Objective(s): The Rural Innovation HUB is conceived as a centre for technological and innovation demonstrations to optimise resources, sustainability and productivity in the agri-food sector. Its objective is to accelerate the technological and innovative development of the sector, and facilitate the transfer of knowledge, to promote development of rural areas. It functions as an innovation laboratory, business incubator and business community. It was born out of the need to offer BALAM AGRICULTURE's customers new cutting-edge solutions in the agricultural sector and is part of their commitment to R&D&I. 

Result(s): It began its journey six years ago and is a benchmark project at national and European level. In this time, more than 70 events and conferences have been held; and more than 200 meetings with farmers and entrepreneurs from the agri-food sector. In total, it is estimated that more than 8,000 experts from the agricultural sector have visited the facilities of the first Rural Innovation Hub in Spain. Among them, Farmers, Experts, Cooperatives, Researchers, Universities and Entrepreneurs from the sector have seen them first-hand, proving how innovation is the cross-cutting axis of all our projects. As a result, the entrepreneurs accomplished: evelopment of new sustainable agricultural inputs, breeding of new plant varieties, development of sustainable practices compatible with biodiversity and establishment of new trade relations. 

Practical implications/recommendations: One of its missions is to connect companies, universities and other organisations to promote innovative projects for the sector. It has its own innovation programmes, events, content and collaborations. This is ensured through agreements with universities, national and international companies; and startups in the agri-food sector. The results obtained allow the partners to move forward towards the development of new projects, the creation of new work synergies and innovation in the sector. 

• Website of the rural innovation hub “El Valenciano”

Mobile Compost for Biodegradable Waste is an innovative solution developed under the NETWAP project to tackle environmental challenges related to biodegradable waste management in rural areas. It provides a mobile composting unit that offers an efficient and sustainable way to process organic waste, particularly in remote locations where conventional waste treatment facilities are not available. 

Objectives: The key aim is to address the challenge of organic waste accumulation in small rural communities and islands. Traditional waste disposal methods, such as landfilling or incineration, can be costly and environmentally damaging. Implementing a mobile composting unit enables local communities to turn biodegradable waste into compost, reducing waste volume, lowering transportation costs, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. 

Results: Successfully developed and deployed a mobile composting system adaptable to various locations. The system is designed to be user-friendly and can process different types of biodegradable waste efficiently. It has demonstrated a significant reduction in organic waste accumulation, producing high-quality compost that supports local farming initiatives, fostering a circular economy approach. 

Practical Implications/ Recommendations: This offers an affordable and sustainable solution to waste management for farmers, municipalities, and small businesses. The system can lead to cost savings on waste disposal and fertilizer purchases while improving soil quality. The mobility of the unit makes it particularly beneficial for isolated regions with limited infrastructure. By reducing methane emissions from decomposing waste, the project contributes to climate change mitigation efforts. 

Practitioners considering the solution should consider local waste generation patterns and community engagement in waste segregation. Initial investment may be offset by savings on waste collection and fertilizer costs in the long run. 

• Project website
• Piece of news about the project
• Project video

Objectives: The project addresses the challenges of rural depopulation and the underutilization of traditional vineyard cellars. It transforms these historic spaces into comfortable accommodations, allowing tourists to experience authentic rural life while supporting local winemakers. The initiative fosters economic diversification in rural areas, encouraging sustainable tourism and promoting local products. 

Results: This initiative has successfully converted multiple vineyard cellars into eco-friendly holiday accommodations, attracting both domestic and international tourists. Visitors benefit from immersive experiences such as wine tastings, vineyard tours, and traditional culinary events. Increased tourism revenue and creation of new jobs in hospitality and agritourism boosts local economies. It has also encouraged vineyard owners to invest in the preservation of historic cellars, contributing to cultural and environmental sustainability. 

Practical Implications/ Recommendations: For winemakers and rural entrepreneurs, this initiative provides an alternative revenue stream by repurposing existing infrastructure. Cost of conversion is relatively low compared to building new accommodations, and the experience’s uniqueness enhances marketability. Tourists witness local traditions and winemaking processes, enhancing cultural appreciation and loyalty to regional products. 

