BrokeringSpaces Project Interreg Alpine Space’s Post

We’re excited to share the stories of three enterprises supported by the #GRAINSproject Financial Facility Program. From centuries-old olive groves to innovative sustainable farming, these SMEs are not only producing exceptional products but also strengthening local communities, protecting the environment, and promoting knowledge-sharing among producers 🌱 📍 Meet OLIAPULIA, Casalina, and Valle del Cedrino Cooperative — discover their impact, how they are building resilient and sustainable practices, and the tangible changes they’re creating in rural Italy. Swipe through the carousel to learn more about their journeys and achievements. Looking for more inspiration? Follow our #GRAINSforaGreenerFuture campaign to explore the power of the social economy in agri-food: www.diesis.coop/grains #GRAINSproject #GRAINSforaGreenerFuture #SocialEconomy #Agrifood #Sustainability #GreenTransition #SocialEnterprise #RuralHelp

A milestone for collaborative climate action and sustainable agriculture in Ethiopia   In a significant step towards the institutionalization of the Artisan C-Sink certification system, key representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Bureau of Agriculture (BoA), and the Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (OARI) came together for a strategic meeting. The Soil Resource Development Lead Executive of the MoA, Ato Lire Abiyo, Ato Mulugeta Abera (MoA), Ato Geremu Negeru (MoA), Eshetu Legesse (BoA) and Director General of the Oromia Agricultural Research Institute Ato Teshome Bogala Soboka met with the ETH-Soil project team, namely Dr. Kerstin Wilde, Dr. Getachew Eshete and Dr. Annett Pollex.   This gathering marks more than just coordination – it demonstrates a strong and shared political will to define a fair and workable distribution of control and responsibility for the future of carbon certification in Ethiopia. It reflects a collective commitment to building structures that are transparent, inclusive, and aligned with the interests of farmers, institutions, and climate goals. Their joint leadership paves the way for scaling up sustainable soil improvement practices, which are based on the application of evidence-based biochar-based biofertilizer recipes developed within the ETH-Soil project.   With production and application of biochar-based biofertilizers already underway, and DBFZ acting as interim C-Sink manager, this meeting sets the foundation for a formal handover and long-term implementation. We are honored to contribute to this collaborative effort and to support Ethiopia’s path towards sustainable agriculture and voluntary carbon market participation.   #CarbonFarming #SustainableAgriculture #SoilHealth #Biochar #C_Sink #CarbonMarkets #Ethiopia

PACIDA, in partnership with Participatory Ecological Land Use Management PELUM Kenya Association, successfully held a two-day workshop at Ardha Gadamoji cultural site (Dirib) on sustainable Agriculture and agro-pastoralism. The workshop brought together different Organizations from Isiolo, Samburu, and Marsabit. This is part of PACIDA's efforts to collaborate with like-minded partners to bolster communities' livelihoods in a sustainable manner. PELUM Kenya Association

🇨🇭 Cooperatives in Switzerland: A Model for the Future 📊 A new Idée Coopérative survey (in collaboration with fenaco, Schweizer Hagel & Sotomo Admin) highlights the strong role of cooperatives in Swiss agriculture and society - especially in the context of the UN International Year of Cooperatives (2025). ✅ Key Insights from the Survey 👩🌾 95% of farmers see cooperatives as a future-proof model. 💼 90% consider them essential for their operations, regardless of age, farm size, or production method. 🌍 Cooperatives are valued for regionality, social responsibility, long-term thinking, and customer proximity. 💡 Innovation gap: While stability and solidarity are strong, farmers want more innovation, especially in crop production. 🔍 What Makes Cooperatives Stand Out? ✔️ Collective strength: Joint marketing, better negotiating power, and infrastructure investments. ✔️ Tangible benefits: Lower prices, rebates, and shared services. ✔️ Social role: Strengthening networks and solidarity in farming communities. 🗣️ “Combining stability with future-oriented initiatives is the clear mandate for agricultural cooperatives.” - Elias Maier, Managing Director, Idée Coopérative 📌 Takeaway: Farmers and society want cooperatives to maintain strong roots while accelerating innovation and supporting social & ecological projects. #Cooperatives #SwissAgriculture #Farmers #Innovation #Solidarity #UNCooperativeYear #Agribusiness #Sustainability #fenaco #SchweizerHagel #IdéeCoopérative https://lnkd.in/dZkphc4C

