The main field of the project is short food supply chain (SFSC) development which is one of the most relevant factors as well as a tool of European food cultural heritage maintenance. However, researches in recent years, as well as surveys of producers and consumers, have highlighted the problem that small producers have difficulties separately, so they need to work together to gain market access. Intermediate players have taken over some of these activities from producers. These are supply chain organizers who understand market and agricultural processes thus helping farmers to gain market access.
Experts agreed that it is necessary to start a special SFSC organizer training and to develop special eligibility conditions, as well as the training of SFSC advisers, however, these development and support directions are still missing in practice.Therefore the partnership is committed to exploring the possible ways on how to generate the position of a so-called Rural facilitator and to develop the necessary learning materials and training tools to train individuals who intend to take under this new profession in their career. The outcomes of the project will provide an innovative teaching approach where organizers can partake from capacity building which will strong economic impact on successful value chain organization and rural employment development.
The project has four intellectual outputs:
- Desk research and competence catalogue,
- Canvas business model and a step by step guideline for maintenance of the project results based on country-specific business systems,
- Learning material that will be a guideline for these people who want to ease the set up or further development of SFSC groups and who need more special knowledge on SFSC setting up,
- A training material and a corresponding curriculum, which will focus on transferring knowledge and developing special competences and skills of future rural facilitators.
The Rural Facilitator project is funded by the European Commission´s Erasmus + programme. The project started in November 2019 and lasts for 2 years.
Project webpage: https://www.ruralfacilitator.eu/
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