"A Community of Practice is ‘a group of people who share a concern, a set of problems, or a passion about a topic, and who deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area by interacting on an ongoing basis’ (Wenger et al., 2002). 
Established in 2020, the MOVING CoP is understood as a European-wide Science-Society-Policy Interface aimed at engaging stakeholders on the resilience of mountain value chains to climate change. The MOVING CoP consists of 23 Regional Multi-Actor Platforms (MAPs) and 1 EU-level MAP. 
The MOVING Regional Partners coordinate activities and stakeholder engagement in the Regional MAPs. Cross-regional exchange meetings are organised among MAPs to exchange on each other’s experience and activities. In addition, AEIDL is responsible of monitoring activities and progress of the Regional MAPs. Both qualitative and quantitative information are captured by means of a monitoring and evaluation tool, which is regularly shared and filled in by Regional MAP’s coordinator. Over four years’ time, more than 900 actors have been engaged through Regional MAPs, of which more than a third are women. 
The MOVING EU-level MAP offers an additional platform for external stakeholders engaged on mountain resilience to contribute to the project’s outputs and learn from its results. Actors from policy, research and practice are part of this community, and get regularly engaged through online activities and events. 
The MOVING CoP mobilise stakeholders at multiple levels, from local to European, ensuring that key issues for mountain resilience are adequately addressed and knowledge transfer and capitalisation is fostered. It also offers a long-lasting opportunity for the MOVING project to continue and perpetuate its impacts after its end. "
 

"The Malt Whisky value chain (VC) in the Upper Speyside region, sits partially in the Cairngorms National Park. Natural, sociocultural and economic assets are used in the production, processing, distribution and consumption of Scotch whisky. 29 active distilleries contribute to overall Scotch exports of £5.6 bn (2023) and to tourism via 14 distillery visitor centres. Processing in mountain distilleries provides economic value. It harnesses local common pool resources (water, landscape), and sense of place was integral to marketing, largely located outside the region. Distillery tourism recaptures some economic value at consumption stage.
Research participants want whisky production and tourism development that are environmentally sustainable and socially responsible, whilst still globally connected. Relatively secure, well paid manufacturing jobs help sustain permanent populations in the region. Distilleries are increasing their renewable energy use, supporting circular economy approaches and investing in habitat restoration. The region lacks affordable housing, and the industry is not widely recognised as a career option, creating a lack of skilled workers. Climate change projections mean potential water scarcity and restrictions, leading to economic losses. Many distilleries are owned by multi-national corporations, potentially disconnecting the VC from local governance. Using the global reach of whisky brands to promote local food and drink and more local research and innovation, including apprenticeships were sought. Investment in affordable housing and local facilities can stabilise the working population, whilst implementation of policies should take a flexible place-based, decentralised approach. "
 

"The Beydaglari is the western extension of the Taurus Mountains, stretching parallel to the bay in a north-south direction in the west of the Antalya Bay. In recent years, the production of highland greenhouse vegetables in the region has increased. The region is an important production centre in terms of greenhouse production and makes a significant contribution to the regional and national economy. Greenhouse farming provides a wide range of employment opportunities at all stages of the value chain. Reverse migration has begun with the development of greenhouse tomato cultivation in the region. 
The main problem in the region is greenhouse production, which is not increasing in line with natural resources. As greenhouse farming provides higher income than other production activities, farmers tend to expand their greenhouse areas. This expansion poses a threat to the future, particularly in terms of water potential. Irrigation water in the region is largely supplied from groundwater resources. There is a notable decrease in rainfall due to the climate change. This leads to drought in the region and depletion of groundwater. The drought will become more severe every day unless global, national and regional measures are taken to reduce the factors causing climate change.  The MOVING project is helping to attract the attention of public authorities and raise awareness to climate change in particularly drought effect and improve policies that reflect the views of all actors in the value chain."
 

"The Tête de Moine PDO faces an uncertain future due to climate change and a changing farmer population. 
The MOVING research project has identified key threats and potential solutions to safeguard this cultural heritage.
Reduced summer rainfall and more extreme weather events brought on by climate change could significantly impact the quality and quantity of grass, a vital ingredient for producing the high-quality milk needed for Tête de Moine. Additionally, an aging farmer population and a declining interest in dairy farming pose challenges to the future workforce.
The MOVING project has supported the local stakeholders in defining joint objectives that respond to these threats, which are as follows:
•    Developing drought-resistant forage varieties could ensure a steady supply of grass for the cows. Improved water management practices, such as storing water during wet seasons for use during dry periods. 
•    Attracting younger generations to dairy farming. 
•    Highlighting the prestige and value associated with Tête de Moine production, contributing to make dairy farming a more attractive career path. 
•    Positioning Tête de Moine as a luxury product, contributing to increase the demand and profitability, further incentivizing young farmers to join the industry.
By developing strategic options that contribute to these objectives, the Tête de Moine value chain can adapt to the changing cheese market and climate change, ensuring the continued production of this beloved cheese and preserving this unique piece of Swiss culinary heritage."
 

"Agriculture has a long tradition in the Grison Alps and plays a major role in forming the typical landscape.
Within MOVING, we elaborated the mountain grain value chain and its importance to diversify the region’s traditional animal agriculture with sustainable plant products. The cooperative Gran Alpin plays an important role by managing the mountain grain production in the Grison Alps. It was formed in the 1980s and counts over 100 farmers as member today. The value chain focuses on the production and distribution of premium organic cereal products such as pasta or beer, which are popular with both private customers and retailers. Success factors have been the cooperative's drive, partnerships with local processors and retailers, as well as premium pricing through organic and regional branding. 
However, there are several obstacles that we have been able to identify achieving sustainable development of the region. Our research has shown that infrastructure in the farming and processing stage, availability of site-appropriate seeds, the current focus of agricultural policy towards livestock production, and the lack of skilled labour in the region are the main factors holding back grain production on farms. Therefore, we recommend investing in education, training, and advisory services as well as in infrastructure improvement and financial support for innovative mountain-specific practices. "
 

"Mountain wine production value chain in Huesca, a province in Spanish Pyrenees, is a relatively young value chain with strong historical background. The main actors of the VC are small and medium wineries, a dynamic association of farmers “Vignerons de Huesca” plays an important role in the value chain development.  
Four years of MOVING project offered the possibility to summarize and assess the state of art of the integrated local policies from the point of view of the wine value chain and from the direct experiences of farmers, wine producers and other actors of the value chain and of the correlated activities (i.e. tourism). Another important achievement was the possibility to put on the same table a very wide range of local actors, including farmers, advisors, researchers and policy makers in order to reflect together on the most relevant challenges and solutions. 
The study highlighted that wine production has an important potential for the economic and social sustainability of the region: up to 50% of activities of the value chain take place in the area and up to 70% of value generated by wine production stays in the territory and the local community.  It also has a high potential for integration with tourism and other economic activities. On the other hand, for further development it needs to overcome the high level of vulnerability caused by abandonment, emigration and climate change, to which viticulture is very sensitive. Well-targeted policies, focused on attracting of young professionals to the wine sector and infrastructure development in mountain rural areas, together with producers synergy in terms of territorial marketing can allow the value chain to move forward for the benefit of the region and local community.
"
 

"Dehesa, an agrosilvopastoral ecosystem, is where the Iberico pigs are reared. These pigs are extensively fed on acorns and pasture, giving the ham its unique flavour. This pig-rearing system, developed over centuries, has fostered a harmonious relationship between conserving the Mediterranean forest and utilizing its natural resources through cultural practices deeply rooted in the territory.  
Los Pedroches PDO Iberico Ham established clear rules for sustainable production. Environmental sustainability is ensured by the low stock density (1 pig/ha), economic sustainability by the product's premium price and social sustainability by job opportunities, the family business approach, and traditional practices. 
Yet, Iberico ham profitability led non-PDO firms to increase grazing intensity, affecting this landscape's sustainability. Besides the overexploitation of resources, Dehesas face other problems, such as climate change, tree diseases, vegetation regeneration issues, and a lack of generational renewal. Moreover, Iberico ham production is attracting the interest of big companies from other sectors. These firms have more skills and resources to implement innovative approaches in managing and processing ham than family ones and threaten the maintenance of traditional businesses. Finally, the sector struggles to differentiate itself in the market and compete with other industrialised products, which blurs its specific characteristics linked to sustainable production.  
The mountain's resilience and future sustainability require policies such as clear labelling of production methods, payments for Dehesa ecosystem services, and communication campaigns to encourage consumers to pay fair prices to producers.  "
 

"Olive growing has a long history in Andalusia and especially in Sierras Subbéticas, Córdoba, Spain. The mountain olive oil production in this mountain area is a strong economic, social, cultural and environmental asset. Producing, processing and marketing this olive oil involves farmers, cooperatives, private mills, distributors and the population at large. All these interactions included in a high-quality mountain olive oil value chain. Thus, this culture is working as a strong social bond as it preserves identity and traditional knowledge and ensures social cohesion and collective decision making. At the same time, it needs innovation coming from scientific knowledge and support from policies taking into account its differentiated reality, such as the MOVING project proposes.
The Subbéticas mountain olive oil value chain provides unique ecosystem services as well as community value, all the while producing an exceptional olive oil, essential for its economy, but the very region is facing challenges that need to be addressed to keep it sustainable and resilient. A differentiated treatment from policies addressing mountains and their value, adaptation measures to face climate change,  a fair price on the market to cover for the high production costs of a high quality mountain food or the social recognition for the environmental services provided are among the proposed solutions. Action to tackle depopulation and support the aging population is also essential, because only resilient communities make sustainable territories."
 

"The Moving project in Slovakia focused on the value chain of honey in mountains. The project's working discussion activities included dozens of stakeholders directly or indirectly involved in honey production. A detailed description of the value chain and its contribution to territories was elaborated. The main problems were identified, and multiple measures were proposed to ensure the sustainability of this value chain. The honey value chain in Slovakia's mountain regions is mainly ensured by small and medium-sized beekeepers who maintain local traditions and skills in beekeeping and produce high-quality, demanded honey. Product is sold directly to customers from the beekeeper, representing a short supply chain. Mountain communities receive in this way an additional income and mountain locations gain attractivieness for recreation and tourism. Beekeeping also brings continuous environmental education and awareness of the connection between the quality of the environment, health of bees and people. It is a ""way of life"" connected to nature and benefits mental health. 
The project meetings created opportunities for face-to-face discussions between various actors. They brought together experts on the given topic, local beekeepers, and actors of national governing bodies in a rich conversation about the current and future development of beekeeping. Indeed, the climatic, environmental, and social conditions for beekeeping today are significantly more challenging compared to the past. To preserve this tradition, investments in new knowledge, practices, and cooperation between beekeepers and other actors and value chains in the region are needed to ensure the resilience of bee colonies and the sustainability of the value chain."
 

"The Pester plateau and Sjenica, are well known for its natural beauty, high quality products and harsh climate. As part of Dinaric mountains it is the largest and the highest karst field in the Balkans, marked by natural pastures, protected and endangered species. The Sjenica lamb was selected as a pilot value chain for the research in Serbia.
The Sjenica lamb production is embedded into the lives of multi-generational families living in the region. The high quality of meat and milk is rooted in transhumance pastoralist practices, taking the best of natural environmental conditions and nomadic/free range livestock systems, grazing on natural pastures. Sjenica lamb, Sjenica sheep cheese and Sjenica stelja (dried sheep meat) are PDO protected, but not fully valorised. 
The local communities and production system proved to be resilient. The extensive nature of production, not dependent on externalities, enables sustainable agriculture in tune with natural dynamics. Activation of external solidarity mechanisms, adaptation of agricultural practices to reduce pressures of pasture use and water deficiency and push for the valorisation of the PDOs are the important part of it.

The research results showed that Sjenica region and Sjenica lamb VC need specific holistic solutions to be created and supported by the policy frameworks. The key points of the future strategy are: Sjenica lamb (PDO) and the interconnected products, need to be valorised through certification managed by producer organisations; Improved living conditions and co-creation of policies with and for young people are crucial for stopping the demographic decline of the region. All this needs to be accompanied with reaching the sustainability of natural resources for future."
 

"Within MOVING project, we studied the role of the certified ecotourism value chain for the resilience and sustainability of Southern Romanian Carpathians. The project provided the framework for studying the main issues in the area, as well as for identifying solutions.
The key problems in the region are the abandonment of the agricultural land which results in a changing natural mountain landscape and the uncontrolled and chaotic building development. The depopulation in the area is contributing to the abandonment of the agricultural land and of the traditional practices that are creating the mosaic landscape and the loss of local traditions and customs.
Within MOVING, we succeeded in creating a common platform where stakeholders could interact and collaborate. Furthermore, the project offered the local stakeholders the opportunity to learn from a diverse category of best practices (including by hosting and participating in cross-country visit) and the opportunity to actively engage in policy development (at local, regional, national or European levels). 
Furthermore, we disseminated the results of the project and discussed with more than 130 local young people, managing to raise awareness regarding the importance of mountain areas. The subjects of mountain areas and sustainable value chains were more in-depth approached during the Summer School, in which 10 local youth participated and engaged in discussions and field visits.
Moreover, within MOVING we informed local small agricultural producers on the benefits of the OQT ‘mountain product’ in 15 communes aiming to highlight the added value that the OQT is bringing and to facilitate the integration of the certified products in the touristic value chain."
 

"In Alto Douro human history is intertwined with viticulture since 2000 years. UNESCO acknowledged such a strict correlation in 2001, declaring it “World Heritage of Humanity” for Cultural, Evolutive and Living Landscape. Traditionally grape production took place in small scale family farms that usually processed their grapes into wine in cooperative cellars. More recently, due to family farming low profitability, small properties gave way to large companies from the lower part of the valley. As a consequence, relevant parts of the value chain (VC) and related added value exit the area and do not benefit local communities. The socio-economic situation and the reduced availability of infrastructures and services for families, leads to population decrease and ageing. The “desertification” effect causes also problems to the wine VC as labor forces should be found in commuters or in migrants. The loss of residents hampers the development of a promising touristic sector.
The actors identified some key aspects for a resilient future of local communities:
• the need for integration of policies among sectors and geographic scale in order to reach inclusivity, resilience and sustainability;
• material and immaterial infrastructures are need in order to allow young families to remain;
• a balance of power in using common goods should be assured;
• investments in knowledge, on many aspects, are essential.
"
 

"Grazing in altitude pastures links the value chain of Serra da Estrela PDO cheese to the mountain landscape, but the production area extends well beyond the mountain area, to include lowland pastures. The most common narrative by regional and national territorial authorities describe this cheese as a vital territorial asset with increasing market value. Each cheese producing municipality hosts its own cheese fair, and independently decides how to support the value chain. Recent cooperative projects have aimed to valorise the product, yet little attention is given to the fleeting connection between the cheese and territory that names it. 
Socio-economic changes in the last decades have reconfigured the cheese value chain from a family-based operation, where men shepherded and women made cheese, to larger  factories that buy milk from multiple milk producers. Previously grazed commons, are now managed primarily for forestry. With a declining population, there are less shepherds and sheep, shepherds are scatered, and the mountain is losing its stewards. 
A cohesive territorial approach is needed to preserve and revitalize altitude pastures and thus its characteristic landscape, integrating development, pastoralism, conservation and fire risk management objectives. This entails a landscape-based strategy for the mountain territory as a whole, rather than by sector policies and by each municipality separately. Deciding on priority areas of intervention at the landscape level and establishing a network of paths and services would facilitate movement for people and livestock  within the mountain, reducing land abandonment and encroaching. This unified territorial strategy is essential for the sustainable future of Serra da Estrela."
 

Through the MOVING Project, CNVP North Macedonia explored potentials and challenges for rural tourism development in the Maleshevski Region amid rapid climate change and socio-economic turbulences. The region’s rural tourism offer is based on gastronomy and active tourism, known as the southern Balkans’ natural spa. Challenges include local governments’ limited capacity to invest in climate change mitigation and respond to its rapid negative effects, such as forest devastation by pests and wildfires, landscape changes affecting dairy and honey production, and youth migration leading to depopulation. Despite these challenges, the Maleshevski Region’s rural Tourism value chain aims to promote its unique offerings by creating a certified Maleshevski brand and destination management approach while supporting municipalities in lobbying for strategic sector support from the national government. An informal working group (MAP) was formed, including small producers of local traditional food and beverages, private accommodation owners, innovative nature-based tourism offerers, Local Economic Development representatives, and Tourism Sector members through a facilitated process. This group benefited from MOVING’s structured framework for regional potential analysis, valorisation, and foresight activities as capacity-building efforts. MAP members also participated in study visits to Hungary and Romania to exchange experiences with rural tourism counterparts. It was an excellent opportunity for them to get acquainted with the MOVING project, directly participate in joint activities with diverse value chains, and learn about the benefits of certified rural tourism and EU policy frameworks.
 

"The chestnut flour industry in the Northern Apennines is a vital heritage for local communities, influencing economic, environmental, and social aspects. 
Historically integral to the Tuscany Apennines since the 11th century, despite competing with more profitable sectors like marble extraction and seaside tourism, the chestnut flour sector economically supports small-scale farmers, provides jobs, and combats rural depopulation. Environmentally, chestnut cultivation prevents soil erosion, boosts biodiversity, and aids in carbon sequestration and water retention. Socially, it strengthens community ties and preserves cultural heritage. Climate change and depopulation affects chestnut flour production both directly and indirectly by decreasing chestnut yields and increasing chestnut groves abandonment, respectively. Stakeholders agreed on a scenario characterized by a well-balanced coexistence of new inhabitants and wild nature to preserve the natural environment and promote a sustainable living. This includes political and institutional support in building up a framework to sustain firms that choose to invest in the area, to incentivize sustainable resource management promoting community responsibility and environmental stewardship (e.g., the “Custodi della Montagna” initiative, civic use rights of collective-owned goods), to promote the collaboration with regional parks, to support small scaling agroecological farming practices, trainings for farmers, and to promote the institution of local technical committee for addressing the specific challenges and needs of mountain communities."
 

