call's priority, as it recognizes the importance of building resilient food systems and rural communities, particularly in the face of challenges such as climate change, economic fluctuations, and rural depopulation.

Knowledge Exchange and Collaboration

The project aims to establish collaboration networks and engage stakeholders, fostering knowledge exchange and cooperation. This collaborative approach is essential for addressing complex challenges within the agri-food sector and promoting social entrepreneurship.

Policy Recommendations

The project's specific objective of developing evidence-based policy recommendations aligns with the call's focus on policy support for social entrepreneurship and sustainable agriculture. These recommendations can inform and guide policymakers of the partnership and beyond in creating an enabling environment for social enterprises and sustainable food systems.