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Funding period
2014–20212021–2028

Showing all data for 2014–2021

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Completed

Uncorking rural heritage: indigenous production of fermented beverages for local cultural and environmental sustainability

University of Nova Gorica ·Multi-country

€1.4m
Grant awarded
EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Regional Cooperation
Programme
29 September 2020
Signed

About this project

<p><span style="font-size: 14px"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The project addresses the <strong>problems of rural depopulation, brain drain and underdeveloped local economies</strong> faced by rural regions in Central and Eastern Europe. Norway is one of the most developed countries in Europe, however, its rural areas face a similar out-migration problem as the districts of the partners countries <strong>Slovenia, Croatia and North Macedonia</strong>. On the other hand, in Western Europe high quality agricultural products (such as <strong>wine</strong>) with a strong regional identity have contributed to sustainable rural development, preserving traditions and preventing out-migration or company relocations. This regionality was based on the concept of typicality and terroir.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 14px"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Through this project we aim to help to the development of rural areas by <strong>improving common research capacity and knowledge dissemination</strong> applied to the “terroir” approach for wine and cider production in Balkan and Norway. It will strengthen local and transnational partnerships, shape territorial identity and awareness, and outline the guidelines for legislation formation in the field of <strong>traditional agricultural food products</strong> with targeted beneficiaries including <strong>producers, farmers, researchers, advisors, students, regional authorities and policy makers</strong>. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 14px"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Transnational cooperation will <strong>enable unique and essential multidisciplinary exchange</strong> of experience, conjunction of existing infrastructure, transfer of promising practices and common activities for this multilevel challenge.&nbsp;The success of this project will be assured with the <strong>excellent international team of different experts and institutions</strong> in the field of enology, viticulture, fruit growing, fruit processing, sensory evaluation of wine and other agricultural products, wine producers, higher education and vocational training institutions, extension services and landscape/cultural heritage architectures specialists.</span></span></p>

Bilateral cooperation results

The involvement of Norwegian partners in this project was distinctive and advantageous for all the collaborating partners who had opportunity to witness the inspiring narrative of the Association of Hardanger Cider Producers – a story that began with a small group of enthusiasts from Hardanger, who were in the beginning also supported by research enthusiasts from a young Wine research center in Slovenia. Hosting donor partners in beneficiary institutions and vice versa allowed beneficiary partners to gain a deeper understanding of Norway as a fruit and fermented beverage-producing country, as well as the comprehensive supporting institutions involved, such as NIBIO, NOFIMA, and the Hardanger Council. Producers of Cider from Hardanger, Nofima and NIBIO transferred knowledge about Nordic cider production and free application sensory programs to their partners and students and producers.

Project partners

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