"Trento, Eastern Alps, is one of the EU mountain areas where policies for the integration of economic activities are into place since decades. The key role of agriculture in the preservation of landscape and rural vitality is acknowledged. 
MOVING allowed to summarize and assess the state of art of the integrated local policies from the point of view of the wine value chain (VC) and from the direct experiences of farmers, wine producers and other actors of the value chain and of the correlated activities. The study highlighted how the VC is pivotal for the continuation of agriculture activity in the area, for its relatively high profitability also for grape producers, the potential for cooperation and collaboration, the creation of space for innovation (so recalling the interest of young professionals) and has a high potential for integration with tourism and other economic activities. On the other hand, viticulture may also cause environmental negative impacts and is sensitive to climate change.

Consulted actors identified essential elements of future resilient development of the area:
• policies integration is essential for fairness, inclusivity, resilience and sustainability;
• family farming and small scale animal husbandry is the cornerstone of sustainable mountain agriculture;
• ecological farming practices must be supported with funds but also with knowledge;
• a balance of power when negotiating the use of public goods (i.e. water) should be granted.
"
 

"The MOVING project allowed the reconstruction of the pasta filata cheese value chain, historically rooted in the central-southern Apennine area, through the analysis of the production practices of the socio-ecological system, whose resilience would seem to depend on them.
Like many other mountain areas, the central-southern Apennines are facing several challenges, including depopulation and changes in lifestyle and climate. Without proactive and shared interventions by economic operators and local communities, these threats could lead to a decline of the dairy supply chain, as a consequence of concentration of production, intensification of processing, and reduction of quality standards. To face these challenges and increase the resilience of the area, it is essential to bridge the gap between science and society. The MOVING research group therefore involved local communities directly by carrying out a living lab with them, aimed at matching needs and aspirations with scientific expertise. This exercise revealed  a tendency to assemble different value chains, combining dairy with tourism and/or meat production. Public policy interventions aimed mainly at livestock farming and  protecting natural resources are regarded as crucial. The role of technology in adapting to climatic and economic stresses is also key, not just to enhance the resilience of socio-ecological systems, but also to safeguard high production quality."
 

Cold Mountain Shelter is a growing community of young, educated environmentally conscious lifestyle migrants. They live mostly off grid, with sustainable solutions for energy and water management, producing food through permaculture, forest agriculture, contour farming, extensive animal husbandry, etc. Nevertheless, their main ‘products’ are in knowledge economy as they are developing a complex, organic, lived-knowledge-base on sustainable livelihoods. They organise courses, events, exhibitions in permaculture, orcharding, sustainable water/energy management, construction and community building. Through a nation-wide association of lifestyle migrants (All-goes-together Association) they participate in creating an online platform to share environmental- and community friendly technology (both innovative and traditional) organising a yearly festival and helping to develop local and regional nods of environmentally conscious communities. Their activities are relevant for land use, saving and creating environmental and community values, and it is an excellent example of how a conscious and powerful community can create and spread knowledge about resilience and sustainability. They innovate, combine traditional knowledge with technology, creating completely new frameworks and patterns, showing an alternative, and real life solutions for some of the most important problems of our times, representing an important socio-economic trend, spreading fast in developed countries.
 

The MOVING project in Crete demonstrated that the cultivation of carob trees is important for practitioners and citizens, as it is connected to the cyclic economy of the agro-silvo pastoral way of life that has been part the mountainous landscapes of the island. Carob in the form of flour was a staple food in times of famine due to its nutritional quality.  Nevertheless, carob flour’s association with famine and its poorer economic competitiveness with major commodities such as olives rendered it a forgotten tree, crop, and food product. Our research showed that the recent focus on health food and nutraceuticals has created a resurgence in the use of carob flour and a burgeoning research interest in its importance in preserving biodiversity and its use in the bakery, confectionery and biofuel industries. Traditional practices such as accommodating grazing of livestock in olive and carob groves, using mill and food industry waste for compost and animal feed, and collective communal harvesting and transport efforts create opportunities for farmers. Moreover, traditional food production methods are more readily used to conserve biodiversity, promote sustainable agricultural practices, and bolster farmers’ incomes and mountainous areas sustainability.  
 

"The MOVING program has helped to identify ways of strengthening the lamb and sheep meat sector in the Drôme valley. Using a collaborative approach, MOVING helped to envision the harmonious integration of this sector into the region's mountainous landscape, highlighting its significant agricultural, economic and ecological benefits.
The program helped identify and understand the many challenges facing the industry: coexistence with other mountain activities, increasing predation, the impact of climate change and foreign competition threatening its long-term viability. By collaborating with local stakeholders, MOVING has contributed to imagining a desirable future for the sector by circumventing or overcoming these obstacles.
In addition, the MOVING program has facilitated the linking of stakeholders in the value chain, emphasizing that the value chain preserves biodiversity, promotes sustainable agricultural practices and supports farmers' incomes as well as the sustainability of mountain areas in the Drôme valley."
 

"The accession of Corsican chestnut flour to PDO status in 2010 underlines almost 30 years of the value chain structuration. Based on the exploitation of chestnut resources, the professionalisation of Corsican chestnut-farming has made it possible to enhance the value of the resource, which at the time was suffering from abandonment and predation by other CVs, due to changes in long-standing co-existence practices that ensured the sustainability of the agro-pastoral ecosystem in mountain areas. The PDO specifications therefore attempt to define areas and practices capable of protecting both the resource and the product. 
However, a study of the vulnerabilities and resilience of the value chain has shown that new challenges are threatening the resource and the socio-technical organisation of the VC. Since the early 2000s, with by example the arrival of the Cynips (a chestnut pest) in 2010, the impacts of climate change have forced the VC to close in on the aspects of control, setting aside development, innovation and coexistence practices. 
The foresight exercise has largely highlighted the need to revive these latter dimensions in order to create the conditions for resilient CV sustainability, but it has also shown that to ensure this sustainability, the question of modes of coexistence between CVs based on the same resource (chestnut groves) needs to be addressed. The construction of stakeholder collectives enabling the design of ways of assembling VCs on the one hand, and the promotion or creation of new derived VCs on the other, seem to be the 2 minimum conditions for ensuring the sustainable resilience of the VC and its resource."
 

"The Sumava Mountains are known for their untouched nature and unique biological communities. Therefore, specific conditions also apply to agricultural production. One of the most widespread value chains within Sumava Mountains is beef production, which was investigated within MOVING project. The main threats for development of agriculture in Sumava Mountains are threats that are associated with global climate change and other social and economic risks. 
At this moment, farmers and processors have adequate resources to build adaptive strategies for environmental threats. On the other hand, the region and farmers are significantly impacted by institutional arrangement and financial resources provided from EU and the State. Economic performance of farms that are providing ecosystem services in National Park and significantly contribute to landscape management would be significantly affected by potential reduction of the financial subsidies that are provided at this moment. Such situation would require building a new economic strategy.
The results of the MOVING project show that building new strategy to achieve goals formulated as “High nature value agriculture” should be done using participatory bottom-up approach. It is necessary to involve local stakeholders to formulation of policies for future development of the region. Generally, important shift from cooperation to cocreation of policies. "
 

"The MOVING case study work in Bulgaria focussed on maintaining the supply of public goods (farmland biodiversity) from High Nature Value (HNV) grasslands in the Western Stara Planina. In line with the project’s research methodology, the maintenance of HNV grasslands with EU-funded agri-environment payments was conceptualised as a value chain in which the product concerned (farmland biodiversity) is PRODUCED via the intrinsic biodiversity of the region; PROCESSED via the traditional farming practices that a number of specific wildlife habitats (and associated species) depend upon for their continued existence; DISTRIBUTED and MARKETED via two area-based payment schemes in the Bulgarian Rural Development Programme (RDP) that compensate farmers for maintaining traditional management methods on their farmland, and; finally CONSUMED by wider society via the transfer of public funds collected from the contribution of EU taxpayers to the EU budget (notably the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development).

This approach was interesting as an academic exercise and substantial information was collected to develop the case study, however it was not attractive and engaging for local stakeholders. Consequently, it was difficult to sustain their interest and engagement in subsequent project activities. It would have been better to consult more effectively with local stakeholders before selection of the case study and to have chosen a more ‘typical’ value chain. Nonetheless, the case study did provide many important insights, including the great importance of non-governmental organisations for promoting sustainable and resilient mountain area development in south-east Europe."
 

In the region of Weiz alpine sheep farming has a long tradition. The farms are mainly small scale, extensive farms. Sheep farmers formed a cooperative to increase their economic resilience and to gain fair prices. The development of the cooperative was carried out in coordination with the broader regional development. Fodder is highly important for the farming. With climate change this resource will be particularly affected. Exchange between farmers, with experts and tailored consulting can help farmers to adapt management practices. One example of such an exchange would be about grazing and pasture innovations. Within MOVING different stakeholders were brought together. They exchanged about vulnerabilities, climate change impacts and social aspects. Points of views were challenged by the exchange. Also a vision for the future of alpine sheep farming in the region was formed. In this vision policy is assisting the alpine farming by building supportive frameworks on all institutional levels. Examples could be awareness raising measures and fair remuneration of ecosystem services. Young people in the region see for the future a higher variety of products and services and more cooperation. They also realize the need for innovations in farm management, processing and products. Better cooperation with other sectors like the health sector was also seen as a promising pathway. It is considered useful that farmers and regional authorities and policy institutions plan future developments jointly respectively in coordination with each other. This process could be fostered through targeted support for such joint activities. 
 

"Mountain food, drink and rural tourism products have the potential to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of the mountain areas from which they originate.  

A key objective of the MOVING project was to co-develop relevant policy frameworks that can ""unlock"" this potential through the development of more favourable enabling conditions for the establishment of new and/or upgrading of new mountain product value chains. Policy recommendations were developed from the synthesis of all MOVING project results and outputs that were created through extensive engagement with approx. 1,000 stakeholders in a total of 23 mountainous regions around Europe located in 11 EU Member States, 3 EU candidate countries - plus Scotland and Switzerland.

Over 30 needs-driven policy recommendations were identified and elaborated as relevant and applicable to the broad range of national / regional / local contexts, challenges and opportunities that exist in Europe’s mountain areas. These were organised into 8 ‘coherent bundles’ of recommendations referred to as 'Policy Building Blocks' with each Block containing a) practical operational guidance on opportunities for the SHORT- to MEDIUM-TERM use of currently available policy instruments in 2021-2027, and; b) relevant recommendations for LONGER-TERM term improvements in future policies in the context of post-2027 policy developments. Particular attention was given to ensuring alignment of all recommendations with contemporary policy processes, including the EU’s Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas (LTVRA) and preliminary discussions regarding post-2027 Common Agricultural and Cohesion Policies. For further information see the MOVING project website: https://www.moving-h2020.eu/"
 

"The MOVING project aims to build resilient mountain value chains delivering private and public goods. Central to MOVING's approach is the Conceptual and Analytical Framework (CAF), which integrates value chain literature with the socio-ecological system (SES) approach, emphasizing the interplay between sustainability, vulnerability, and resilience of SESs influenced by value chains’ practices and governance.
The CAF provides a holistic perspective on value, recognizing the importance of its cultural, ecological, and social dimensions alongside economic output, which is crucial for the preservation of landscapes, cultural heritage, and ecosystem services in mountain regions, contributing to sustainable development.
The CAF links the dynamics of value chains with the characteristics of SESs, identifying  key research questions guiding the analysis of value chains. These questions focus on practices that shape sustainable and resilient mountain SESs and the conditions that enable local value generation and retention. The concept of ""telecoupling"" is adopted to understand the socio-economic and environmental interactions between geographically distant SESs, enhancing the analysis of how these systems are interconnected through value chains. 
By defining the SES boundaries based on actual material and immaterial flows rather than spatial or institutional borders, the CAF supports the creation of local-based policies and solutions that balance ecological, social, and economic priorities. By emphasizing these characteristics, the CAF provides a robust framework for understanding and enhancing mountain value chains, ensuring they contribute to the resilience and sustainability of mountain SESs."
 

"Strategic Options (SOs) for sustainable development in European mountain regions combine various interventions and diverse immaterial support measures and funding mechanisms to address challenges specific to the local context, to achieve long-term consensual goals. 
They are adaptable, can be replicated, and vary in geographical and sectoral scope.
Regional Parks and Smart Villages are exemplary Strategic Options that are spread in all the mountains but not only. Regional Parks focus on natural resource conservation through a consortium of municipalities, with funding from municipal, national, and European sources, supporting conservation and educational activities. Smart Villages aim to digitalize rural areas, managed by private or municipal consortia, funded by municipal, regional, and European sources, addressing transport, energy, and public services challenges. Both examples demonstrate high replicability with necessary local adaptations and are supported by national and European policies.
Emerging Strategic Options were identified and discussed at a European workshop showcasing innovative strategies for sustainable and resilient mountain value chains. They emphasize community governance, connectivity with nature, and sustainable policy integration. Workshop conclusions highlight the importance of mountains as vital living spaces, fostering community ownership, incorporating long-term sustainability and resilient into policies, promoting capacity building, and adopting inclusive governance.
This approach aims to meet the evolving needs of mountain communities, fostering a sustainable and resilient future for European mountain regions through adaptable and replicable Strategic Options."
 

"Assessing the impact of value chains on resilience and sustainability in European mountain regions, MOVING categorised 23 VCs based on their contribution to social and demographic aspects, quality products, innovation, ecosystem services, and governance and cooperation. 
We found that networks and cooperation improve VC resilience, but challenges like depopulation, the lack of skilled labour, gender imbalances, and low educational levels increase vulnerability. 
Quality schemes like PDO and organic production often foster cooperation and diversification, but small producers face unfavourable market positions. 
Skilled human capital, good access to advisors, financial capital, and good digital infrastructure were identified as the base for innovation, which is especially necessary in the context of changing environmental conditions. 
Mountain VCs might use natural resources sustainably and create cultural landscapes. However, conflicting interests, hesitance to cooperate, and corruption (especially in Eastern Europe) can act counterproductively.

Results showed that enhancing trust and collective action among VC actors, decentralising decision-making at the local level, and sharing information, machinery, and practices can boost sustainability and resilience.

We consistently found that VCs contribute to both private and public goods, but their valuable contributions often go unrecognised. We emphasise the need to raise awareness and provide fair compensation through communication campaigns.  

Comparing our findings reveals the interconnectedness of various factors and challenges, underscoring the importance of collaborative efforts to address sustainability and resilience in mountain areas. "
 

"On January 11, over 50 high-level European experts gathered in Brussels for the European Foresight Workshop for resilient mountain areas, organized by the EU-funded MOVING project. The workshop aimed to set strategic pathways for mountain regions up to 2030, focusing on Economy, Nature, Knowledge and Innovation, and Niche and Diversification.
Dominique Barjolle presented 2050 foresight scenarios for the 23 MOVING mountain regions, emphasizing communities' role in transforming their future through empowerment, collective action, and improved governance. The discussions explored policies to scale up strategic options for mountain value chains, with insights from France and Spain. Key recommendations from the workshop highlighted the need to recognize mountains as vital living spaces and to consider mountain resources as a common good, with governance adapted to diverse needs. Emphasizing the connection between people and nature, the workshop stressed the importance of long-term sustainability in policymaking and diversified development of mountain policies.
The participants recommended creating a research platform to facilitate the use of existing scientific research, focusing on capacity building for local representatives and professionals through initiatives like an “Erasmus Altitude.” They also suggested establishing a ""triple helix of capacity building"" for mountain nature-based businesses, combining traditional knowledge and modern technologies. Additionally, adapting governance to be inclusive and flexible, recognizing non-economic benefits of value chains, and sharing failures and challenges to foster learning and innovation were emphasized as crucial steps for sustainable mountain development."
 

"The narrative for this archetype is that the Socio-Ecological System is preserved thank a good balance between human interventions and the natural resources.
The vision of the communities led by “Nature” is to reduce their crucial reliance on public funding systems by promoting a sustainable local economy, eco-tourism, climate-resilient landscape management, and integrated regional development. The vision emphasizes strong cooperation among various stakeholders to support ecosystem services, promote local food production and consumption, and invest in education and skills. 
The long-term perspective of the value chain is secured through enough motivation of young farmers, and enough remuneration for ecosystem services.
The Theory of Change for this archetype states that if demographics remain stable and ecosystem payments support farms and local Value Chains, the community will achieve its desired future. Implementation involves balancing nature preservation with demographic declines. Policies favoring land use changes, sustainable tourism, fair remuneration for ecosystem services, and preservation of natural resources can lead to a community guided by nature values.
Long-term factors influencing this archetype encompass Demography, Climate Change, and Tourism. Policy connections play a vital role for this archetype, particularly with respect to the 2nd Pillar of the CAP (agri-environmental schemes), notably LIFE programs, which focus on Nature Preservation strategies like NATURA2000 at the European level."
 

