The above-average level and intensity of the food production and food processing sector in Pomurje and Vas County, is a challenge, and also an opportunity to employ innovative approaches, identify potentials in the regions, and to implement pilot and demo measures for the introduction of circular models of production in the food sector. This will contribute to better utilization of primary raw materials in both regions.

The activities of raising awareness, informing, advising, strengthening competences and transferring good practices will contribute to the increased enforcement of the principles of the circular economy and will encourage sustainable consumer habits. The key deficiency in both regions is low competence and poor education of stakeholders about the principles of the circular economy – both food producers and the supporting environment. This situation is the result of the absence of an adequate support environment with knowledge and skills in both regions that would promote the transition to a circular economy.

The general goal of the In2Local project is to establish such a supportive environment that will enable the introduction of sustainable models of food production and processing in Pomurje and Vas County, based on the principles of a circular economy. The supporting environment will be represented by 4 partner organizations that joined the In2Local project and already have experience in the field of circular economy and are in constant contact with relevant stakeholders. The project partners will map good practices, stakeholders, competences and material flows in Pomurje and Vas County. This will be followed by the preparation of an action plan for establishing a supportive environment with defined goals, activities and a timeline. During the project, the supporting environment will carry out individually designed trainings as part of a mobile living-lab for food producers and processors in both regions, thereby strengthening both the knowledge and skills of the users as well as their own capabilities.

With the aim of strengthening the competences of the support environment itself and the transfer of good practices for the supportive environment, training and study tours will be held through a collaborative approach, which will also have the effect of strengthening ties and trust between partner organizations.

In addition to the mobile living laboratory and trainings, the partners will address the identified challenges with a concrete demonstration of the introduction of a sustainable model in Pomurje and Vas County. The pilot solution will represent a model of data collection and exchange on production by-products, surplus stock and end-of-life products, and will connect surplus raw materials and semi-finished products with processors who will use these substances in their production and processing processes, thereby ensuring higher resource utilization and materially completed flows.

The supportive environment, which will be represented by all 4 partner organizations of the project and which will strengthen awareness and educate stakeholders in the field of circular economy, does not yet exist in the cross-border region and will be completely new with the described approach.

Project end date:

30.11.2025