Reflecting on a productive and forward-looking informal meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers hosted by the Danish Presidency in beautiful Copenhagen. The discussions centred around a crucial theme: how to enhance the competitiveness and accelerate the green transition of the EU agri-food sector — with a clear emphasis on simplification, innovation, and emerging biosolutions. From policy dialogues to on-the-ground inspiration, we explored how Europe’s agri-food systems can become more sustainable, resilient, and technologically advanced — all while remaining competitive in a global market. A highlight of the programme was getting a closer look at Denmark’s agri-food ecosystem during our insightful site visits: 🔬 Novonesis in Kalundborg – where we saw how biosolutions are transforming agricultural inputs and enabling smarter, greener farming. 🌾 Aggersvold Estate in Jyderup – showcasing regenerative agriculture and holistic land management in action. 🌱 Søgaard plant farm in Kirkerup – a strong example of precision farming and the integration of innovation in everyday practice. Grateful to the Danish Presidency for facilitating such a meaningful exchange of ideas and experiences. #AGRIFISH #EUAgriculture #GreenTransition #Biosolutions #SustainableFarming #EU2025DK

🚀 Sevan Agritech Summit 2025 was a key event aimed at advancing the #agritech sector in 🇦🇲 Armenia. 🌾 The event introduced the best local and international practices in the sector, with a goal of promoting #innovative technologies in Armenia’s #agriculture sector. 🤖🌱🛰️ 🤝 Sevan Agritech Summit 2025 was made possible through the support of the SIGMA project, funded by the 🇨🇭Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (#SDC), the Armenian Institute for Digital Agriculture (AI4DA), and the Startup Armenia Foundation, in cooperation with other local and international partners 🌍. 🎥 Check out the video for more details! #Agritech #Innovation #DigitalAgriculture #Armenia #SevanAgritech2025 #Sustainability #SmartFarming #ruralgrowthinArmenia #switzerland4armenia

Sevan Agritech Summit 2025, supported by the Swiss-funded Sustainable Inclusive Growth in Mountainous Armenia SIGMA project, brought together local and international partners to promote innovative technologies and strengthen Armenia’s agriculture sector. Funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC and implemented by the Armenian Branch of DAI Global in cooperation with Ampera Consulting Company, the SIGMA Project supports scalable rural innovation and climate-resilient agriculture in remote regions of Armenia.

🚜 Revitalizing Rural Communities in Cantabria, Spain 🌾 In Cantabria, the De Granja en Granja (From Farm to Farm) project showcases the dedication of local farmers to sustainable agriculture. This initiative strengthens the rural community by promoting local networks based on short supply chains and transparency. It serves as a model for how sustainable practices can breathe new life into rural areas. Learn more about this project: From Farm to Farm in Cantabria, Spain: https://buff.ly/wxWvyCN #SFEntre #ErasmusPlus #SlowFood #SustainableEntrepreneurship #GreenSkills #VET #FoodInnovation #FutureOfFood #SlowFoodGoals #Biodiversity #FoodEducation #CaseStudies

Driving Innovation in Agro-Processing The East London Industrial Development Zone (ELIDZ), an entity of DEDEAT, invites applications for the Eastern Cape Innovation Challenge 2025, a dynamic platform to spark innovation in agro-processing and aquaculture. Aligned with the DEDEATs Provincial Economic Development Strategy (PEDS), this initiative supports the province’s goal of developing competitive agro-processing industries, strengthening agricultural value chains, and expanding market access for rural entrepreneurs. The initiative aims to advance economic development by unlocking new value chains, technologies, and market opportunities for local entrepreneurs. It also strengthens DEDEAT’s efforts to deepen sector-specific interventions and improve market access for small-scale producers. By leveraging on such initiatives, the opportunity will foster skills development, research, and innovation in sustainable agro-processing and aquaculture. Through the 2025 Eastern Cape Innovation Challenge, DEDEAT and ELIDZ are creating a platform to transform ideas into impactful solutions that support a more sustainable, competitive, and inclusive agro-processing sector in the province. Deadline: 25 September 2025 Apply Now: https://lnkd.in/dv3MYsK3 #DedeatEC #Dedeatentities #EasternCape #DedeatEC #ELIDZ #CoegaSEZ #ECDC #ECPTA #ECLB #ECGB

Five years after the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)-supported #SIMLESA project ended, it continues to underpin the adoption of #conservationagriculture practices across #Kenya and Tanzania, improving livelihoods and building #climate resilience.   The Sustainable Intensification of Maize-Legume Cropping Systems for Food Security in Eastern and Southern Africa (SIMLESA) project saw an 8-fold increase in the number of farmers employing conservation agriculture techniques – from 4% to 35%. This provided an estimated economic return of $4 for every $1 invested.    Along with this, there have been: • 𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤, 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘯-𝘧𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘯 • 40 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 • 64 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘮𝘦 𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥  • 58 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 • 19 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴  • 20 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘧𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥  • 𝘈 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘺 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘥   𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦: 𝘣𝘪𝘵.𝘭𝘺/3𝘑𝘥3𝘎0𝘕   #SDG17 #SDG2 #FoodSystems #ACIAR #FoodSecurity Wendy Umberger | CIMMYT | Eric Huttner