"The vision for a region which belongs to the archetype “Niche and diversification” is to transition into a SMART region by the year 2050 by safeguarding natural resources, investing in sustainable economies, and enhancing human capital. This vision underscores the importance of fostering sustainable tourism, eco-friendly economic growth, and inclusiveness. 
The long-term goal of the community engaged in the archetype “Niche & Diversification” is to enhance local self-reliance and facilitate niche expansion while keeping prices stable. Niche & Diversification oriented strategy addresses vulnerabilities by managing risks stemming from various factors like climate change, market fluctuations, among others. Long-term trends such as market and consumers trends, as well as tourism dynamics, will play a crucial role in shaping the region's future.
Nevertheless, achieving these objectives involves risks such as the costs associated with introducing new diversification activities, high transaction costs from collective actions, and limitation of economies of scale.
To address those risks, value chain actors should care about building high reputation of the region or product, fostering collective action in all local initiatives (e.g., local markets, fairs), and taking stock of the local consumption habits.
Policy connections are crucial to uphold this vision, particularly through the second pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP): aligning production with local markets, promoting short supply chains, fostering diversification for resilience, emphasizing ""close to nature"" and ""rural tourism"" approaches, supporting organic farming, permaculture, small-scale agriculture, and micro-farms."
 

"Knowledge and innovation play a pivotal role in addressing the challenges posed by Climate Change, and the emergence of new business models centered around knowledge and innovation. The long-term forces for the Knowledge and Innovation (K&I) economy are ensured through dynamic knowledge creation and sharing processes. For this archetype, the vision for 2050 entails the dissemination of reliable information on sustainable livelihoods, with a focus on excellence in cognitive, practical, and ecological dimensions.
The Theory of Change for this archetype is predicated on the idea that if new knowledge, tailored to address existing challenges, is made accessible to the public, the community will realize the envisioned future.
Nevertheless, the Knowledge and Innovation Archetype faces risks, such as the new knowledge privatization, the lack of public funding to recoup investments, and unintended consequences from innovation leading to the overexploitation of specific resources.
This future of this archetype is dependent from effective nature-based solutions, technological advancements, digitization, artificial intelligence, and the accessibility of new knowledge to the public. Furthermore, long-term driving forces such climate change and market trends in the realms of knowledge and innovation will put strong strain on it, both as positive as the adaptation needed by the farms and enterprises is strong.
Establishing policy linkages is essential for upholding this vision, particularly through initiatives like European Innovation Partnerships, which encompass research and development programs, innovation support, digitalization, and the support for the smart villages initiatives."
 

"Archetype Economy aims to foster sustainable economic growth in mountain regions, ensuring a secure and prosperous future while balancing environmental and social considerations. 
The vision for 2050 is to foster sustainable development across various sectors, including food systems, rural environments, and climate action. This vision assumes that moderate climate change impacts and favorable market conditions will enable mountain communities to achieve ambitious economic goals. It emphasizes local, agroecological food systems, innovative rural development, and integrated landscape management. Additionally, it highlights the importance of sustainable and innovative agri-food systems, targeted subsidies, and infrastructure development in mountain areas. 
Long-term forces such as market dynamics, climate change, and tourism will significantly influence the region's future. Achieving this vision involves overcoming trade-offs, such as balancing market success with the risk of overexploiting natural resources, and the loss of biodiversity due to specialization and monocropping. Technology is crucial for maintaining efficiency and competitiveness. 
Policy linkages are integral to supporting this strategy. Quality schemes like GIs, mountain labelling, and organic certifications should be strengthened to secure product value. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) should support this through its first pillar, flagging producer organizations and programmes for mountain producers, and its second pillar, where rural development, investments, and schemes are crucial for mountain value chains."
 

"When conducting foresight analysis for the Badenoch, Strathspey and West Moral Scottish MRL, a number of key variables were identified by the research team. These included variables that were social, environmental, and economic. 
Through a Serious Game participants discussed linkages between the different variables, and developed underlying long-term drivers that were influencing these. These included climate change, globalisation, societal attitudes, demographic changes, and land use changes. Participants then voted and ranked the two most uncertain and important long-term drivers. The two that scored the highest for uncertainty and importance were globalisation and societal attitudes. 
The research team then developed four scenarios based on these two drivers being either high or low, before participants in a second workshop chose the scenario that they most preferred. The chosen scenario was 'Socially conscious society within highly globalised markets,' characterised by Whisky production that is both environmentally sustainable and socially responsible, while still being globally connected. In this scenario tourism in the region grows whilst successful environmental awareness and outreach campaigns minimise environmental impacts. Investment in affordable housing, local facilities, and wages see the local working population increase. 
In a final workshop, participants suggested a range of local and national policies that may help this be achieved. These included policies addressing housing, transport, tourism, health and well-being, engagement with young people and education, agriculture, ecosystems and wildlife conservation, and emphasis on the private sector. "
 

Highland greenhouse production, which has started to develop in Turkey and can be an alternative production option for mountainous areas.  Greenhouse tomato production in the highlands started after 2000 and the number of greenhouses is increasing steadily. The growing demand for food, both domestically and for export, will lead to an increase tomato production. In the region, the impact of drought is increasing due to climate change.  Difficulties in the supply of irrigation water will be the main problem for production. Also, the continuous increase in the number of greenhouses, high input costs, crop diseases, global risks in the foreign markets, labour shortages and the tendency of young people to leave agriculture will affect the greenhouse tomato production in the region. It is important to protect and plan water resources. To achieve this a drought action plan should be prepared, irrigation projects should be developed and supported in the region. In addition, increasing the subsidies given to small-scaled family farms, training farmers to protect soil and water resources, encouraging farmers to use smart agricultural techniques, improving market structure, increasing the interaction between actors and institutions are the other important measures that need to be taken against these problems.
 

"The future of Tête de Moine has been screened in a participatory way with local stakeholders in 3 workshops: economics ; social; and natural resources and environmental variables.
The long-term vision of the Tête de Moine stakeholders is mainly economics driven. The scenario they envisage is shaped among a strong climate change and uncertain socio-economic context.
Stakeholders agreed that, In the long-term (horizon 2050), nature faces mounting pressure from extreme weather and declining biodiversity, impacting fodder and therefore the milk production which are crucial for long-term technical and economic success of Tête de Moine cheese. In the long-term perspective, what is expected is that strong adaptation is needed, to overcome the pressure on the farmers' incomes, exacerbating the challenge of an already arduous profession. 
These adaptations should address the challenges posed by the climate change, which will bring increased pest threats and energy price uncertainties. Public understanding of agriculture will most probably remain limited, complicating market adaptability. Yet, amidst these challenges, innovations like mechanization offer some adaptation capacities. Adapting marketing strategies becomes crucial amid market volatility.
Policy changes are crucial in Switzerland to support dialogue, local projects, and transition to circular economy principles and advisory bodies supporting the agroecological transition."
 

"The rural areas in the Grison Alps are facing increasing challenges such as an ageing population, emigration of young people and the lack of skilled labour. Also, the increasing occurrence of extreme weather events like heavy rains and droughts, driven by climate change, are especially challenging for mountain crop cultivation, leading to yield loss, and decreasing quality of the products. 
However, the increasing demand of consumers for local traditional, sustainable, and innovative products presents an important opportunity for the future of Grisons mountains and its farming system.
During the MOVING project, observations were shared that provide opportunities for transformation, including success stories of pioneers, changes in the support system, collaborations and research that foster innovation, but also the opportunity to build on local traditions. Expanding arable farming in the mountains holds a potential for diversification, increasing resilience and to meet consumer demands. However, it has been stressed, that traditional livestock farming will still play an important role in mountain agriculture making use of the abundant grassland resources. Within the participatory foresight exercise of MOVING, the stakeholders expressed their visions for the future that is build on a responsible society and an Agricultural Policy that supports the conservation of resources. In this scenario, communities work together towards sustainable farming and economy that connects people with nature. To enable this desired transformation, innovations are needed, especially on farm and processing level. By intertwining innovation with education, a dynamic environment with sustainable development can be created."
 

"Mountain wine Value Chain (VC) in Spanish Pyrenees is the focus of the foresight exercise where participants, mainly from Huesca area, defined the key variables affecting the VC and transform them into 2 long-term forces that were identified in: a) economic context development and b) changes in the number of active population working in viticulture. Consequently, 4 possible future scenarios of territorial development were described and the effects of each scenario on the key variables were evaluated. The final envisioned scenario is represented by a favourable economic context, but with a reduced active population dedicated to viticulture. There are economical resources available, but they are not used optimally to encourage the engagement of population, especially young people linked to the territory, willing to work in mountain viticulture and protect the rural habitat. 
In order to adapt to rising challenges and to achieve the regional strategy defined by the local multi-actor foresight group, 4 critical changes are needed in the Spanish Pyrenees region: 1) develop local and national actions for attracting of young professionals to the wine sector; 2) assure simplified and efficient support policies, focused on projects with real potential to contribute to the local innovative and environmental friendly rural development; 3) upgrade and strengthen existing social infrastructures in mountain rural areas and establish new ones to assure the possibility to live and work in the territory for labour force, entrepreneurs and their families; 4) consolidate the efforts of all the producers on territorial and product communication and marketing, developing an efficient common branding strategy.
"
 

"Sierra Morena Iberico ham production will likely face several challenges: climate change, the lack of generational renewal, overexploitation, limited digitalisation intake, and dependency on feed/energy prices. Smaller farms will face economic problems and bureaucracy and complex regulations worsen the situation, concentrating ownership on bigger companies. 
MOVING envisions a preferred scenario in which producers have adapted to climate change, and Dehesa-uniqueness and provided ecosystem services are recognised, protected, and compensated. Afforestation resulted in healthy dehesas, and farmer ensured sustainability. Family and business farms coexist, each contributing to the territory's benefit. Business farms enhance efficiency, and traditional farms preserve knowledge/identity. The cultural significance is acknowledged. Iberico ham is in high demand and has evolved into an experiential option tied to visiting and understanding Dehesas. Digitalisation supports traditional practices and focuses on product differentiation and accurate labelling. Online sales streamline connections with informed consumers willing to pay premium prices. Improved infrastructure allows efficient processing and selling. Policies and assistance programs promote multifunctionality, cooperation, and generational renewal, ensuring access to basic services like healthcare, communication, education, digital infrastructure, and culture. Policies are inclusive, long-term, flexible, and adaptable to Dehesa’s uniqueness. Public institutions actively promote local product consumption, reinforce territorial identity/value, and centralise the Iberico pig genetic book to protect small producers' rights.  "
 

"The Sierras Subbéticas are facing a mix of challenges and opportunities from policy changes, market dynamics, and environmental factors. There is also need for sustainable practices, rural development, and conservation efforts. Stakeholders are exploring scenarios like regenerative agriculture and recognition of ecosystem services to enhance the value chain's resilience and sustainability in the face of uncertainties. Collaboration, innovation, and strategic planning are key for navigating towards a more sustainable future. 
This is why, picturing ourselves in a not-so far future, we could imagine that this value chain will yield even higher-quality organic olive oil because of sustainable environmental practices, fair pricing, and revitalized rural communities. Organic farming will ensure superior olive oil, while sustainable methods will preserve resources and biodiversity. Fair pricing will benefit small producers, and rural investments will sustain local economies. Producers will gain market differentiation and mountain product recognition and, therefore, long-term sustainability. By adopting regenerative agriculture, collaborating with stakeholders, educating consumers and investing in rural development, a competitive, sustainable and socially responsible value chain is sustained, enhancing regional well-being."
 

Predictive analysis for the production of mountain honey showed that the actors of this value chain wish to prepare for a scenario in which the conditions for beekeeping will be even more challenging than today. Their perception of the situation is based on trends over the past decades. During the workshops, together with local and national stakeholders, we identified the main key variables affecting the resilience and sustainability of mountain beekeeping (extreme weather, drought, declining landscape and bio-diversity, agricultural practices, societal values, consumer preferences, adulteration of honey, and legislation). Subsequently, two long-term forces were derived that are likely to have the most significant impact on mountain beekeeping in the future: climate change and trends in biodiversity loss (affecting bee health). The proposed measures for a sustainable honey value chain relate primarily to the support of landscape and species biodiversity, support of small and medium-sized beekeepers, and territorial planning not only in beekeeping (arrangement of bee colonies adapted to grazing conditions and territorial treatment interventions) but also in land management and water retention in the country. Strategic cooperation between beekeepers and different chains in the region is necessary to ensure diversified sources of income for the local community. New knowledge and practices for sustainable bee colonies are also needed for sustainable and resilient bee colonies. Last but not least, it is necessary to raise legislators', consumers', and the general public's awareness of the specifics of production in mountain areas and the importance of high-quality local products for the sustainability of rural mountain areas.
 

"The Pester plateau and Sjenica are widely known by their high-quality products, among which Sjenica lamb is of the highest reputation. Traditional family production of Sjenica lamb enables its resilience through extensive grazing systems and maintenance of sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.
During the foresight process environmental, economic and social key variables were detected. They led to the two long term forces that are expected to be crucial for future of this value chain and its resilience – climate change and market forces. 
According to the foresight group it can be expected that the climate would moderately change, with higher frequency or intensified weather extreme events, while positive market forces could contribute to the improvement and consolidation of the Sjenica lamb market valorisation. 
The vision is that the region will stay widely known for high-quality food produced in sustainable, climate-friendly ways. The production will remain traditional, with implementation of innovations to adopt, reduce and combat climate changes
Strategies to achieve this include critical changes in the Sjenica lamb production area. Traditional food production systems need to become fully sustainable and adoptable through implementation of climate-friendly solutions and approaches. Holistic and sustainab+B10le rural and agricultural development policies specifically tailored for the region are needed, while tailored and innovative marketing strategies are crucial for valorisation of Sjenica lamb in the market. All this should be followed by significant investments in infrastructure, production, research, training, and education of producers and relevant players in the Sjenica lamb VC."
 

"The envisioned future of the Southern Romanian Carpathians in 2050 is based on four interconnected pillars: stronger communities, controlled building development, sustainable tourism, and better integrated agricultural activities. 
During the foresight workshop, together with the local and regional stakeholders, we identified the main key variables impacting the resilience and sustainability of the area (land use change, mass tourism and associated infrastructure and demographic changes) which transformed into two long-term forces that shape the dynamics of the Southern Romanian Carpathians: increasing demand for land for building development and socio-demographic trends (out-migration and ageing population). 
For building the envisioned future and for strengthening the resilience of the Southern Romanian Carpathians stakeholders agreed that diverse and integrated strategic course of actions are needed:
1)    Implementation of sustainable forms of tourism – for ensuring an efficient and long-term collaboration between stakeholders, and the protection and conservation of local biodiversity, while contributing to safeguarding and promoting the local cultural heritage and supporting entrepreneurship and traditional agricultural activities. 
2)    Development and promotion of green local economy – for ensuring multiple, diverse and sustainable sources of income to the local community. 
3)    The protection and sustainable use of the natural and cultural resources of the area.
4)    Social cohesion – rekindle the local community and focus on the importance of collaboration between multiple stakeholders. 
5)    Investments in road and utility infrastructures."
 

"Mountain wine Value Chain (VC) in Maçico Noroeste is the focus of the foresight exercise where participants, mainly from  area of Vila Real and Foz Coa, defined the key variables affecting the VC and transform them into two long-term forces, that were identified in: a) declining and agingof farming population and b) water availability and conflicts for its use. Consequently, 4 possible future scenarios of territorial development were developed and the effects of each scenario on the key variables were evaluated. The final envisioned scenario assumes that rural population will contiunue its decline, small farms will be further reduced and large companies will take over the main part of vineyards. Water will not be a problem per se but its availability for farming is questioned as other sectors, i.e. energy production or industry, are more competitive.
The emphasis of regional strategy  was put on the need of an overarching and long term approach, able to combine economic sectors and develop the promising touristic offers (culture, paleo engraves, sport..) in combination with wine and food tourism. Migration and seasonal workers policies should be developed, within a private/public initiative, with the scope of securing manpower for viticulture, maintain young professionals on site and avoid the “wine social desert” effect. Conflicts for water use should be prevented by public authorities.
"
 

"Local stakeholders and research team collaboratively mapped the pastoral system in Serra da Estrela, identifying key variables and relationships.  Natural altitude pastures were the focus as they are repositories of high biodiversity values and key in maintaining an open landscape and reducing fire risks. While imagining the future, the favoured scenario entailed “high willingness to pay for ES, strong link between PDO cheese and the mountain”. It was named ""demanding"" and envisioned a “lived” mountain and preservation of culture and tradition.
Rural fires are a growing concern, and maintaining an open landscape mosaic is fundamental  to contain fire risks. Barriers in access to medium/high altitude pastures, increased availability of low altitude pastures and declining number of shepherds and sheep, has decreased grazing in the mountain, leading to shrub encroachment, degradation of priority habitats and increased fire risk. It is urgent to foster conditions and incentives for shepherds to use altitude pastures. Possible mechanisms are “altitude surcharges” or payment for results. In any case, it would require an integrated approach at different levels:
-    Integration between forestry and pastoralism. Most altitude pastures fall under the Natural Park jurisdiction or commons associations, which are primarily forest-focused creating barriers to grazing. 
-    Territorial cooperation between the 6 municipalities in Serra da Estrela. Ensuring open paths for shepherds and animals to move within the mountain and collectively deciding of priority areas to keep open, as well as collectively deciding on market integration strategies and value chain proper integration and justice."
 

