SMEOrigin

European countries offer a unique heritage of regional food traditions and a diverse landscape of specialties, reflecting their rich history of multi-ethnic and cultural development. Regional food represents a common European cultural heritage and is therefore a major economic asset for many European regions. Regional food products have a tremendous impact on local development, they are a cultural asset and they generate cooperation between various sectors such as tourism and agriculture. Moreover, the importance of a resilient food system has become even more evident during the Covid-19 crisis.

The overall objective of the project is to improve regional development policies and funding programmes aiming at increasing the competitiveness of SMEs in the food sector. More specifically, the project has been designed to foster products with a geographical indication in the involved regions by improving the quality standards of SMEs, fostering their digital transformation, and promoting the authenticity of the products.

In many regional policy instruments, geographical indication products and the food sector are either underrepresented or not mentioned at all. The partnership will therefore seek, through interregional policy learning and exchange of experience and good practices, to improve relevant regional policies and finding programmes aiming at supporting the food sector. This interregional learning process will take place around study visits, exchange of good practices and training actions.