To maximize success, vineyard owners should leverage digital marketing strategies and collaborate with regional tourism boards for visibility. Financial support from government rural development programs or EU funding can facilitate the cellar renovations. Ensuring compliance with hospitality and safety regulations is essential. Long-term sustainability can be achieved by integrating eco-friendly practices such as renewable energy use, waste reduction, and local sourcing for hospitality services. 

• Project website

In 2019, an agricultural service cooperative was established in the remote village of Snidavka, Ukraine, to develop a tourism route and provide services along the route. By leveraging the region’s cultural heritage, traditions, and natural resources, the cooperative introduced a tourism-based service model that enhances the village’s attractiveness while fostering economic opportunities for the community. 

Objective: To generate income opportunities for remote community members, fostering local economic development and preventing depopulation. 

Result: The cooperative has successfully established a tourism service model based on the region’s cultural and natural assets. As a result, new jobs have been created, with promising prospects for further development. 

Practical Implications/Recommendations: Practitioners could replicate this model in other remote areas by identifying unique local assets and organizing community-led tourism services. The key benefits include job creation, economic sustainability, and increased attractiveness of the region. While initial investment and coordination efforts are required, the long-term returns in terms of community resilience and economic self-sufficiency make this approach highly beneficial. 

Objectives: At the 2019 Winter Solstice, Borgofuturo hosted the last stop of “Walking beyond”, a trekking event organised by the university network “Walking Laboratory”. The network involves a group of academic scholars, photographers, artists, and passionate walkers who use walking as a research practice to understand territorial dynamics and changes that took place. On this occasion, participants explored part of the Fiastra Ring, aimed at re-descovering pathways originally used for pastoralism, and were asked to map their landscape perceptions using a digital tool or on paper.  After this experience, with the support and collaboration of ARCS Culture Solidali, the Borgofuturo team came up with the idea to create a map displaying the points of interest along the Fiastra Ring walking path, with the contribution of the local community (i.e. associations, local businesses and cultural centres). The map featured a QR code linking to the GPS track of the path, providing an interactive and navigable experience for users.  

Results: the project resulted in the creation PDF/JPG downloadable map with several stops on the itinerary (across 6 villages), tracked with GPS and accessible via QR codes and through an existing mobile app (Outdooractive). The map includes symbols with basic services and points of interest (e.g.: banks and pharmacy, accommodation, restaurants, natural and cultural sites, leisure services, etc.). The mapping process enhanced the sense of belonging and recognition in the people involved. A new and updated version of the map is currently under development.   

Practical Implications: the solution allows landscape exploration with a low impact on biodiversity. It does not require big infrastructure and avoids the use of fossil-based modes of transport. The mapping was done with low budget, as Borgofuturo could count on the financial and human support of a non-profit organisation: ARCS Culture Solidali. 

• Website
• GPS tracking and app

Marteloscopes - developed in 2014 at Bern University of Applied Sciences, Department of Agricultural, Forestry, and Food Sciences (BFH-HAFL) - are digital silvicultural training tools designed to enhance Close-to-Nature Forestry (CTNF) practices.  

By integrating digital technology, marteloscopes enable practitioners to simulate and evaluate forestry interventions, enhancing knowledge and practical skills. The martelage.sylvotheque.ch (MSC) internet platform and the MSC Mobile app facilitate data analysis, virtual tree selection exercises, and real-time comparisons, making forestry training more accessible and interactive. These tools contribute to adaptive forestry strategies by monitoring forest changes and developing sustainable management solutions. 

Objective: The marteloscope concept promotes Close-to-Nature Forestry (CTNF) by serving as an educational and training tool for forest professionals, students, and the public. It addresses key challenges, including: Enhancing practical learning in silviculture; Raising awareness of climate change impacts on forests; Providing a structured approach to tree selection and management through real-world simulations; Encouraging knowledge-sharing and community engagement in sustainable forestry. 

Result: Marteloscopes enhance forestry skills, integrating virtual training and real-time data for interactive learning. They support adaptive management by simulating interventions for climate resilience and foster collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and communities. 

Now present in over 200 locations across Switzerland, France, Germany, and Ukraine, marteloscopes have become a key learning and awareness-raising tool. 