By 2050, the Maleshevski region aims to be a SMART rural tourism hub, attracting youth to manage natural resources and develop innovative green economies. To achieve this vision, members of the  informal working group  (MAP) and the rural tourism value chain were engaged in foresight analysis to identify key variables and long-term forces influencing mountain area development. Key variables include natural resources, environmental, socio-economic, and production factors. The group prioritized environmental effects, socio-economic factors, centralized decision-making, and political influences as the most influential long-term forces. They created four scenarios for the region’s development until 2050, based on the influence of environmental and socio-economic variables. A fifth scenario reflects current negative trends. Through discussions and analysis, the group concluded that the preferred scenario could be positive if relevant institutions respond appropriately and the value chain survives the turbulent period caused by the post- pandemic and economic crises. Strategic objectives include establishing destination management, implementing forest protection laws, supporting women entrepreneurs, funding alternative energy, investing in green technology research and training, increasing ranger employment, implementing protected area laws, creating a certified Maleshevski brand, designing marketing strategies for rural tourism, and strengthening cooperation between local governments and the rural tourism value chain.
 

"The foresight exercise for the North Apennines required the identification of several key variables, including public expenditure, local governance capacity, forest and chestnut groves management, demographic trends, and declining biodiversity. Of these, the two most critical long-term forces are demographic trends and the maintenance of chestnut groves. which were used to develop the preferred scenario as a synthesis of ""Market Utopia"" and ""Wild Land."" This preferred scenario envisions an influx of new residents from the urban areas due to factors like rising temperatures and pollution.  New residents stimulate the local economy but also boost tourism and locals collaborate to develop infrastructure and activities that highlight the region's natural qualities while preserving local resources and supporting small-scale farming. 
To realize this preferred scenario, the regional strategy focuses on several critical areas. A major initiative is the establishment of a technical committee at the inter-municipal level dedicated to overseeing improvements in public basic services such as transportation and healthcare. Additionally, there is a concerted effort to reclaim and sustainably manage abandoned or underutilized lands, transferring them to new owners committed to re-use. The strategy emphasizes fostering a sustainable living model that reduces dependency on external resources and minimizes environmental impact. This involves nurturing a collaborative relationship between new and existing residents, who work together to take care of forests and other communal resources. Traditional agricultural practices are not only preserved but also largely embraced and shared, creating a vibrant, self-sufficient community."
 

"Mountain wine Value Chain (VC) in Eastern Alps is the focus of the foresight exercise where participants, mainly from Trento area, defined the key variables affecting the VC and transform them into two long-term forces that were identified in: a) changes in water availability for vine irrigation and b) changes in the number of active population working in viticulture. Consequently, 4 possible future scenarios of territorial development were developed and the effects of each scenario on the key variables were evaluated. The final envisioned scenario assumes that the water shortage problem is solved through a combination of agronomic and technological tools that can assure a reduced amount of water can secure viticulture to be continued. On the other hand, the reduction of population active in viticulture and wine production is a more critical element, due to the loss of attractiveness of mountain viticulture as a sector to work in, because of low profitability, reduced social services availability etc.
The emphasis of regional strategy  was put on different actions encouraging people to live and create new wine-related businesses in the mountain environment: 1) develop local and national actions for attracting young professionals, considering multifunctional family farms an asset; 2) implement necessary legislation adjustments to support land consolidation; 3) assure simplified and efficient support policies, focused on projects with real potential to contribute to local innovative and environmentally friendly rural development;  4) strengthen the knowledge system for better innovation uptake 5) adopt advanced agronomic practices to improve water management and reduce negative environmental impacts."

"Without specific policy interventions, the scenario foreseen by 2050 for the pasta filata cheese value chain of the Central Apennines is not the most encouraging, especially in light of the unstoppable demographic decline and the effects of climate change. A panel of local stakeholders and experts, who worked together in the living lab of the MOVING project, in order to counter these increasingly visible and tangible threats, formulated the following policy recommendations:
    incentives for the agro-ecological reconversion of production processes and the dissemination of ICTs in the restoration and management of rural practices; 
    enhancement of essential services (education, health, transport) to tackle the processes of depopulation and the ageing of the population; 
    promotion of research for new distribution channels capable of enhancing product quality, emphasising the attributes of traceability and sustainability; 
    promotion of the long life learning approach of local actors, also through the use of non-formal and informal education practices;
    focus of agri-environmental policies on the protection and recovery of pastures, on the adoption of regenerative farming techniques, on the management of the impact of wildlife on agricultural resources; 
    valorisation of cooperative approaches, aimed at the development of co-planning practices, also through participatory education policies."
 

"Our research delves into the Sustainable Knowledge Economy (SKE), focusing on how knowledge about sustainable living can be commodified and exchanged to promote ecological and social outcomes. The SKE enhances resilience and sustainability by promoting sustainable practices, integrating traditional and innovative knowledge, strengthening local economies, and fostering community engagement. Addressing regulatory, political, economic, social, and natural barriers is crucial for optimizing these contributions. Supporting the institutionalization of alternative knowledge systems and fostering a harmonized relationship between SKE and AKIS are crucial steps forward. Increase funding and support for SKE development, raising public awareness about SKE benefits and fostering collaboration among policymakers, researchers, and practitioners would be essential. 
By implementing these recommendations, the SKE can contribute to an ecological paradigm shift, promoting a sustainable future:
•    Enhance Funding and Support: Increase funding for the development and dissemination of sustainability knowledge and integrate SKE into existing knowledge systems.
•    Promote Policy Integration: Develop policies that align with sustainable development goals and support the institutionalization of SKE.
•    Foster Public Awareness: Launch campaigns to raise awareness about the benefits of SKE and encourage consumer participation.
•    Strengthen Collaboration: Facilitate collaboration between policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to create a robust framework for SKE.
•    Adapt to Local Contexts: Tailor policies to the specific needs and characteristics of local territories to maximize their effectiveness."
 

"The mountainous areas of Crete are facing abandonment and land degradation, population ageing, desertification and urbanization, dependence of agricultural subsidies and lack of basic services. These problems hindered the stakeholders to imagine a sustainable future for mountainous villages.  Stakeholders understood the vulnerability of mountainous regions as an outcome of the prominent “sun and beach tourism strategy” that has resulted in the over-development of coastal areas.  

Imagining a longer-term future brought to the forefront ways to navigate the current demographic, infrastructure, and general disenfranchisement faced by the mountainous regions’ inhabitants. The collective construction of future scenarios allowed for plans to deal with these obstacles including applying environmentally friendly agricultural practices and aiding young farmers and families to settle in the regions. The stakeholders negotiated and imagined ways in which respect and protection for mountainous communities, valuing their natural and cultural heritage, and fostering sustainable food systems and culinary traditions can open new paths for mountain people to sustain their livelihoods and traditional ways of life.  "
 

"The lamb and sheepmeat sector fits harmoniously into the mountainous landscape of the Drôme thanks to its extensive model, bringing significant agricultural, economic and ecological benefits to the region. However, the sector faces a number of challenges: coexistence with other mountain activities, increasing predation, the impact of climate change and foreign competition, all of which threaten its long-term viability.
To ensure the sector's adaptability and resilience over time, stakeholders have committed to imagining a desirable future that avoids or overcomes these new challenges. The collective construction of this vision has led to the development of a number of courses of action, in particular to enhance the attractiveness and working conditions of breeders and shepherds, improve the added value of the sector's products, optimize the management of pastoral areas while preserving their multifunctionality, experiment with new practices and equipment to cope with climatic hazards, and undertake a comprehensive education and awareness-raising campaign around pastoralism. These actions could enable the sheep sector to develop sustainably, generating economic, social and environmental benefits for both farmers and mountain regions as a whole."

The "farina castagnina" Value Chain, in PDO since 2010, is the result of the revival of an activity at the heart of the old food system of Corsica. The chestnut grove covers an area of 35,000 ha and has around fifty varieties. The valorization of flour gave an institutional and commercial existence to chestnut farming. In 2019, there were 69 castaneiculturists, 3 millers and 55 processors on the island (combining production, dryer, oven and mill). Before the arrival of the cynips desease, the production of AOP flour varied from 110 to 200 tonnes for a declared area of 700 ha. The VC takes advantage of a demanding and remunerative market that retains the features of a mountain domestic activity (direct sales, interpersonal networks, fairs, local stores, e-commerce). In addition, the chestnut grove is a resource for 4 other PDOs (Lonzu, Prisuttu, Coppa, Mele di Corsica) and for other productive and non-productive activities (timber, education, tourism, development, etc.). However, the strong mobilization of the ecosystem is not enough to deal with old and new vulnerabilities (abandonment, aging trees, diseases and climate change). The challenges are to maintain or even increase the orchards in the project area (renovation, planting), to consolidate the production of PDO flour, to identify the strategies and conditions (technical and organizational) for the coexistence of the different uses of trees and orchards. It is expected that a device combining the production of knowledge and the establishment of management rules will be set up in the MRL, bringing together VC operators, local elected officials, associations and institutions involved (Regional Natural Park of Corsica, regions and consulars).
 

"Within the MOVING project, the participatory foresight exercise on beef production in Sumava mountains was done. As key variables for future development were identified available pasture land, fodder, capacity for local processing of meat, consumers’ preferences, subsidy schemes, stable institutional framework, qualified employees and traditional meaning of agriculture in Sumava mountains. At this basis four scenarios for future development of the region were formulated and one of them was chosen by local stakeholders as the most preferred. 
The most preferred scenario is “High nature value agriculture”. This scenario consists of ensuing important elements: major role of non-production function of agriculture, use of the land as public goods, less important tourism industry, emphasise on natural resource conversation within National Park, resilient ecosystems, cooperation among farmers, National Park and tourists, importance of food quality and support of local food production.
For achieving the regional strategy based on preferred scenario four crucial changes are needed: support of horizontal and vertical cooperation among local actors; extensification of tourism; diversification of production and its local valorisation and empowerment and support of adaptability of farmers."
 

Alpine pasture farming faces considerable challenges due to climate change. Local stakeholders in Weiz collaborated to envision the future. They identified strong ties between farming, tourism, and regional development. Market development will be crucial for alpine sheep and pasture farming. Climate change increases extreme weather events and affects fodder production, which is key to farm profitability. Stakeholders agreed on a scenario of cooperative efforts to mitigate moderate climate impacts. This includes political support in building up frameworks to sustain small-scale alpine farming. Some of the recommendations refer to regional development including sustainable tourism and infrastructure development. Other recommendations are on national and EU level. Financial support is needed for sustainable farming practices and ecosystem services. Farmers require proper access to knowledge and exchange with peers and experts about adaptation. Raising awareness among consumers and politicians is essential. This includes education about sustainable food production and the role of alpine farming for preserving traditional landscapes. Educational programs should include these topics in school curricula. Strengthening direct sales and cooperative business models is also vital. These measures aim to ensure a resilient future for alpine pasture farming. Environmental sustainability and economic viability must be integrated. This will need efforts on all governance levels especially with increased pressure due to climate change.
 

CNR designed, developed, and released an online tool - the Story Map Building and Visualizing Tool (SMBVT) - that allows users to create story maps within a collaborative environment and a usable Web interface. SMBVT is hosted by the open science-oriented e-Infrastructure D4Science. Story maps are computer science realizations of narratives based on maps, which are accessible through many digital devices (e.g., PCs, tablets, smartphones, interactive displays). SMBVT displays the results of a workflow that takes an unstructured textual MS Excel file as input and automatically generates textual stories enriched with media objects, presented as story maps. Additionally, the tool offers a search functionality for data exploration and analysis. These functionalities allow a better understanding of the different characteristics and problems that affect the MOVING value chains. Indeed, the workflow we developed aggregates all the data collected within the project based on the topic they refer to. It shows the aggregated data in a user-friendly and simple way (as story maps), and allows users to explore the data through predefined queries. Finally, by exploiting the advantages of the use of a formal model (i.e., the Narrative Ontology), our workflow adds a storytelling dimension to value chains’ processes, providing valuable insights into the contextual factors that can influence decision-making. This narrative aspect enhances the qualitative understanding of value chains’ processes and opens avenues for storytelling within the maker community.
 

The H2020 MOVING project has explored 23 mountain value chains (VCs) described in earlier practice abstracts: https://www.moving-h2020.eu/library. These VCs are vulnerable to climate change, demographic change, and changes in policies and consumer demand. Mountain entrepreneurs need respond to these threats. Value chain strategies can help. These Strategies include: upgrading the product (new products, premim product certification) or using process upgrading to cut costs and improve efficiencies. Other forms include expanding the functions undertaken beyond production into processing, distribution and marketing or inter-chain diversification (developing more than one VC). There are two further types of collective action upgrading. Improving ‘vertical’ connections between different firms across VC stages (e.g. between farmers and the retailers). The second is ‘horizontal’ upgrading through firms cooperating within a VC stage to share information and improve efficiency. This economic focus is increasingly complemented by attention to social and economic value added, addressing how product, processing, functional, intra- or inter-chain upgrading strategies can improve working conditions and reduce environmental impacts. Our VCs used all these upgrading strategies, generally in multiple and innovative combinations. The territorial focus on mountains highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships in these strategies. Protecting mountain natural, social and cultural capital and innovating around traditions were important ways to make the VCs resilient. Mountain areas must extend VC upgrading strategies beyond a narrow economic interpretation to safeguard the special mountain qualities.

Due to the high reliance of the mountain value chain on natural processes, the vulnerability of the 23 evaluated regions is potentially very high. However, local actors perceive themselves as being more successful in mobilising resources for developing adaptation strategies that rely on their own practices, local knowledge, farm resources or implementing a new technology. They are less successful in developing strategies that require mobilisation of resources that are not directly under their control. This includes not only global level but also local resources that require collaboration of actors within a single VC or across multiple VCs. Achieving increased autonomy and resilience both in the context of local and global level requires• on-farm energy production and integration of renewable energies• conditions should be created for knowledge exchange about adaptive/improved management practices using joint infrastructures and vocational trainings with experts.• long-term contracts with suppliers are essential for stability and long term planning• stronger focus on intra-family farm succession and support for new entrants and young farmers, access to land• preservation and promotion of local and resistant varieties, promote crop diversification and establishment of new drought resistant species/varieties and dissemination knowledge about these crops

In many mountain areas of Europe, the exodus of young people and an ageing population threatens the demographic balance, impacting the social cohesion and economic vigour. Retaining young people is essential to secure the long-term sustainability of mountain communities across Europe. The MOVING project held participatory workshops during 2022 to explore young people’s views.Young people were quite pessimistic regarding the future of their mountain areas but offered numerous solutions to improve the situation. However, the solutions are context-specific to each country and case study, covering a range of governance issues. Solutions proposed by the young people included improving transport infrastructure (e.g. roads and rail) and frequency of public transport services; increasing access to social services, hospitals and child nurseries; enhancing capacity building through improving education and training courses; economic diversification away from agriculture and developing new supply chains for agricultural products; construction of new and affordable houses, as well as shops, offices and other facilities; improving internet access and speed. Of the numerous solutions offered, commonly sited solutions included the importance of improving education and capacity building opportunities, along with construction and upgrading of transport infrastructure. The above-mentioned solutions should be considered by relevant authorities and stakeholders within each of the case study countries. These findings, along with the engagement activities with schools and school-aged groups planned for 2023 provides valuable future direction to keep young people within sustainable mountain communities across Europe.

Europe has a long-standing tradition in the definition and protection of quality agri-food products: a) Geographic Indications highlighting the value of the areas where the products originate and/or are processed and which promote local knowledge and tradition; b) Organic products, whose value rest on the production/processing method used; c) other Mountain products or products from Protected areas that boost the value of these territories.The overall purpose of the labelling is to define the identity of the products and contribute to the sustainability of the areas where they come from. At the same time, it enhances the competitiveness of EU food and drinks on the local and global market.Key aspect of EU quality products is their certification (based on a common standard and third-party certification), intended to guarantee the authenticity of the product and production process.MOVING identified several “certified quality products” from mountain areas value chains, where they are linked to local resources and site-specific conditions, production systems, traditions and knowledge. Main examples are specialty cheese and processed meat, wine, honey, olive oil. An innovative case deals with ecotourism, defined by National Romanian rules, that opens the concept of quality certification also for services.Despite the original scope of quality certification, some issues need to be assessed:1. How much “local” is really local or “based on local resources” and how much does it depend on external materials and products.2. What is the impact on qualified job opportunity for local people?3. What is the impact of innovation?4. What is the impact of climate change?The findings will be available in November 2023.

The mountain environment is typically associated with unique natural resources. As part of the MOVING project, we are looking at how to combine the protection of these natural resources with agricultural activities. In order to do so, we are exploring what agricultural practices of extensive farming are suitable for protection of biodiversity and the maintenance of the cultural landscape (so-called high nature value farming), in context of the global climate changes that make mountain agricultural activities particularly vulnerable. Experience from different European regions shows that farms do not only have to be providers of public goods (such as landscape character), but can also play an important role in terms of food production. The MOVING project specifically addresses the issue of climate change impacts. In the context of nature-rich agriculture, it is appropriate to ask to what extent natural capital is threatened by global climate change and how any impacts may affect the functioning of farms in these areas. Moreover, these changes raise new dilemmas in terms of conservation policy and the search for a new boundary between private and public interests in these naturally valuable areas. The issue of ecosystem services in mountain areas is explored through farming examples that cover the regions of Austria, Romania, Czechia, France, Serbia and Switzerland. The research includes the creation of a platform for sharing the experiences of farmers and other experts from these areas. Details can be found on the project website (https://www.moving-h2020.eu/). Findings will be available in November 2023.

