Building up workshop - Čakovec

On the 2nd of November 2017 Regional Development Agency REDEA ltd. organized a workshop "Strengthening institutional capacity with the goal to establish short food supply chains". The workshop was held within the framework of the "AgriShort" project which main objective is to link the institutions, services and representatives of the agricultural sector in the cross-border area to enhance the transfer of knowledge and skills among stakeholders on the possibilities and importance of promoting the development of short food supply chains in the agri - food sector.
At the beginning of the workshop participants were welcomed by director from REDEA Mrs. Sandra Polanec Marinović, and after that welcoming speech was given by the county prefect of Međimurje County Mr. Matija Posavec. During his speech Mr. Posavec emphasized that the counties and municipalities should be initiators of change, and therefore Međimurje County wants to design a smart development policy and propose a range of solutions and opportunities to local manufacturers and small entrepreneurs, to generate systematic development activities and connections that should lead to sustainable development.
In the first part of the workshop, project manager Mrs. Valentina Hažić held an introductory lecture during which she presented the project "Establishing Short Food Supply Chains and Competitive Agricultural Sector in Cross-border Region through Institutional Cooperation" which is funded by Interreg V-A Hungary-Croatia Co-operation Programme 2014-2020. During her presentation, Mrs. Valentina Hažić emphasized the importance of short supply chains in the context of local development. Short food supply chains have the potential to increase overall economic activity, employment and competitiveness agri - food sector and in this way they can have a positive effect on the living standard in the local community. Mrs. Dušanka Gajdić from the Križevci College of Agriculture presented the results of the conducted research of agri - food sector and also recommendations of experts for the establishment of short food supply chains in the area of Koprivnica - Križevci and Međimurje County. At the end of the first part of the workshop, Head of the Sector for Rural Development Program Mrs. Željka Gudelj - Velaga presented the activities and measures that the Ministry of Agriculture undertakes to encourage the establishment of short food supply chains at the national level.
In the second part of the workshop, Professor of Food and Local Development at Coventry University of England, Mrs. Moya Kneafsey, held an interactive workshop during which attendees of the workshop had the opportunity to make a SWOT analysis on the topic regarding the proces of establishing short food supply chains in their region. The identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats were the starting point for development of an Action Plan, in which the participants presented their views and suggestions for establishing short food supply chains.
As part of the AgriShort project, two more specialized workshops will be held during the December, and in addition in November a study tour will be organized in Austria, where participants will have the opportunity to become more familiar with examples of good practice in the segment of establishing and operation of various models of short supply chains.

Photos taken at the event are available in the Gallery of the website.

Presentations of the Building up workshop can be downloaded from the "Downloads” menu of the website.