Practical Implications/Recommendations: Marteloscopes provide a cost-effective, scalable solution for improving forestry education and management. They enable practitioners to evaluate silvicultural interventions, refine management techniques, and visualize the long-term impacts of forestry actions.  

• Project website

External events such as the climate crisis or the war in Ukraine, have had a massive impact on electricity costs. Gotland’s homeowners and renters have had to drastically reduce their heating usage to lower their bills, affecting health and quality of life as a result. The need for a tool that can handle electricity consumption and also prevent any waste in the home was apparent.  

Objectives: given the need for Visby Municipality to ensure an accessible solution, the idea began to focus on tool sharing. The result of this was the creation of a practical energy bag that contains tools (thermal camera, hygrometer, electricity meter, smoking pen) to easily find heat leaks, levels of harmful moisture, energy hogs, and more. As a result of budget secured by Energiecentrum, previously expensive tools are made accessible to residents in Gotland through shared bags, available from local libraries.  

Results: the arrangements for access of the Energy Bag ensure that it can be freely borrowed by reserving it through the island's libraries (using book distribution and delivery transportation), making it a climate-friendly solution. The solution has become so popular that it was booked out four months in advance. 

Practical notes: while this solution can be replicated in any country or region, it should be noted that the tools may need to be adapted according to the characteristics of the target area.   

• Energy bag

Capturing carbon in soil is a common approach in climate change mitigation measures, but variability in soils and greenhouse gas emissions makes evaluating results difficult. 

Objectives: The aim is to create a new solution that can effectively monitor changes in soil carbon caused by agricultural systems, using digital technologies. In doing this, the solution would support net-zero emission targets for Scotland (2045) and the UK (2050) through better understanding of the extent of the carbon that has been captured.  Involving linking sensors, edge and high-performance computing-based data analysis, modelling and visualisation, the system would monitor, report and verify changes to GHG emissions in near real time. In making the provisional results and methods open access, science, society, practice and policy would all benefit.  

Results: RETINA digital solution and associated systems are being used amongst policymakers and businesses across the UK. Policymakers are increasingly interested ensuring the management of carbon stocks to help achieve targets of climate change and biodiversity. They recognise monitoring can be used to do this. Some large businesses have invested in testing the solution, hoping to develop sustainability credentials that can enhance their products’ sustainability brands. Farm businesses are also interested because future policies may use payment systems based on environmental considerations, including maintaining soil carbon. Having a tool that can help farmers monitor this could allow them to optimise their soil to benefit from future policies.   

Practical notes: The sensors allow data to be made available to users through web interface and mobile app, without individual land managers providing numerous data inputs. Streamlined flows of information from sensors enables prediction of environmental changes using more accurate data. Spin out company been set up to develop and commercialise solution.

• Project website

Perthshire Artisans is a community of creative businesses based in Perth & Kinross, Scotland, launched by GrowBiz Scotland in 2020. The community exists both in-person and online. Artisans apply to a professional panel to join, and once selected, they pay a subsidised monthly membership fee to participate. Members gain access to a dedicated online forum and can attend events to connect with peers. Throughout the year, showcase opportunities are organised. Each artisan has a profile on the Perthshire Artisans website, displaying their background and creative process, and can list up to 30 products on the ecommerce platform.  

Objectives: To build a strong brand and community of members who share information, knowledge and provide peer to peer support; to promote the artisans, their creative processes and products; and to provide a curated ecommerce platform for the artisans. 

Results: Becoming a Perthshire Artisan boosts confidence, offering creative credibility and recognition. Members feel valued, supported, heard and connected. Getting to know fellow members reduces the anxiety of isolation, developing collaborations widens their creative interest and knowledge. The support of fellow members and from GrowBiz is extremely important and valued in their day to day running of their creative business practice.  

Practical notes: Initially, the platform hoped to provide a fulfilment service for the artisans, however, this option incurred a larger membership cost and also tied up their stock with no guarantees of sales. During the initial 6-month pilot phase and operating during the pandemic, this was re-evaluated, and members were given the option to do their own fulfilment for a lower membership fee, which in turn enabled them to retain stock which could be made available at events etc. The community element of membership has been the core focus, ensuring the artisans feel connected, valued and part of a supportive collective and to retain membership. 