The governance of mountain landscapes involves many actors and institutions, bringing challenges and opportunities for cooperation to achieve goals and ensure resilience. The priorities of different communities and markets may bring tensions between actors. Mountain areas often have special characteristics that attract tourism visitors, however, tourism-related pressures often occur in addition to benefits that arise from hosting visitors to mountain areas.To support understanding of the ways tourism is situated in mountain areas, in terms of the people, places and value chains that interact within them and connect them to other regions, a cross-comparison of six case studies across Europe is being undertaken: Sumava (Czech Republic), Drome (France), Trento (Italy), Maleshevski (North Macedonia), Brasov (Romania), and Speyside (Scotland, UK). The aim is to identify key factors relating to governance, cooperation and territoriality that contribute towards sustainability and resilience of mountain areas that are often susceptible to socio-economic and environmental challenges.This research will examine how different actors and institutions govern and co-operate to manage opportunities and tensions in (and connecting to) mountain areas, focusing on tourism. The investigation will consider: relationships between tourism value chains, and the area they are situated; the ways that value chains enhance qualities/values of the area; expertise (and skills development) in relation managing tensions arising from tourism; the role of collaboration; and ways that investment in tourism and related value chains supports tourism and local populations.The findings will be available in November 2023.

Innovation and infrastructure could play a crucial role in supporting sustainable and resilient value chains (VCs) in mountain regions. The remoteness and difficult terrain within these regions often result in high infrastructure costs, low investment interest and centralisation of services. The rate of innovation in mountain communities tends to be lower than in urban areas due to various factors, e. g. ageing population and the dominance of the primary sector. Furthermore, the availability and quality of infrastructure play an important role in the performance, innovation capacity and modernisation of VCs in these regions. The cluster will focus on exploring how infrastructure, including roads, technology, processing plants and storage facilities, can form the backbone of a supportive environment for economic activities along food and tourism VCs. The structural characteristics of VCs in mountain regions are examined, to identify barriers to innovation, efficiency and investment. Finally, the cluster will explore how social innovations and new forms of collaboration, such as cooperatives and informal associations, can emerge and support the transition to a green and resilient economy in mountain regions. Key research questions include:• How do infrastructure quality, digitalization and innovation rates influence the VC performance?• What are the structural barrierso for innovation, efficiency, new technologies and investments in the VC?• How do innovations and technologies support mountain VCs a shift towards a green and resilient economy?• How can innovation and infrastructure best support the essential skills and tools for resilient VCs now and in the future?Findings will be available in November 2023.

Looking at the role that food value chains (VCs) can play for a sustainable and resilient future of local communities in mountain areas requires a focus on social and demographic features that characterize those spaces, and on how they are – or can be – influenced by food networks.For example, the young generations often tend to leave mountain areas, whereas these areas can be attractive for people pursuing a new way of life (economic migrants, former urban dwellers, retired people etc.).In this context, the presence of mountain VCs, based on the local resource systems but also connected to other regions, represent an opportunity for employment, and also can contribute to the deepening and widening of the social fabric - both internally and externally to the region - in areas that are often sparsely populated. This is even truer when we look at the VCs as assemblages of individual and collective actors that evolve over time, engaging new people, employing new resources and creating personal and professional linkages.Studying selected VCs across regions marked by different socio-economic characteristics can provide insights into the following issues:• To which extent mountain VCs contribute to create employment opportunities in their area? Which is the quality of those jobs?• How do the VCs strengthen the local networks and the social wellbeing at the local/regional level?• Under which conditions these employment opportunities and/or these social benefits are provided?• How do the selected VCs influence the condition of youngsters and women, and of the other specific social groups / communities, in the identified areas?Findings will be available in November 2023.

During workshops held in 2022 stakeholders from the Speyside Whisky and food and drink tourism Value Chain Assemblage (VC-A) discussed threats to their industries. The following threats were voted most important: demographic changes (causing workforce problems), inflation, and water temperature and low flows.Stakeholders suggested a number of solutions. Promotion of the industry to young people and more favourable living conditions were suggested to encourage people of working age into the area. This could be achieved through increases to the national living wage, local planning regulations, and housing targets.Energy efficiency and use of renewables within the whisky and tourism sectors was suggested to mitigate impacts of inflation. This change is already being implemented using biofuels to generate electricity. Continued expansion of this could help to provide lower cost energy and heat to local businesses, whilst reusing waste products.Water saving interventions were suggested to stabilize river temperature and flow. Expansion of heat reduction technologies already in use for the wastewater released by distilleries would continue to reduce impact on water temperature. Similarly, the planting of riparian woodlands would help to shade and cool rivers. Leaky dams were suggested as a buffer against water shortages.Due to its international market and northern location the Speyside Whisky and Tourism VC-A has some increased resiliency to these threats. However, it still faces some negative impacts, which is in part already being felt. Stakeholders were confident about the potential for mitigation, but less confident about implementing these solutions. They require significant funding, which is currently lacking.

Elmalı is a small plateau located in Beydaglari. Highland greenhouse cultivation in Elmalı started in 2000s and greenhouse tomato production, which is mostly export-oriented and is gradually increasing. The expansion of greenhouse production has strengthened the regional economy and improved the living conditions of the local population. However, uncontrolled increase in greenhouse areas is not compatible with the natural resource potential of the region.The main threats for greenhouse tomato production are mainly caused by climate change. Non-native invasive species are the major threat which is followed by drought and overexploitation of natural resources (groundwater, surface water, soil). In addition, stakeholders in the region also consider inflation as a threat.It is necessary to avoid the uncontrolled increase of greenhouse areas in order to ensure the sustainability of tomato greenhouse cultivation and prevent the overexploitation of natural resources in the region. Efficient use of water resources and water conservation is another important issue. Input subsidies need to be increased for high input prices. In order to increase the effectiveness of the marketing system, it is necessary to set up a cooperative that will play a crucial role in marketing of product and expansion of contract farming in the region will make the value chain more efficient. Marketing cooperatives will ensure collective sales and supply, which will reduce production costs and increase farmers' incomes. Farmers´ training in modern agricultural techniques is important to protect natural resources and increasing income.

The Tête de Moine PDO value chain is located in the Swiss Jura mountain region. This value chain includes cheese, milk, and meat production. The cheese, in particular, secures better milk prices for farmers and has gained popularity due to its unique presentation with a girolle. An joint-trade partnership manages the Tête de Moine value chain, promoting consumption and better quality. This value chain generates 400 jobs with an annual turnover of over 80,000 Swiss francs. It also collaborates with Gruyère PDO to address the seasonal mismatch between production and consumption. Being an important local product from the Swiss Jura, Tête de Moine faces environmental and socio-economic challenges linked to climate change and changes in market demand. Feed and milk production is sensitive to meteorological events, and farmers are highly dependent on public support, which accounts for half of their income. Another growing challenge is meeting increasing societal demands while maintaining a high added value. Developing new services, high-quality products, and promotion methods will allow for the development of new markets and sustain farmers' livelihoods. Better environmental integration in quality products, policy support, diversification, and actor integration will help increase the resilience of cheese production and the livelihoods of farmers. Strong coordination between the actors of the value chain and consumers can improve the sustainability of the region.

The Gran Alpin Value Chain is a cooperative of organic farmers with the goal of maintaining the value chain of organically grown mountain cereals in Grisons since the 1980s. The cooperative focuses on the local production and distribution of premium cereal products such as flour, pasta or beer.The main challenges consist of the high variety of different types of processed grains with mostly small volumes and the remote location of the farms that lead to complicated logistics and long transport distances. Moreover, the local infrastructure is insufficient, as proper machinery for small fields or more and smaller grain silos are needed. Also, there is a lack of qualified staff, especially in the processing stages, for example millers or brewers.The key recommendations for improving the value chains’ resilience are as follows:- increase collaboration with other value chains and actors in the region to leverage their knowledge and resources, especially in areas such as logistics and infrastructure.- innovate in areas such as processing and storage to reduce costs, increase efficiency and improve product quality.- invest in training and capacity building for its stakeholders to improve their skills and knowledge in areas such as business management, marketing and quality control.By implementing these recommendations, the Gran Alpin value chain can become more resilient and better able to withstand external shocks and keep up with future trends.

The region of Hoya de Huesca is a transition zone between the pre-Pyrenean Mountains and the Ebro valley. About half of the Huesca province’s surface is flat arable land used for intensive crops, such as cereals and animal husbandry. Mountain wine production in Huesca province is a relatively young value chain, but based on a strong historical background. The community synergy and interaction is among the main features of the value chain. The most important driver is the demographic negative trend affecting the region since the late 60s, linked to the crisis of labor market and land abandonment, whose consequence is the concentration of land ownership in the hands of large investment companies. Unfortunately, nowadays the region is still unattractive for young people and families, due to the lack of infrastructures and social services. As environmental threats, drought and increasing air temperature, especially heat waves in summer are of major concern. Low soil quality is a common problem for mountain landscape, in the case of Huesca, soil was also impacted by decades of intensive agronomic practices connected to arable crops cultivation. An efficient set of policy supporting farmers can reduce the negative trend and support current social and technological innovation processes. A lower tax burden for the residents and an access to digital (broadband) and physical (roads, railways) infrastructures are essential aspects to be considered together with access to services (health, education, etc.). Policies should also foster the uptake of economic diversification opportunities such as rural tourism, energy production, ecosystem services.

Dehesas (or montados in Portuguese) are seminatural landscapes formed by anthropized Mediterranean forests mostly composed of holm oaks and pastures. Sheep, cattle, and pig rearing are the most important activities in Dehesa farms, being rearing Iberian pigs one of the essential sectors in economic, environmental, and social terms. The Iberian ham value chain has been explored in the context of MOVING H2020. Iberian ham PDO Los Pedroches is one of the most valuable products coming from dehesas and hence a key sector to boost the sustainability of the territory of Sierra Morena. Iberian ham is also traditionally produced using the knowledge and culture in the management of dehesas, where humans and Mediterranean forests have been coexisting for centuries. During the workshops with local stakeholders in 2022 and 2023, three specific needs to foster the further development of the traditional production of Iberian ham PDO Los Pedroches have emerged:1. Differentiation of the products’ quality under an “Iberian ham” designation. Fighting against fraud and informing consumers is essential for the acknowledgment of this valuable product and the sustainable practices which involve it.2. Specific regulations for small farmers to facilitate the elaboration and marketing of their products. Sanitary standards have to take into account artisanal production. Small farm practices are essential to maintain the dehesas due to their dependence on natural resources.3. Improvement of the transfer of knowledge between locals, technicians, and researchers. Knowledge exchange methods should recognise the needs and different perspectives within the sector. Technology should help to simplify bureaucracy and not the opposite.

The organic production system of mountain olive groves generates positive results in different ways. However is cannot be considered a major or fully sustainable sub-sector.It is a value chain subject to the adverse effects of multiple drivers of change that negatively impact productivity and other variables. These include: drought and other extreme weather events, loss of soil quality, demographic changes, unequal market pricing and profit sharing, and declining public support.On the other hand, there are several preconditions for adaptation to these impacts. These range from the maintenance of permanent ground covers; the incorporation of biomass from pruning, the protection of local varieties; the increased reuse of residues for the production of compost; the introduction of some regenerative practices.Having local strategies and greater sectoral and territorial articulation would give stability to this transition towards a more resilient value chain. In terms of available territorial capital, there is an unequal correlation of forces where the immobilism of the most conservative actors coexists with the fear felt towards and by the most innovative actors. This occurs within a context of political and media pressure from groups promoting intensive and agro-industrial production systems, lack of holistic analyisis and strategies to tespond to these various threats and a lack of collective, political and sectoral leadership.

Beekeepers and experts on mountain area identified the main threats affecting the Slovak mountain honey value chain (VC). Climate change developents such as drought, torrential rains, and heat waves adversely affect honeybees' quality and quantity of forage, which represents an essential resource for honey VC. Insufficient bee nourishment causes vulnerability of bee colonies and consequent parasite overgrowth and diseases. Moreover, biodiversity reduction is ongoing due to changes in rural lifestyles in the mountains and the decrease in meadows and pastures. However, even in the meadows that have been preserved, the agronomic practices suitable for bee grazing are rarely used. The VC is also threatened by inflation and lack of accurate information leading to consumer preference for cheaper, non-local honey, and even for non genuine honey. The proposed improvements for VC resilience are far from being in the hands of beekeepers alone and relate to the following:1. Adequate landscape planning to help maintain water in the landscape, promote plant diversity, and allow the selection of suitable habitat locations for honeybees.2. Agricultural legislation listening to experts in beekeeping and opportunities for effective communication between beekeepers, farmers, and foresters to apply bee-friendly management3. Improving demand and trust for local quality products through the support of sustainable beekeeping, direct sales, communication between beekeepers and consumers, and implementation of regional brand logos4. Education of the public and authorities about the multifunctionality of beekeeping and the interconnectedness between the health of the landscape, bees, and people

The Pester plateau, home of Sjenica lamb, belongs to the Western Serbia Dinaric Mountains, and is well known for its beauty, pristine pastures and harsh climate. The autochthonous breed of this plateau is the Sjenica sheep. This breed is the based of three products of origin (PDO) – Sjenica Lamb, the main product of this Value chain, Sjenica cheese and Sjenica stelja (dry sheep meat). Though rooted in the traditional mountain farming system of the Pešter highlands, its great natural value and biodiversity, the Sjenica lamb and its products’ high reputation is not sufficiently appreciated. This disconnect between reputation, origin and quality, lowers market demand and the ability for produces to increase the value of their produce. Additional substantial threat to the area and to the Sjenica lamb production, is the intensive outmigration. More middle-aged producers are predominantly involved in livestock production and has a strong connection to the traditional production; however the next generation is seeking other alternatives and a different, less demanding lifestyle. Well-planned, continuous and informed policies defined and implemented at local and national level, would be important to reverse this negative trends and create sustainable incentives for young people who stay in the area and are engaged in agriculture. The policies need to improve the farmers- prospects and build on producer groups initiatives that strenghten market linkages and capitalise on the high quality products from the Pester plateau. The focus would be on “working smarter not harder”, promoting social and technical innovation, for making Sjenica and Pešter not only a place of unique products, but also a place of good quality of life for its people.

The Southern Romanian Carpathians are internationally renowned for their exceptional biodiversity and natural landscapes, but these natural assets are threatened by numerous pressures including the negative impacts of mass tourism (including chaotic construction of buildings and infrastructure), abandonment of agricultural land and loss of traditional ‘high nature value’ farming practices. One of the mountain value chains investigated in the H2020 MOVING project (https://www.moving-h2020.eu/) is sustainable (notably ‘certified ecotourism’) with a specific focus on the Făgăraş mountain massif, including the Piatra Craiului National Park and neighbouring Țara Făgărașului micro-region. During workshops with local stakeholders in 2022 and 2023 two specific needs for fostering the further development of sustainable tourism in the Southern Romanian Carpathians were identified:(1) Better and stronger governance of the region to a) support the livelihoods of local small-scale producers by prioritizing their grazing rights on local pastures, providing professional training courses and facilitating the certification of their agricultural products, plus b) have stricter planning regulation for new (and often inappropriate) buildings for tourism and leisure purposes;(2) More decentralised decision-making and funding guided by local stakeholders (public and private). One specific success story of relevance to other mountain areas is the ‘Intercommunity Development Association of the Țara Făgărașului Microregion’ which successfully applied for Integrated Territorial Investment (ITI) for the region – one of only 4 ITIs funded in Romania under the 2021-2027 EU Cohesion Policy so far.

Wine production in the Upper Douro Valley (Maçico Noroeste in Portugal) has a long-standing tradition of widely-known PDO wines. It is based on small scale family grape producers and cooperative cellars. Over the last 60 years the area has undergone a fast loss of population and a progressive aging. Viticulture, as well as other agriculture activity, faced a declining profitability and, therefore, was drastically reduced. But in last decades, the increase of temperatures in lower areas and the interest in site specific wines led large wine companies from the lower valley to invest in the area. The result is a renewed growth of vineyards managed by large companies that often process the grapes outside the region, with a consequent loss of added value for the area. Few cooperative cellars maintain their activity, often in collaboration with the large companies, and some small-scale producers started to process the grapes by their own. The main threat for this value chain remains demographic change as it affects work-force availability and the vitality of the rural area. Climate change is also impacting in terms of extreme events, like hail or heavy rainstorms, while water availability for viticulture is uncertain as potentially conflicting with other uses. Wine companies are active in finding solutions to the workforce scarcity, but it does not solve the more general problem of few and aged residents. Agronomic practices, mainly linked to conservative soil management and agroecology, are tools for the mitigation of climate change effects and for an increased resilience of the vineyard, also towards the changing pest and diseases and their biological cycles.

