EIT Climate-KIC supports FoodCoP, strengthening regional collaboration to transform food systems

Press Releases 29 Nov 2024

Fundão, Portugal – 29 November, 2024 – The FoodCoP project has officially launched, marking the beginning of a new initiative to transform rural food systems across Europe. The European Union has recognised the growing need for sustainable growth in rural areas, where bioeconomy solutions hold significant potential to drive both long-term economic growth and environmental sustainability. The bioeconomy sector already contributes €2.2 trillion to the European economy and supports 17.5 million jobs. Projections show this could rise to €3 trillion by 2050, with the agri-food industry being a key driver of Europe’s green future. 

Aligned with these objectives, FoodCoP is building a network of “Startup Villages” across Europe. These are regions dedicated to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship to stimulate local economies – furthering the concept developed by the EU Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) and Gloucester University, and enlarging its reach. By developing shared resources and creating learning opportunities, this community of practice (CoP) will help these villages adopt circular bioeconomy practices that prioritise resource efficiency and waste reduction. This collaborative approach will strengthen the resilience of rural food systems, creating a model of sustainability that can be replicated across Europe.

Through community engagement, knowledge sharing, and place-based action, FoodCoP aims to make rural food systems more sustainable and self-sufficient. Focused on optimising resources, reducing food-related emissions and waste, and enhancing the economic resilience of rural communities, the project is committed to inspiring lasting improvements in food systems. By facilitating the exchange of best practices, FoodCoP aims to drive systemic change, ultimately leading to a more efficient and equitable food landscape and breaking the innovation divide between cities and rural communities.

Coordinated by the Municipality of Fundão, FoodCoP brings together 14 partners from 9 countries, including SMEs, Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) like EIT Climate-KIC, clusters, Startup Villages, universities, regional innovation networks, and research organisations. This diverse representation ensures broad outreach and active stakeholder involvement across Europe, essential to achieving the project’s objectives.Supported by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme, FoodCoP will run over the next 24 months.

EIT Climate-KIC plays a strategic role in the FoodCoP project as the Scientific Coordinator leading two work packages: Community Building and Mobilisation and Training, and Capacity Building. Concretely, the organisation will deliver activities such as sensemaking workshops, Climathons, and training programmes to empower Startup Villages and stakeholders with skills for implementing circular bioeconomy solutions and instilling best practices for successful implementation. Through its vast network, EIT Climate-KIC ensures impactful community mobilisation, capacity building, and knowledge exchange.

Elisa Von Fritsch, Project Assistant at EIT Climate-KIC: “This project is a key opportunity to drive innovation in rural communities by fostering collaboration and equipping stakeholders with the tools, knowledge and network to implement sustainable solutions and fostering entrepreneurship. At EIT Climate-KIC, we see FoodCoP as perfectly aligned with our broader strategic goals of enabling systemic change and empowering regions to thrive within a circular and green economy breaking the innovation divide.”

Learn more about startup villages

Contact Information: media@climate-kic.org 

About EIT Climate-KIC’s work on agri-food systems

EIT Climate-KIC is supporting farmers, policymakers, and industries across the agri-food sector in transitioning to sustainable practices, driving systemic change on the ground. Through our demonstration projects in Europe and beyond, we connect the dots between sustainable farming models, bridging urban-rural divides, and supporting agri-tech innovators, helping diverse coalitions accelerate the shift toward a healthier, more resilient food system for all.  

• Deep Demonstration of sustainable food systems in Ireland: together with 24 core partners, this €3.5 million programme is helping the country develop nation-wide carbon farming principles and monitoring methods; create a sustainable dairy business model that can be implemented across farms of different types and sizes; develop viable pathways and markets to valorise bio-based products; and help shape a 2050 vision for the whole sector at the intersection of farming, creativity, and policy.
• EU Carbon Farming Summit: EIT Climate-KIC is hosting an annual summit and leading a coalition to help the European Commission inform its upcoming Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming framework. 
• EU Mission Soil: EIT Climate-KIC is a partner in a range of projects and initiatives implementing the EU 2030 Mission ‘A soil deal for Europe’, including the establishment of 100 living labs to experiment soil health solutions.