• Perthsire Artisans website

The solution, implemented in rural areas of Zamora, Spain, seeks to improve elderly care through technology and community-centred services. By combining IoT technology with social care, the solution addresses the challenges posed by rural depopulation and aging populations. 

Objective(s): The main goal is to enhance the quality of life for older adults by increasing their safety and autonomy while creating employment opportunities, particularly for women, in rural areas. This initiative also promotes stronger community ties and tackles social isolation by integrating innovative care solutions. 

Result(s): Over 500 IoT sensors have been installed across 240 rural households to monitor and ensure the safety of elderly residents. The system provides real-time alerts for health and environmental risks, allowing for quicker response times in emergencies. Families of beneficiaries have reported greater peace of mind, knowing that their loved ones are under continuous care. The solution has also created new care-related jobs, empowering local women and fostering economic revitalization. 

Practical implications/recommendations: The solution shows that technology can play a crucial role in addressing rural healthcare challenges. It emphasizes the importance of collaboration between public institutions, technology providers, and local communities. Policymakers and rural development organizations are encouraged to adopt similar models, leveraging IoT to deliver scalable care services. Furthermore, the solution's success highlights the potential for integrating smart care systems into broader rural development strategies to reduce depopulation and support vulnerable groups. 

• Monitoring elderly people with sensors and Kwido in Zamora.

HOW - Habitat Beyond Welfare is an innovative welfare model developed in Calascio, in the region of Abruzzo, Italy. It combines both technological and community-based solutions to enhance the quality of life for elderly residents who lives in remote areas. The model addresses challenges of isolation, limited healthcare access, and loneliness by integrating digital tools with human support. 

Objective(s): To improve elderly well-being, to strengthen community relationships through cooperatives to reduce loneliness. Enhance healthcare services with telemedicine and wearable monitoring devices. To offer daily support services such as home visits, medication delivery, grocery shopping, Use digital infrastructure for real-time health monitoring and management of local resources. In addition to health benefits, the solution also hopes to better manage the tourism flows and energy consumption in remote areas thanks to collected data. 

Result(s): Equipped elderly residents with wearable devices linked to a control centre for 24/7 health monitoring to help provide timely medical interventions. Create social inclusion through community cooperatives. Reduced loneliness and enhanced independence. Enhanced the quality of life of elderly. Used data for improving public health strategies. 

Practical implications/recommendations: Practitioners can implement this model by establishing partnerships with community and digital cooperatives. While initial investment in digital infrastructure is required, benefits include reduced healthcare costs, improved health outcomes, and stronger community bonds. The approach is adaptable to various rural contexts. However, a few unexpected negative impacts had occurred i.e., technology dependence, privacy concerns, and resource allocation.  

• Project website

She Moves Mountains aims to promote gender equality by empowering the marginalised women in Zagori’s mountainous region. It addresses the challenges led by geographical isolation, cultural barriers, as well as socio economical inequalities. To do so, it promotes a supportive community and enhances women’s visibility in traditionally male-dominated sectors, for example in agriculture and tourism  

Objective(s): to connect and empower women, providing them with tools for personal and career growth. To increase women’s visibility as key contributors to the region's sustainable development. Promote women’s roles in preserving natural and cultural heritage, including maintaining region’s traditions and practices. Foster a collective identity that reflects their dynamic character and heritage. In the long term, it hopes to create a sustainable model of empowerment and visibility for women in mountainous areas.  

Result(s): established Women Circles for creating a nurturing environment for women to share experiences and support each other. Hosted activities around personal development workshops, career training, and cultural heritage promotion. Provided women with platforms to share their achievements and worries (with the organization of Live Story Sharing Events). Digital tools were utilized to enhance accessibility and engagement.  

Practical implications/recommendations: By focusing on community-based, locally-led actions, building community networks, using digital platforms, and creating visibility spaces, the approach can be replicated in other rural and isolated locations. Benefits may include improving gender equality, decreasing unemployment, and economic empowerment. As local collaborations and digital resources are used, costs may relatively low, but coordination is necessary. 

• Project website
• Social media

REGIOtim is a multimodal mobility network that integrates public transport with car sharing, bicycle parking, e-cargo bikes, and other mobility services to offer a cost-effective alternative to private car ownership. 