The Serra da Estrela PDO cheese is made with milk from native sheep breeds. Sheep and cheese have to be produced within the area demarcated for this Protected Denomination of Origin, which extends far beyond the mountain area. There is growing market demand for the cheese where both PDO and nonPDO cheese are included.Next to its economic value, the Serra da Estrela PDO cheese contributes to the preservation of native sheep breeds – whose hardiness and aptitude for altitute grazing has allowed until some decades ago to make use of high and medium altitude pastures. These pastures are crucial for the landscape characteristic pattern and biodiversity, and to maintain open areas which reduce vulnerability to fire.The native breeds produce less milk than other breeds and the differentiated price of the milk hardly compensate for the lower productivity. Some producers opt for a change towards other more productive breeds.Certification is done at the cheesemaker level. Associated burocracy and costs mean that smaller, family-run business often opt for not certifying as PDO. This opens the floor to sell cheese made with other milk, marketed as similar to the PDO, and sold at a lower price.And with this changes, and the decreasing number of sheep, the use of high and medium altitude pastures has severely decreased.The link between the PDO cheese and the mountain landscape, can be strengthen by:• Recognizing grazing services beyond their economic value, and paying shepherds for their services• Provide permanent technical support to shepherds• Educate consumers on the added value and territory impact of the PDO product• Ease the burden of certification• Tourism activities contributing to paying sheep grazing in medium altitude pastures

The Maleshevski region is known as spa of the Balkans, renowned for it’s green forests, biodiversity, peaceful landscapes ideal for hiking and biking, clean air and traditionally prepared, organic food. The region is already experiencing negative effects of climate change and socio- economic disturbances. Increased temperatures are causing fires; forests and biodiversity are endangered; agricultural land is decreasing due to water deficiency; active population, especially youth is leaving the region. Maleshevski region is natural protected area.CNVP, in partnership with representatives of Multi-Actor Platform (MAP) of this MOVING Horizon 2020 project, is exploring vulnerabilities, resilience and potentials for sustainable development of rural tourism in Maleshevski Region.In a period 2022- 2023, we organised serial workshops with the local stakeholders to discuss mitigation strategies and to identify priority policies and measures for sustainable development of rural tourism in Maleshevski region. Below are recommendations:1.Strategies for development of the region: establishing Maleshevski brand; increased marketing promotion of locally produced products; creating new offers for active tourism; subsidies for women and young farmers; subventions for local agricultural production and diversification of the offer; subsidies for farmers using innovative technologies2. Respond to climate change: creating local strategy for climate change; subsidies for renewable energy in agriculture and dairy production; establishing systems for reuse of the rain; subsidies for increasing bee families; subsidies for organic production; generating biomass; strengthened policies for environmental protection.

Alta Versilia (Tuscany, Central Italy) is well known for its marble quarries and its attractive mountain landscape. The region has been known for producing chestnut and its flour for centuries. Locals used to call it “the bread tree”, and it gained economic and socio-cultural importance over time. In the frame of the MOVING project, the chestnut flour value chain in Alta Versilia is one of the 23 case studies to analyse.Nowadays, the value chain is facing numerous threats that weaken its resilience including climatic and demographic changes, land fragmentation, financial difficulties, pests, and many others. During our interactions with local stakeholders, we found out that drought and demographic changes are the most alarming drivers making the system more vulnerable. Moreover a disturbing threat was raised concerning the loss of traditional practices, especially since chestnut flour is considered a patrimony of the region. Another noteworthy driver is the inefficiency to allocate incentives and subsidies.Across the first two years of MOVING, workshops and meetings with local stakeholders took place regularly, during which we could learn about the abovementioned drivers, and the potential reactions to mitigate their effects based on participants' knowledge. These meetings are the first practice to make the system more resilient by gathering different stakeholders to synergize their efforts and strengthen their network.Several proposals to increase the value chain´s resilience include involving the Natural Geopark of Apuane Alps and enhancing its governance role, better financial aid distribution, ensuring knowledge sharing, more youth involvement, adoption of good agricultural practices while protecting biodiversity.

The mountain wine production in Trento Province, in the Eastern Alps, consists of international and local grape varieties produced in its slopes. It is then processed into still white, rosè and red wines, while the most iconic wine is the bottle-fermented Trento DOC sparkling sparking wine that is under Protected Denomination of Origin. The market value and market demand value drove production towards increasing its environmental engagement by way of widestread adoption of organic and low input farming and processing practices. The main environmental threats for this value chain are extreme weather events, hail, heavy rainstorms and increasing risk of late frost and soil fertility loss. In the long-term, the two factors increase the risk of massive landslides and consequent vineyard and landscape, destruction. The efficiency of water use is another concern for coming years, as the need for irrigation also at higher altitudes, due to higher temperature and precipitation reduction, will increase. Due to social changes, scarcity of workforce for seasonal work in the vineyard and for non-qualified work in the winery starts to be an issue. The implementation of environmentally friendly agronomic practices along with accurate choice of grape varieties (including resistant/tolerant new ones) and the delocalization of vineyards in higher areas can significantly increase the resilience of the Value Chain in terms of soil quality and health, yield and quality of grapes and longevity of the vineyards. Policy changes regarding the employment of foreign workers and young people could speed sector dynamics and attract workforce. The potential for tackling the challenges strongly depends on the market and on the increase of the value of the product.

The Alto Molise in the Central Apennines mountain region in Italy is is known for its vast pastures and wooded lands. They are closely linked to livestock farming (such as cheese and meat production) and forestry products.The production of spun paste cheese is an important part of the area's economy, reflecting traditional practices passed down through generations. These practices connect the landscape, environment, dairy products, and cultural heritage in a positive relationship. By combining tourism and meat production, farmers can diversify their income since milk production alone may not be enough for the farm to survive.However, the spun paste cheese industry faces various threats, such as drought, depopulation of rural villages, rising raw material prices, and farmers' reluctance to accept EU agricultural policy reforms that focus on territorial development rather than the growth of the agricultural sector.By implementing diverse strategies, local actors can make the Alto Molise region stronger and more resilient. Conservation breeding programs, raising animals that can be used both for milk and meat production and direct milk processing are all ways to support the local economy and cultural heritage. Tourist visits can also provide additional income streams for farmers. By focusing on high-quality products and effective marketing strategies, producers can increase their earnings. The use of digital technology can further enhance product sales.

Cold Mountain Shelter is a growing community of young, educated environmentally conscious lifestyle migrants. They live mostly off grid, with sustainable solutions for energy and water management, producing food through permaculture, forest agriculture, contour farming, extensive animal husbandry, etc. Nevertheless, their main ‘products’ are in knowledge economy as they are developing a complex, organic, lived-knowledge-base on sustainable livelihoods. They organize courses, events, exhibitions in permaculture, orcharding, sustainable water/energy management, construction and community building. Climate related threats (precipitation, soil erosion) and urbanization pressure are difficult for their agriculture, however, the generally growing environmental consciousness brings much interest for their knowledge economy. They use territorial capital (landscape, biodiversity, proximity to a touristic area) very efficiently. Within their knowledge economy, knowledge processing is their bottleneck: documentation of knowledge production, lifting their experiences and tacit knowledge to a conscious level and creating training materials, videos, handouts should be much improved. However, Could Mountain Shelter is an excellent example of how a conscious and powerful community can create and spread knowledge about resilience and sustainability. They innovate, combine traditional knowledge with technology, creating completely new frameworks and patterns, showing an alternative, and real-life solutions for some of the most important problems of our times, representing an important socio-economic trend, spreading fast in developed countries.

Carob trees are representative of the agro-forest ecosystems of Crete, and carob products have been part of agrifood chains for centuries in Central Rethymno’s semi-mountainous terrain. The carob agrifood value chain is culturally significant, having been used extensively at times of social turmoil where food is scarce. Of late, the interdependcies of the carob flour value chain with animal husbandry, Cretan gastronomy, and tourism have increased carob flour's popularity and use.Nevertheless, the carob flour value chain has faced and continues to face considerable threats. They include the recent replacement of traditional crops such as carob tree with more profitable or subsidised ones and significant and continuing demographic changes in the mountainous villages. Legislative changes in forest mapping and management and insufficient support from agricultural directorates have also challenged the value chain. The lack of product authentication (such as goods being recognized as PGI or PDO) is an obstacle for the Cretan carob flour, lowering its value and diminishing the regional cultural capital.There is currently more awareness of the climate crisis and extreme weather events and its impact in this value chain. Other concerns include the "skyrocketing" energy prices that have increased production, packaging, and distribution costs, resulting in further economic strain. Stakeholders prioritised the following policy objectives in order to ameliorate the risks in the carob flour: the establishment of the agricultural cooperatives; promotion of the Cretan diet and the carob flour’s health benefits; and linking the two economic pillars of Crete—agriculture and tourism.

Mountain pastoralism in France plays a considerable role in the production of quality products, dynamism, cultural identity and management of mountain territories. However, this sector is now under economic, political and environmental pressure. At the same time, this extensive livestock activity is suffering from the consequences of climate change with droughts and changes in vegetation.However, pastoral systems are by nature adaptable to the environment in which they find themselves and resilient to the changes they undergo. Within the framework of H2020 MOVING (https://www.moving-h2020.eu/) extensive sheep farming in the Drôme valley is the subject of work because of its strong contribution to local sustainable development and the resilience of its value chain model.During the workshops organised with local stakeholders in 2022 and 2023, specific needs were identified to perpetuate this sector in the area:1) Maintain a dialogue between elected officials, local authorities and pastoral groups to a) carry out consistent educational and awareness-raising work on the multiple use of pastoral areas in the context of increasing predation, plus b) maintain links between the various actors in the sector;2) Reclaim pastoral areas and diversify grazing rescources (woody areas, trees, vineyards) by collectively organising private owners in order to cope with climate change;3) Structur the local products and maintain the existing infrastructure (slaughterhouse, processing plant) to enhance the value of local offer from the sheep industry.

The Protected Denomination of Origin (PDO) for the production of chestnut flour is the main value chain (VC) whithin Corsican mountains. This natural resource is also the basis for 4 other PDOs (Honey, 3 charcuteries).Obtained in 2010 after 30 years of professionalization, this PDO was confronted during that same year with the arrival of a new pest: the Cynips (Dryocosmus kuriphilus). This drastically reduce flour production. After more than 10 years of biological fight led by the value-chain actors (the PDO and local stakeholders), the production starts again slowly showing new vulnerabilities. The efforts to rationalise the techniques of orchard management, processing and support to operators carried out before the arrival of Cynips had been halded since. The same applies to actions to promote, diversify and qualify of the product. This has led on the one hand to a loss of knowledge and awareness of this product and to a a significant increase in price of the other. During the workshops with local stakeholders in 2022 and 2023 two issues were identified:(1) The need for technical and scientific support to the organizational actors of the VC for a better distribution of their roles and responsibilities: a new organization of the production unit, new management of the resource, new product valorization (qualification, diversification, range effect, market study)(2) The need for a new governance of the region to accompany the new challenges of development of the VC (management of new systems of financing and regulation of the plural production status, election of financing, activity attractiveness, management of natural resources - land, degradation and diseases).

The Šumava Mountains, one of the oldest in Europe, are known for their untouched nature and unique biological communities. For these reasons, the rarest areas have been given the highest level of protection and have become a National Park. Therefore, specific conditions also apply to agricultural production within Šumava Mountains, while at the same time agriculture provides ecosystem services in the form of 'forest-free' farming. However, agriculture in Šumava Mountains is threatened by several negative impacts. These include the effects of depopulation of mountain areas, drought, increasing costs of processing agricultural products and uncertainty about the development of agricultural subsidies.One of the mountain value chains investigated in the H2020 MOVING project (https://www.moving-h2020.eu/) was BEEF PRODUCTION within Šumava Mountains.During workshops with local stakeholders in 2022 and 2023 two specific needs for fostering the further sustainable development of agriculture production (especially beef production) in Šumava Mountains were identified:1. Better cooperation among farmers supported by targeted subsidies policy (e.g. common local slaughter houses) to promote processing and distribution of final products within the region (instead of exporting cattle for finishing) also among smaller farmers. It would increase value added remaining in the region.2. Intensive cooperation among actors of mountain development (farmers, National Park, tourism industry, local municipalities, NGOs) supported by economic measures in the framework of rural development policy to make mountain areas more attractive to young people and thus prevent mountain depopulation.

Results-based payment schemes (RBPS) are a new form of agricultural support scheme offering farmers payments for delivering a specific environmental result from the land they manage. Most existing RBPS have biodiversity as the main objective, but they may also have water quality or climate action as additional objectives. RBPS differ from traditional agri-environment payments that prescribe specifically what a farmer must do or must not do to get an annual payment. Instead, results-based approaches offer farmers the flexibility to use their knowledge and experience to manage their land in a way that delivers the required environmental outcome alongside their usual farming activities. In principle the farmer is free to do what suits the site, the weather, the farm and their own situation - it is only the environmental results that counts! This result-based approach is very relevant to maintaining the supply of public goods from High Nature Value farmland in the Western Stara Planina region of Bulgaria, one of 23 mountain areas studied in the H2020 MOVING project (https://www.moving-h2020.eu/). However, the development and implementation of an RBPS is a complex task and it is important that support is offered/provided to policymakers to help them adopt this alternative approach. The Society for Territorial and Environmental Prosperity (STEP) is a coordinator of the RBPS Network for Bulgaria (https://www.step-bg.bg/en/node/250) and follows the use of RBPS in other EU countries where the approach has been implemented for the last decade. STEP extracts important lessons for Bulgaria and uses this information to advocate for the pilot testing of an RBPS within the Bulgarian CAP Strategic Plan for 2023-2027.

In the mountainous areas of the Weizer Bergland region traditional pasture farming for meat, milk and dairy production is practiced since centuries. Particularly sheep farming has gained importance in keeping up this traditional practice and contributes to maintaining the region’s typical semi-open pasture landscape. This is not only relevant in terms of regional value creation through the production of sheep products, but also for tourism. The most important natural resource for sheep farming is the quality and productivity of pastures and grassland. During the Summer months the sheep are grazed on the mountainous pastures, during winter they are fed with grass silage, hay, and hay silage, which is all produced on-farm. But this practice is threatened by climate change related developments, such as changes in precipitation and extreme weather events like late frosts, heavy rains, storms, hail and periods of drought. Furthermore changes in market and socioeconomic crisis pose threates to the market of sheep products due to higher production cost and lower purchasing power of customers. Furthermore bottlenecks in the supply of farm operating equipment may lead to difficulties for production. Startegies, such as improvements in feeding management and more cooperation such as joint management of resources can further improve and foster the resilience and sustainability of the value chain.The strong cooperative structure of the Weizer Schafbauern and regional strategies for sustainable development in the region of Weiz are a good basis for building resilient structures further.

Within the H2020 MOVING project, we are analysing mountain value chains across 23 different mountain locations. Using an approach that builds on the Value Chain Analysis for Development (VCA4D), we illustrate how taking this type of extended value chain can provide a fresh perspective on mountain rural development. A value chain connects the stages by which values (economic, enviromental and socio-cultural) are added as raw materials become products, that are processed, distributed and marketed and finally consumed. The values that are added depend on harnessing the capitals or assets of the mountain locations - these can be natural resources, local know-how or community spirit. This value chain analysis illustrates how mountain assets are the foundation for regional or national economic sectors. Very often, the later value chain practices take place a long way from the mountains, which can dilute the economic value for producers, but also reduce the ability of local people to influence how the products are developed or the degree to which their mountain origins are recognised by consumers. In the H2020 MOVING project, the participation of mountain producers in understanding the value chain is essential, due to their local knowledge of how mountain assets are involved and what benefits arise. Often statistics and publications are not available for the specific mountain value chain activities, so insights from local experts is the best sources of evidence. The value chain approach can connect these producers to other actors involved in the value chain outside mountain areas, helping mountain people to have a voice in global value chains and/or to identify ways to relocalise other parts of the value chain to retain more value in mountain areas.

The overall objective of MOVING (MOuntain Valorisation through INterconnectedness and Green growth) Horizon 2020 project is to build capacities and co-develop relevant policy frameworks across Europe for the establishment of new or upgraded and upscaled value chains that contribute to the resilience and sustainability of mountain areas. This is being done through a bottom-up participatory process with value chain actors, regional and European stakeholders and policy-makers. 
A core feature of the project is the creation and animation of its Community of Practice (CoP). The MOVING CoP is understood as a European-wide Science-Society-Policy interface to engage stakeholders around resilience to climate change, and other threats, of mountain value chains.
The conceptualisation of the MOVING CoP is transferred into practice through the creation of Multi-Actor Platforms (MAPs), that provide the space for interaction, exchange and learning with stakeholders of the community at all territorial levels (regional and European). The CoP is built on: 
• 23 regional MAPs, established in the 23 Reference Regions;
• 1 EU MAP; 
• External actors.
The objectives of the MOVING CoP are:
• to bring together a community that contributes to the co-creation and validation of key research outputs and results delivered by MOVING;
• to foster the exchange of knowledge and experience that enhances joint learning and expertise on mountain value chains;
• to build a long-lasting community.

So far the CoP consists of more than 500 actors in the regional MAPs and 50 members in the EU MAP.

Reference Regions https://www.moving-h2020.eu/reference-regions/
Join the EU MAP https://www.moving-h2020.eu/eu-multi-actor-platform/

In the MOVING H2020 project, National Research Council of Italy (CNR) designed, developed, and released an online tool - the Story Map Building and Visualising Tool (SMBVT) - that allows users to create story maps within a collaborative environment and a usable Web interface. Story maps are computer science realizations of narratives based on maps, which are accessible through many digital devices (e.g., PCs, tablets, smartphones, interactive displays). Technically speaking, the advantages of SMBVT are that it is entirely open-source and has been made available on a dedicated Virtual Research Environment (VRE) in the MOVING portal, as a free-to-use online solution accessible after registration. Furthermore, it builds up a user-shared semantic knowledge base that automatically interconnects all stories and seamlessly enables collaborative story building. Finally, it was integrated with the MOVING portal, which is based on the D4Science e-Infrastructure, to enable data and information sharing within the MOVING community and add multi-tenancy, multi-user, security, and access-control facilities. From a user’s point of view, the tool supports both narrators who want to create a story map about a specific value chain and users who want to consume its content. The main advantage of using story maps is that these online interactive maps enriched with text, pictures, videos, data, and other multimedia information can tell stories over the territories’ value chain while representing the life, emotions, reality, fiction, legends, and expectations associated with the described territories.

