Practice Abstract - Research and innovation

Improving valorization of local agri-food products and mixed farming systems through agritourism (Network: Romania | IEA-AR, GAL-TP)

In Romania, MIXED collaborates with a group of farmers from the LAG Tinutul Posadelor territory. The farms are small holdings that traditionally are mixed systems with fruit trees, animals, pastures, hayfields and wild natural landscapes. However, these mixed farms are struggling to maintain profitability and are tempted to become more specialised with the consequence of losing the diversity of landscapes, biodiversity, and nature protection.
Given the beauty of the area with the mixed system in hills and mountains and various tourist attractions, agri-touristic farms and boarding houses have developed in the area lately, creating a demand for both local fresh products, and traditional specialties of on-farm processed fruit, vegetables, dairy and meat products.
With support from LAG-TP and inputs from IEA-AR and the MIXED project, the farmers are aiming to find solutions for improving the valorization of local agri-food products though agritourism and local processing micro-industry. There might be expected also a spillover effect from the production of more diversified high value products for agritourism local consumption to markets outside the area. However, for this to develop, branding and organization among farmers and value chain actors are necessary. The main lesson learned is that on-farm tourism activities support the mixedness and viability of the local farms, while improving and diversifying the valorisation of local agri-food products.
The challenge is to find solutions for implementation of an integrated economic system, that would bring together agritourism, mixed farming and local agrifood processing, that should meet economic, ecological, social and cultural criteria for sustainable development of the area
Source Project
MIXED - Multi-actor and transdisciplinary development of efficient and resilient MIXED farming and agroforestry systems
Ongoing | 2020-2025
Main funding source
Horizon 2020 (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
Geographical location
Denmark
Project details

Project Keywords