As “tim” was developed in the City of Graz from its urban transport operator in 2015, the network now gets adapted and extended to the peripheral areas of the Metropolitan Area of Styria.  

Objectives: REGIOtim addresses the challenge of high car dependency and increasing commuter traffic by offering seamless connections between different transport modes. By establishing multimodal mobility hubs at railway stations, municipal offices, and park-and-ride facilities, the project makes sustainable transport more accessible and practical. These hubs encourage residents to switch from private cars to shared mobility options, reducing traffic congestion and commuter flows to the city of Graz while lowering environmental impact.  

Results: The project integrates existing infrastructure such as public charging stations to maximize resource efficiency and minimize investment costs, ensuring a sustainable and scalable solution for regional mobility. The adaptation of urban mobility concepts to suburban and rural areas allows for improved accessibility and more flexible transport solutions. 

Practical notes: Municipalities and businesses can implement multimodal mobility hubs to enhance local mobility options for residents and employees. Entrepreneurs benefit from flexible e-transport solutions like e-cargo bikes for regional logistics. End users save money by using shared mobility instead of owning private vehicles, while communities gain from reduced traffic congestion and lower CO2 emissions. REGIOtim proves that modern mobility solutions can be successfully adapted to peri-urban and rural settings, offering cost-effective and sustainable alternatives to car dependency. 

• tim website

Objectives: EchoLoci promotes active citizenship collaborative learning and a process of biodiversity, landscape and cultural heritage management through the recording of biodiversity and soundscapes along the transhumance routes of Zagori. Through participatory research and artistic activities, it highlights the ecological role of mobile pastoralism, a traditional activity included in the UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2019 and considered a source for ecosystem services and other positive externalities. Among its objectives, the project seeks to preserve wildlife, endangered species, and their habitats while fostering awareness of mobile pastoralism’s contribution to biodiversity conservation, cultural awareness, and sustainable land management. 

Results: EchoLoci integrated new technologies like the EchoLoci Mapp app for data collection and expanded into interdisciplinary research on soundscapes. Key achievements included biodiversity mapping, ecosystem service documentation, and digital portraits of mobile pastoralists. The project fostered active citizenship participation and learning about landscape and biodiversity preservation and management. It supported cultural preservation (mobile pastoralism), social capital enhancement and community empowerment (awareness, skills and knowledge). 

Practical implications: the EchoLoci app – which is an interactive, georeferenced and user-friendly application, facilitates remote accessibility, GPS navigation and interpretation of local biodiversity with the help of an interactive map and open spatial data. It remains a vital tool for biodiversity monitoring, while lasting networks foster ongoing collaboration. The project's success has also secured new funding, enabling further initiatives that expand on EchoLoci’s mission of conservation, cultural preservation, and community engagement in Zagori and beyond.

• Project Website
• App

Background: Jurvasenlampi constructed wetland was a pilot site of the project 'Co-planning of land use sector climate change mitigation in the Kiiminkijoki river catchment' in 2022-2024 that was funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Finland. As part of the project, several wetland and peatland restoration sites have been co-planned together with local stakeholders and landowners in the Kiiminkijoki river basin. 

The climate change mitigation in the land use sector in Finland concentrates on peatland dominated areas. However, local actors have limited knowledge on how to prioritize and target climate actions within catchment areas, which this project addresses. Therefore, the objective was to develop a comprehensive plan of land use sector climate measures for the Kiiminkijoki catchment in northern Finland. The ensemble of climate measures has been designed to be environmentally sustainable, socially just and economically feasible. Other objectives of this project are to increase and restore the biodiversity of peatlands, with a particular focus on areas where biodiversity has already been altered.  

Results/Recommendations: The coming years will show whether the created wetlands can filter enough organic matter and nutrients released from upstream drained peatlands. The aim is to reduce flooding and dry seasons and to restore or increase carbon sinks. The constructed wetlands of Lake Jurvasenlampi serve as a model of how to develop and implement a catchment-level vision and actions. 

The Jurvasenlampi wetland project has inspired several other river catchment projects. The "mother project" has created new partnerships and local and regional cooperation among diverse stakeholders. In addition, the pilot sites received support from existing national forest management funds. 

• Project website