MOVING project produced Spatial Vulnerability Matrices (SVMs) for the Land Use Systems (LUSs) supporting the focal Value Chains (VCs) in each of the 23 Mountain Reference Landscapes (MRLs). Each regional MOVING team built its SVM from data collection and its own informed assessment, based on the contextualized knowledge gathered in different moments of interaction with local actors and the narratives expressed by them.
Each SVM defines different levels of vulnerability of the respective LUS to drivers of change (related to climate or others) in relation to spatial explicit factors. Some of these SVMs allowed us to build Vulnerability Maps within the respective MRL. The objective was to identify the spatial distribution of the vulnerability to relevant drivers, so that information on adaptation mechanisms can be more targeted, in a later phase of the project.
For example, at Swiss Jura MRL the focal value chain is Tête de Moine PDO cheese, which relies on permanent pastures. At areas of with very low tree cover density and low elevation this LUS was considered highly vulnerable to the drivers of precipitation, temperature, and extreme events. At this MRL, most permanent pastures (58%) were classified with a medium vulnerability level. At Austrian Alps MRL, the focal value chain is lamb production, which also relies on permanent pastures. At areas with south exposition and slopes above 20%, permanent pastures vulnerability to aridity, temperature and extreme weather was considered very high. In total, 29% of permanent pastures are in this class. 
These and other outputs of this work can be consulted in Deliverable 3.2.: Land use systems vulnerability matrixes and vulnerability maps for the 23 reference regions (González-Moreno et al., 2022).

The MOVING project identified, selected, and developed a closed set of susceptibility indicators to climate change and related ecological disturbances, as well as, to other drivers of a more socio-economic nature, for each of the 23 Mountain Reference Landscapes (MRLs).
This set of susceptibility indicators was mainly based on existing pan-European spatial datasets and includes estimates on bio-climate variables, soil loss (present and future), rainfall erosivity (present and future), agricultural abandonment (future), wind erosion (present) and forest disturbance (past), among others.
All indicators available at each of the 23 MRLs were collected and presented to the regional partners, for them to choose the most relevant to their vulnerability model, based on information gathered from local actors.
This work showed, for example, large areas with high risk of agricultural abandonment (2030) in MRLs such as Austrian Alps, Sumava – Cesky Les, Drôme Valley, Northern Apennines and Southern Romanian Carpathian Mountains. It also revealed high levels of soil erosion, in the present, in some areas of Betic Systems and Cordilheira Central MRLs, among others. Regarding, rainfall erosivity, the data showed that in MRLs such as Maciço Noroeste, Stara Planina and Swiss Alps there are areas where it is expected to increase substantially, between the present and 2050. This analysis also exposed that some areas within Cordilheira Central and Slovak Carpathian Mountains MRLs have suffered from high forest disturbance severity, in the recent past.
Although the output of this work is not reported in any Deliverable, it was essential to support subsequent tasks of the project and will also play a key role in upcoming analysis

The 23 Reference Regions (RRs) studied in MOVING span over 16 countries (https://www.moving-h2020.eu/reference-regions/), representing different contexts. Although no in depth cross-analysis was made, it is possible to draw some knowledge from the systematization of information about the farming and forestry systems existing in the selected RRs.
Forests are the dominant land cover across the RRs, and most regions have high to very high tree densities. In many of the RRs there was an increase of the forest cover over the last decade, but the majority had a decrease in tree density. In RRs from southern countries (Sierra Morena, Cordilheira central, Corsica, Crete, Maciço Norte and Betic Systems), forest stands are more scattered and shrublands and grasslands have a bigger expression. 
Despite the cultural and local relevance of shepherding and small-scale farming in the RRs, generally, agricultural cover is relatively small at the RR scale. Heterogeneous agricultural areas make most of the agricultural cover, followed by arable land and pasture. Permanent crops are particularly important in Crete and Betic System, whereas the Transdanubian Mountain has the highest cover of arable land. 
Mountain regions face similar threats and challenges. However, they have context specific dynamics, that can determine farming and forestry systems. Identifying these processes can provide important intel when designing policy recommendations.

The Inventory of Mountain Value Chains describes 454 value chains (VCs) and covers all European mountain regions located in the EU Member States and associated countries. It provides a broad overview of the diversity of 'mountain' VCs configurations to analyse the dynamics and interaction of human beings with the geomorphological and biophysical factors that characterise mountain areas (e.g., high altitude, steepness, remoteness, diversity of ecosystems, landscape characteristics). The VCs included are different, there are those based on circular bio-economy processes, ecosystem service provision, innovative governance methods, novel market strategies, and digital innovations, as well as those engaged in the enhancement of local resources based on culture and local knowledge. To develop the inventory, first a list of mountain VCs was made then the VCs were characterized considering (i) local material and non-material assets (e.g., land use, landscape amenities, cultural knowledge) they rely upon, (ii) main human actors managing these resources, (iii) current (predicted) challenges VCs are (will be) confronted with in face of the foreseen climatic, socioeconomic, and demographic trends. According to the participatory approach of the project, the data collection template was tested by three partners. After incorporating the pilot suggestions, each partner involved in the inventory was asked to collect data and information for twenty mountain VCs in their respective countries. The data collected were provided by the partners through a combination of desk analysis and expert opinions.

Inspired by the citizen-science approach, the Participatory Theory Building (PTB) aims at improving the Conceptual and Analytical Framework (CAF) by refining its concepts and grounding them into practice. The PTB advances the CAF so to make it able to describe and interpret the diversity of mountain VCs and assess their contribution to the sustainability and resilience of mountain areas and population. For this co-learning process, two workshops were organised, involving MOVING partners to collect inputs to: i) define the CAF's boundaries, and b) clarify some essential cocepts. The feedbacks collected were used to refine the concepts and ground the CAF in the stakeholders’ empirical knowledge while strengthening the learning process within the consortium. 
The most relvant outcomes of the first two PTB exercises pertain the concepts of resilience and sustainability (the CAF must look for analytical procedures combining the systemic approach with the analysis of potential trade-off between them); conducive policy environment (the CAF must consider both the regulatory as well as the implementation of policies); and VCs' specifities. In this regard, the current categorization of ‘local’ or ‘global’ is based on i) the amount of value distributed to local actors, and ii) the specificity of local resources used – conceived as territorial capital - and actors in the value chains which depend on the degree of control actors can have on the resource, processes, and governance of the value chain.

Our Value Chain (VC) is Speyside Malt Whisky. Within the Mountain Reference Landscape (MRL) there are 28 distilleries; and Speyside has the largest concentration of Scotland's 130 distilleries. Our MRL falls almost exclusively in Cairngorms National Park (CNP) - the UK’s largest National Park. Malt Whisky requires several inputs - natural resources including malted barley and wood for the barrels, as well as moutain sourced water, which is vulnerable to climate change and competition from other sectors; built, economic and human capitals. Scotch Malt Whisky marketing uses symbolic and cultural references to remote and romantic mountain areas. The main mountain VC practices are: production of the inputs – i.e. water; processing – this has several steps (mash, fermentation, distillation, and maturation for at least 3 years) which mainly takes place within the MRL; distribution and marketing is generally carried out by the head offices of the parent companies and includes global exports; and consumption that takes place globally, but also consumers visit the MRL for whisky tours and festivals. Visiting distilleries as a tourism activity is increasing and has become part of the National Park’s strategy for promoting local food and drink tourism. Input actors are diverse; however, the processing and distribution parts of single malt production is highly consolidated with two international corporations dominating in the MRL. Consumption is highly distributed across actor types and spaces. Transport and energy infrastructure actors are important to the VC, and the industry is both highly regulated and protected through its PGI status. The industry is innovative and committed to Net Zero, making it an interesting place-based VC.

Reference region is Beydaglari which has two towns, Elmalı and Korkuteli. Elmalı is a town with largest greenhouses tomato production. Greenhouse tomato cultivation has been carried out in Elmalı since 2000. The suitability of climatic conditions such as daylight intensity and temperatures has led to the development of greenhouse cultivation.The greenhouse tomato cultivation starts in Beydaglari when the production ends in the regions with the lower altitudes. Thus, domestic and export demands can be met throughout the year. The greenhouse tomato cultivation is important for the local economy. In the current situation, the fact that greenhouse tomato production is profitable enhances farmers' interest in greenhouse cultivation. In the region, investments in greenhouse agriculture are expanding. The highland greenhouse cultivation is important in the region, as it promotes effective use of regional sources, increases the income of people, and creates employment, thus reduces migration from rural areas. The region is vulnerable to problems such as drought due to climate change. Irrigation problems have started in the region and are expected to increase in the near future. The availability of irrigation is critical for the greenhouse tomato production. Necessary measures against the negative effects of climate change have to be taken. Also, high input costs, crop diseases and labour shortages are the other challenges for greenhouse tomato production. MOVING project will help to raise awareness about economic, social and environmental challenges which affect the sustainability of greenhouse production and will develop policies.

Tête de Moine cheese is made in nine regional dairies in accordance with the PDO specifications. Not less than 70% of the cows’ feed ration must originate from the farm or from adjoining communal pastures on which the cattle must be kept for at least 120 days. Farmers, cheesemakers and ripening experts work with the most modern equipment, but in accordance with traditional craftsmanship. For exemple: silage feed is prohibited. The ripening period begins after the salt-water bath, when the cheese loaves are stored for at least 75 days on spruce boards in the PDO geographical area, during which time they are regularly tended by automated machines. A procedure known as “taxation” (quality control and approval) is carried out every month in the cellars, during which the cheese is evaluated in accord to strict criteria. Tête de Moine PDO is not cut, but pared into “rosettes” with a Girolle or a similar device. This is an important innovation which favoured the selling of the cheese: between the introduction of the Girolle in 1982 and the creation of the PDO in 2001 the volumes increase from 20 to 1600 tons. This trend will probably continue as there is still a significant pool of milk production in the PDO region. Nevertheless, grass can be vulnerable to climate change and producers are aware that the value chain will have to cope with these constraints and also with a strong societal demand for a higher proportion of grass in the cows’ ration. Among the strategies identified to foster resilience: to keep the professions (breeder, cheesemaker) attractive to new generations; to promote fodder and water storage; to strengthen the link with local resources, particularly wooded pastures; to develop synergies with other sectors, such as tourism and culture.

The value chain of organic mountain grain in the canton of Grisons is managed by the Gran Alpin cooperative, which is the focus of our study. Arable farming has become rare in the mountains, while livestock rearing remains the predominant production system. However, Gran Alpin provides a prime example of the diversification of traditional farming practices at high altitudes. This diversification enhances the ecological, socio-cultural and economic value of the region in a way that is enriching for the farmers and many actors. By focusing on organic certification, high quality and diversity of grain varieties (barley, rye, oat, buckwheat...), market demand for Gran Alpin products exceeds current production. Our research to date has shown that availability of site-appropriate seeds, management of the value chain and processing facilities, and current support for livestock production in the region are the main factors holding back grain production on farms. The reasons for success so far have been identified as the cooperative's drive, partnerships with local processors and retailers, and premium pricing through organic and regional branding. The challenges of marketing are taken on by the cooperative on behalf of the farmers, which reduces the effort needed to increase grain production or even start it in the first place. We believe that this value chain shows that plant-based value chains in the mountains combined with livestock farming are visionary and that innovative cooperative projects can accelerate development by combining traditional approaches reinvented for current trends.

The region of Hoya de Huesca is a transition zone between the pre-Pyrenean mountains and the Ebro valley. About half of the province’s surface is flat and occupied by intensive arable crops, mainly cereals, and animal breeding. A newly reborn mountain wine value chain is now in its first development stages. It is linked to the landscape of Ayerbe/ Loarre, the Pyrenees foothills, north-west of Huesca. Progressive depopulation and labour shortage have pushed farmers towards a dominant grain monoculture system, though not competitive at national and global scale. Vineyards were progressively abandoned to make room for less demanding crops. Recently, some farmers decided to replant vineyards in the area, taking advantage of climate change. Viticulture and wine production remain marginal for Huesca, but it is the only farming activity that grants sufficient income to farmers and may help the social revival of villages currently experiencing depopulation. The vineyards of the region are included in the GI Ribera del Gállego/Cinco Villas, representing about 4% of the Aragon vineyards, total surface of each is over 30.000 ha. The peculiarity of this reborn wine region is the absence of external investors, while the initiative relays on few entrepreneurial local or neo-rural producers, engaged in regaining native varieties to cultivation, gathering actors along the entire value chain, setting synergies with tourism and creating quality brands for the development of the whole territory. The community interaction is a main feature of the value chain. The main risks for viticulture in the area, in coming decades, are linked to further temperatures increase, drought, and physical soil degradation.

Dehesa is a unique multi-functional agroforestry system of the Iberian Peninsula, covering 2.3 million hectares in Spain where Iberian ham (Jamon Ibérico) is produced. Traditional Iberian pig grazing is one of the key dehesa activities and Iberian ham is the value chain with the highest value-added final product (up to 242 euros/kg). Traditional practices and know-how shape this production. In order to obtain a final high-quality product, three conditions are required: 1) specific Iberian pig breed, 2) pigs freely grazed in the dehesa, and 3) pigs fed with acorns (nuts from holm oaks) and pastures. Such features highly contribute to the resilience and sustainability of the dehesa and the related territories. In order to ensure the traceability and the high-quality of the Iberian ham value chain, the Iberian ham Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) Los Pedroches has been created, at Los Pedroches region, in the Sierra Morena Mountains in the Province of Cordoba (Andalusia, Spain). This PDO has been a key opportunity for the valorisation of the natural, social, and cultural capitals of the territory. The challenge is how to support this value chain, which represents a small niche in the national ham production, and it is also threatened by challenges such as climate change. Some practical recommendations are: 1) professionalization of the value chain (skill upgrading), 2) better marketing differentiation strategies, 3) consumer awareness of the value of the dehesa and the qualities of the Iberian ham, 4) public infrastructures (slaughterhouse), 5) tree rejuvenation, and 5) updated policies and governance approaches for the holistic and integrated management of the dehesa and the value chain.

Mountain olive groves represent a high percentage of European olive groves. In Andalusia, Europe's main olive oil-producing region, they account for a quarter of the total. The area has many common problems threatening its survival such as low productivity, difficult mechanisation, and high production costs. At the same time, they are crops that provide ecosystem services.
This symbiosis is very notable in the case of olive groves located in protected natural areas such as the Sierras Subbéticas Cordobesas. This is where ADEGUA (https://adegua.com), within the MOVING project, analyses the value chain of organic olive oil produced in these mountains, considering this production system as a strategy that combines a commitment to conservation with the valorisation of the product.
Some solutions are proving to be valuable alternatives to solve some of the main problems that this type of management entails. On the one hand, collaboration between livestock farmers and olive growers to graze flocks of sheep during the spring, clearing the pasture and fertilising the soil at the same time. On the other hand, promoting the reuse of by-products such as olive leaves for incorporation into the soil and using the alperujo (a by-product of the extraction process) to make compost and contribute to the soil. Finally, the design of cooperation schemes between the administration of the Natural Park and the small owners of these olive groves, providing mutual support linked to the role played by this type of management in combating erosion and preventing fires.

Honey from Slovak mountain areas sold directly from the beekeeper is a highly appreciated product by local and other Slovak consumers. This product, as well as the way it is produced and sold, contributes to rural incomes, fulfills a "farm-to-fork" vision, builds trust between producers and consumers, and makes rural mountain areas more attractive to visitors. Like other areas, the Slovak mountains are also affected by climate change. To this are added lifestyle changes related to demographic and land-use changes. Preliminary results of the MOVING H2020 project, obtained by social scientific methods, confirm that beekeepers and other relevant actors perceive the significant impact of these changes on the quality of bee grazing. Factors such as drought, rising average temperature, abnormal temperature fluctuations, and extremes in heavy rains and heat waves are perceived as the main consequences of climate change. Consequently, the bee pasture biodiversity is negatively impacted, and plant composition can change and affect pollen and nectar plants' flowering period and duration. The actors of honey value chain agree that the land management practices impact bee health. The nature friendly management in agriculture and forests are favourable not only for honey production but also for protection of bees as essential pollinators in the landscape. 
In this context, results reveal that it is crucial to support the maintenance of mountain pastures and meadows, adapt agrotechnical practices suitable for bee grazing, avoid pesticide use in agriculture, and keep autochthonous flowering species in rural gardens.

Sjenica sheep is an autochthonous breed of the Pester plateau, adapted to its harsh climate. Plateau is in the Western Serbia Dinaric Mountains (Zlatar – Pester group), at the border with Montenegro and BIH. 
Sjenica sheep is characterised by high quality meat, good milk yields and fine wool. Sjenica Lamb Meat and the two interconnected products – Sjenica Cheese and Stelja (preserved meat) are registered as Protected Designation of Origin (PDO).
The Sjenica Lamb VC with its nomadic, extensive breeding is deeply rooted in the tradition of the region (first written records are from 16th century). Sheeps are grazed on natural pastures, using traditional seasonal “katun”, for at least 6 months (May-October). Parts of the Pester plateau used for grazing belong to the Ramsar and other natural protected areas, rich in medical and aromatic plants. During winter, sheeps are fed with hay and small percentage of mostly locally grown grains (up to 5%). 
The Sjenica lamb VC analysis showed that high reputation of the three interconnected VCs is not yet valorised. Weak linkages between producers and absence of functional groups create space for intermediaries, who take the added value outside of the region. Shortening the VCs would exclude them, being the first step for bringing back the added value to the region.
Different community initiatives and projects linking rural development and adding value to the products, would contribute to VC improvement. Innovations (innovative usage of wool, breeding centres, IT solutions, etc.), specialized producer group creation, specifically targeted and tailor made marketing strategies, could bring new strength and effectiveness to the current VCs. The focus should be on supporting young people who still remain in the area.

The Piatra Craiului National Park and surrounding area are part of the Southern Romanian Carpathians. The area has a unique mountain landscape dominated by a 25 km long limestone ridge, mixed forest and a patchwork of small farms that is highly appreciated nationally and internationally. However, it is also a fragile landscape and vulnerable ecosystem that is under growing pressure. The traditional rural identity is increasingly eroded by an urbanised form of over-development which is tending to discourage more discerning visitors. A major challenge now is how to promote and manage the growth of tourism in a way that continues to provide economic benefits for local people without risk of negative impact upon the valuable natural assets of the region.

One solution is the development and adoption of alternative forms of tourism that can contribute to the sustainable development of local communities, while protecting the local biodiversity, landscape, and cultural heritage. Ecotourism is a form of tourism where the main motivation of the tourist is to observe and enjoy both nature (landscape and biodiversity) and the traditional local customs, including food. Such an approach is well-suited to the sustainable development of local rural economies and the Zărneşti – Piatra Craiului region is one of ten ‘eco-destinations’ certified and promoted by Association of Ecotourism in Romania (www.eco-romania.ro/en/eco-destinations/zarnesti-piatra-craiului/). 

The MOVING project (www.moving-h2020.eu/) is studying the main characteristics of the ecotourism value chain in the region and will make recommendations for enhancing its contribution to sustainable local development.

Douro was the first Protected Denomination of Origin, PDO, wine area to be defined and ruled at world level. In the Douro estern sub-region, the Alto Douro Vinhateiro, viticulture faces more stringent constrains linked to steep slopes and specific climatic conditions. Viticulture is practiced on terraces built with schistous stones, hosting only 1 or 2 lines of grapevine each, fact that limits mechanization and increases labour costs. The beauty of the landscape, mainly built by viticulture, led UNESCO to declare the Alto Douro Vinhateiro a World Heritage Cultural and Evolving Landscape. In the area of Vila Nova da Foz Côa, South Eastern part of Alto Douro, the landscape is even more complex and intertwined with almonds, olive groves and large part of shrubs and woods. In this area, viticulture is now regaining importance after decades of decline. The typical wines produced here are Barca velha and other white wines. They are processed by few small-holders, a cooperative cellar and by an increasing number of large companies, based in the Western and more developed area of the PDO region. Foz Côa valley was also acknowledged by Unesco as World Heritage as ”the most important open air Palaeolithic rock art site”, creating quite a unique situation of 2 UNESCO acknowledgments in the same area. This increases the touristic potential of the area, whose attractiveness is based on the viticulture landscape, the Paleolithic engraves and the possibility to practice several leisure activities. The main hindering factor for the development of the rural area is depopulation, due to lack of qualified job opportunities, infrastructures and services. The recent investments of large wine companies do not significantly increase the added value that stays in the area.

Serra da Estrela cheese is on of the most recognized cheeses in Portugal. It follows strict specifications in order to earn its Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), that recognizes the strong link between products and the place in which they are made. Not only the milk and cheese have to be produced within the designated area, the cheese is made exclusively with milk from native sheep breeds – Bordaleira Serra da Estrela and Churra Mondegueira – and submitted to a sensorial test before being certified.
Considering this production requirements, but also its value in the local history and culture, the connection between the cheese and Serra da Estrela is undeniable. The introduction of innovations such as improved pastures and fences, and advances in livelihoods, have changed how the value chain interacts with the region at its core – the landscape. Fewer sheep and shepherds and the abandonment of transhumance mean the use of permanent and altitude pasture is disappearing in favour of foothill grazing. The mountain’ landscape is degrading (or at the very least, changing) while the value chain of the cheese thrives.
EU’s geographic indications alone are not enough to have a clear territorial connection between product and landscape. If maintaining the landscape and its associated services and benefits is a goal, it needs to exist incentives to use it. Shepherds ought to be financially compensated for using altitude pastures as a service they are paying, and their life quality needs to be secured. This could be through municipal cooperation in organizing shepherds so that they don’t have to spend a whole season in altitude, providing network coverage and shelters.

The Maleshevski Mountains cover the municipalities of Berovo and Pehchevo. They are known for their outstanding natural and cultural value, and rural tourism here has a long tradition. Main key practices in Malesevski mountains region are: Development of rural tourism through target groups – mountainous social activities; Specific regional traditional and agricultural food products offers – local businesses; Employment of young people especially in the tourism sector; Including the environmental aspect among the social and economic. Key economic values/outcomes are: Increasing the workforce in the tourism sector, increasing the number of ecotourism start-ups, integrating regional companies into the tourism value chain, development of green economy. Key socio-cultural values/outcomes are: Improving social life among young generations, involvement of women in the activities, increasing mountain bike matches, restaurants visits, hiking tours, cultural landmarks visits, traditional caterings and specialties, reduced rate of unemployment and migration in the region. Key environmental values/outcomes are: Experience- sharing for agro-forestry eco values, reducing CO2 emissions/pollution in the region, reduced resource consumption, reduced amount of waste, supporting eco-restaurants, use of regional agroforestry species to make other plant based products, Informations about forest management activities, floral and faunal diversity of the region and wildfires prevention.

Italy is among the world's leading producers and exporters of chestnuts. Chestnut groves represents 7.53% of the national forest and covers about 780,000 ha. After several decades of total abandonment - in Tuscany alone, there are estimated to be around 17,000 ha. of abandoned chestnut trees - recently a renewed interest in this cultivation has emerged. Chestnut is indeed an important multipurpose tree species for its resistant wood and its edible fruits. Its flour has been the main source of food for entire populations, it has deep roots in the Tuscany rural tradition and history. Specifically in Alta Versilia, the production of chestnut flour still follows traditional methods: the harvesting and selection of the fruit are done manually, and the slow drying process takes place in small buildings with stone slab roofs, called metato. Traditionally, each family had its own metato; today, the same building is used collectively. The community interactions, the high quality of the flour with high demand compared to the scarce supply and the relatively good price (up to 15 €/kg) make the value chain of chestnut flour in Alta Versilia an opportunity for the valorisation of the unique set of natural, social, and cultural capitals that characterise the territory. Therefore, the challenge is to increase the production of flour, starting with reducing the abandonment of the chestnut tree and managing the process in structured way, without losing the traditional taste. There are some local business associations that are trying to lead this change, introducing some innovations in the marketing strategies (e.g., new packaging, use of social networks) and a more organised system.

Viticulture in Trentino has a long tradition and in the last decade both the area involved and the notoriety of the wines (especially Trento Protected Denomination of Origin-DOC), sparkling wine obtained with the champenois method, but also several autochthonous wines, both white and red, vinified with the normal method) kept increasing. Viticultural production is essentially based on small producers, often with areas of about 1ha, who supply the grapes to cooperative wineries or private groups. The amount of grape directly processed by smallholders is increasing but still a limited share. In all cases, the wines produced are placed in a medium-high range of the market. As a result of climate change, viticulture has begun to move to the highest slopes of the Trentino valleys, reaching 900 m, where some pioneers have begun to cultivate resistant vines (PIWI), often adapting the winemaking method. They were followed by the more structured farms in the lower valley which identified the most suitable areas for the cultivation of the standard varieties. The work carried out by larger companies can also benefit small winemakers, who can profit from the infrastructures and knowledge developed by the former. Cultivation in the mountains poses some problems, such as water availability, the management of soil fertility, especially in terms of organic matter, the management of pests and diseases with different cycles from the valley floor. Unlike other mountain areas, Trentino agriculture manages to maintain a relatively good profitability even for smallholders, especially thanks to viticulture, the connection with tourism and transversal collaboration.

Dairy production is historically rooted in Alto Molise. It connects local economic actors, such as breeders, shepherds, cheesemakers, suppliers of goods and services, local institutions that give access to common pastures, and the tourism sector due to winter and rural tourism. Cheesemaking is an artisanal craft that is often passed down through generations. The cheesemakers rely mostly on raw milk from local breeders. The typical products are mainly the Caciocavallo and the stracciata. The marketing strategy connects the dairy productions with Alto Molise's traditions and local natural resources. The distribution is usually towards the local dairy farm shop, specialty shops, large-scale distribution and e-commerce. Consumption is mostly local for fresh cheese products; aged products are sold at national and international level. The main cheesemakers promote innovation by creating new products, innovative marketing strategies, implementing new packaging to increase products' shelf life and investing in digital technology (i.e software for sales and warehouse management). The findings indicate that there is a level of activity and employment that allows a part of the population to remain in the area (despite the depopulation trend), as well as a revival of cultural tradition and heritage, and a valorization of natural resource conservation.Interventions in raw material quality linked to milk price, based on pasture resources, should be supported. The assemblage of the dairy value chain with tourism and meat production, in sustainable ways, can boost product awareness and income diversification, but investments in infrastructure, as well as reinforcing joint milk/meat farming methods are needed.

Cold Mountain Shelter is a growing community of young, educated environmentally conscious lifestyle migrants. They live mostly off grid, with sustainable solutions for energy and water management, producing food through permaculture, forest agriculture, contour farming, extensive animal husbandry, etc. Nevertheless, their main ‘products’ are in knowledge economy as they are developing a complex, organic, lived-knowledge-base on sustainable livelihoods. They organise courses, events, exhibitions in permaculture, orcharding, sustainable water/energy management, construction and community building. Through a nation-wide association of lifestyle migrants (All-goes-together Association) they participate in creating an online platform to share environmental- and community friendly technology (both innovative and traditional) organising a yearly festival and helping to develop local and regional nods of environmentally conscious communities. Their activities are relevant for land use, saving and creating environmental and community values, and it is an excellent example of how a conscious and powerful community can create and spread knowledge about resilience and sustainability. They innovate, combine traditional knowledge with technology, creating completely new frameworks and patterns, showing an alternative, and real life solutions for some of the most important problems of our times, representing an important socio-economic trend, spreading fast in developed countries.

Carob cultivation contributed to the sustainability of the rural areas of Rethymno for centuries. The farming practices used for its cultivation have been under threat from the subsidized olive monoculture, the low price of carob and the abandonment of village life in the past decades. More recently, there are signs of carob’s revival because of its nutritional value and local carob flour’s use in the production of innovative, yet culturally resonant products that are gaining market space. The local carob pod production and processing businesses face challenges in meeting the market demands, offering unique quality and ensuring the trust of consumers in the face of foreign competition. Obstacles include systematic carob cultivation and processing due to lack of knowledge and support for the farmers and mills, the complicated national and regional regulatory context and the fluctuations of carob’s price in international markets. Carob’s higher prices in recent years and its resilience to climatic change may provide renewed opportunities for carob cultivation and its expansion in the higher altitudes of Rethymno. The development of more cohesive relationships in the carob community will benefit farmers and agricultural businesses by co-creating knowledge and wider synergies among the stakeholders, while maintaining commitment to environmental, economic and cultural sustainability of the mountainous and semi-mountainous villages and landscapes. Communal deliberation may also provoke a review of Crete’s rural development strategic plans.

The sheep meat value chain is fully integrated in the Drôme mountainous context because of its extensive model. The value and the quality of the final product are expressed by the healthy environment in which the animal grew up, the resources it was fed with and the easy accessibility of the slaughtering and processing sites. Almost all lambs are raised on grass: the animals are left free or semi-free range in their natural environment for most of the year. The marketing of the lambs is mainly done by direct sale or in local food network, and a small part via a cooperative. The lambs are sold by carcass or half carcass, an approach that allows to value the whole animal. The pastoral activity of the sector produces a large number of positive externalities through the management of natural areas and the regulation of the environment. However, the sector is facing many problems: drought and rising temperatures are impacting the quality of grassland resources and making it difficult to supply water to the mountain pastures. The phenomenon of predation is today the main concern for breeders. Finally, land use conflicts lead to new sources of tension between local actors. Different strategies have been identified to ensure the viability of the sector: support and accompany pastoral groups (PG); develop undergrowth grazing; raise awareness of the predation context and the fortify cohabitation with livestock activities in the mountains; promote synergies with the tourism sector.

The "farina castagnina" Value Chain (VC), in PDO since 2010, is the result of the revival of an activity at the heart of the old food system of Corsica. The chestnut grove covers an area of 35,000 ha and has around fifty varieties. The valorization of flour gave an institutional and commercial existence to chestnut farming. In 2019, there were 69 castaneiculturists, 3 millers and 55 processors on the island (combining production, dryer, oven and mill). Before the arrival of the cynips desease, the production of PDO flour varied from 110 to 200 tonnes for a declared area of 700 ha. The VC takes advantage of a demanding and remunerative market that retains the features of a mountain domestic activity (direct sales, interpersonal networks, fairs, local stores, e-commerce). In addition, the chestnut grove is a resource for 4 other PDOs (Lonzu, Prisuttu, Coppa, Mele di Corsica) and for other productive and non-productive activities (timber, education, tourism, development, etc.). However, the strong mobilization of the ecosystem is not enough to deal with old and new vulnerabilities (abandonment, aging trees, diseases and climate change). The challenges are to maintain or even increase the orchards in the project area (renovation, planting), to consolidate the production of PDO flour, to identify the strategies and conditions (technical and organizational) for the coexistence of the different uses of trees and orchards. It is expected that a device combining the production of knowledge and the establishment of management rules will be set up in the Mountain Reference Landscape, bringing together VC operators, local elected officials, associations and institutions involved (Regional Natural Park of Corsica, regions and consulars).

Extensive cattle breeding and beef production is a traditional and widespread method of land use in the Šumava mountains. Like other regions, Šumava is also affected by global climate change, which is affecting agricultural production there. These are the main reasons for choosing the beef production value chain for the MOVING project. The specificities of the researched area in the context of agricultural production include the small number of farms with a relatively large farmed area, the lack of small landowners due to historical development, the historical interdependence with the original state-owned farms and the necessary cooperation with the Šumava National Park. In our research on beef production in Šumava mountains, we found that only a minority of farmers have so far managed to develop the beef production value chain from cattle breeding, through slaughtering and processing to direct sales to customers. However, within this practice (compared to the sale of stocker cattle), the greatest value added remains in the locality. One of the outputs of the project is therefore to identify barriers to the spread of this production method among other farmers in the locality. At the same time, by using examples of good practice, the project can help to promote integrated beef production within the locality among other actors. Another output of the project is to assess the different interests of the key actors using the Šumava mountain areas (farmers, tourists and the Šumava National Park) and to try to find a balance between these interests with regard to the further development of the Šumava mountain areas.

The Western Stara Planina (WSP) region of Bulgaria is one of 23 mountain value chain case studies in the H2020 MOVING project (https://www.moving-h2020.eu/). It is characterised by low input extensive agriculture and the majority of farmland in the region is considered as High Nature Value (HNV). Over many years, traditional farming practices have created and maintained a diverse range of semi-natural habitats for valuable plant and animal species, many of which are protected by international conventions.

Well-designed public policies, especially EU-funded rural development measures, have great potential to reduce the loss of HNV farmland in the WSP and to maintain the supply of biodiversity-related public goods. For example, HNV grasslands were eligible for agri-environmental payments under the 2007-2013 and 2014-2020 Bulgarian Rural Development Programmes. Nonetheless, the supply of these public goods continues to be at risk due to various factors and much greater attention needs to be given to more integrated and innovative approaches that address the profitability and overall socio-economic viability of the traditional HNV farming systems in the region. 

This is a complex task for Bulgarian policymakers. Effective interventions must be designed, targeted and implemented to ensure complementarity, coherence and consistency around common objectives. Wide consultation with relevant stakeholders is therefore essential, as is the “watchdog” role of civil society organisations such as the Society for Territorial and Environmental Prosperity (STEP). 

For more information see: https://www.step-bg.bg/en and https://www.arc2020.eu/bulgarias-cap-strategic-plan-backsliding-on-natu…

Sheep farming has a long tradition in Austrian mountainous areas in order to graze the steep areas, and to gain meat, milk and wool, but after WW2 sheep products continuously lost relevance. Some farmers from the region of Weiz joined forces in the 1970s to foster a revival of sheep farming against the trend of cattle that traditionally graze the mountain pastures in this region. Like in other parts of Austria, sheep husbandry is practiced on an extreme small scale - only 25 sheep in average. This makes the processing and marketing of the sheep products very time-consuming for the single farm, direct sale is not very attractive. On the other hand, single farms do not have the capacity to supply to retailers, and they have a weak position in price negotiations. Thus a cooperative was founded, which established its own brand for premium lamb, dairy products and recently cosmetics from whey as well. The cooperative uses the LEADER programme since 25 years on the one hand to develop further, but on the other hand also to achieve an optimal embedding in the regional development. It runs its own dairy with meat processing facilities and a shop, it is shareholder of the local slaughter house, and organises the marketing and sale of all food products and cosmetics, and organises educational programmes. Only the marketing of wool is not covered. Nearly all value chain activities take place within the region, and the products are sold regionally or at most in the province of Styria through various channels ranging from direct sale at the cooperative’s shop, to farm shops, small local retailers, gastronomy, supermarkets and e-commerce. The cooperative does not only create favourable framework conditions for the farmers, but also sets the basis for continuous high quality and sustainable growth.