Synergy Days is designed to celebrate and showcase European research projects that are transforming the European agri-food sector. Who are they, and how are they using digital technology to innovate the sector? We spoke to Futural to learn more about the project, its goals and journey.

 

 

What inspired the creation of your project? 

The inspiration for the FUTURAL project stems from a combination of pressing social and environmental challenges that rural areas in the EU are currently facing. These challenges include the need for sustainable development, technological advancement, and social innovation to improve the quality of life in these regions. Rural areas are characterised by immense diversity, both in terms of society and culture, but also in terms of geography and topography. FUTURAL is working to address challenges in rural areas, such as depopulation, brain drain, ageing population, limited connectivity and access to public infrastructures and services, and environmental conditions (extreme weather phenomena and other consequences of climate change). Our vision for resilient rural areas with a prosperous future, ignited the inspiration for our project.

Can you share some of the key milestones or successes your project has achieved to date?

The first key milestone was, of course, our kick-off meeting, which took place in June 2023, setting the stage for our initiatives and collaborations. The initiation of our Multi-Actor Pilots (MAPs) co-creating procedure was undoubtedly another significant milestone for our project, as it brought together diverse stakeholders to collaborate on innovative solutions. Additionally, the recent successful launch of our single Open Call, which aims to fund applicants to develop Smart Solutions (SS) tailored to address rural areas' challenges, was a pivotal achievement for our project. This Open Call represents one of the most important milestones, as it directly supports the development and implementation of impactful solutions in rural communities.

What innovative technologies or methods are you most excited about within your project?

Within FUTURAL, our Metasearch Platform and our Smart Solutions being under development include a diverse range of digital and advanced technologies, such as AI models and machine learning. We are excited for the Smart Solutions that have already progressed significantly over the last months, as they leverage cutting-edge technologies to create impactful, scalable innovations. Furthermore, we are eager to witness the next steps of the MAPs procedure, with the testing and the implementation of the SS in our pilot areas. The FUTURAL Metasearch Platform will provide enhanced capabilities for a unified SS search and access in all the EU-spoken languages.

In addition, our Multi-Actor Pilot (MAP) methodology fosters a collaborative environment where various stakeholders can co-create solutions. This collaborative approach ensures that the technologies and methods developed are well-suited to the real-world challenges faced by rural areas, practical, inclusive, and widely accepted.

What advice would you give to other innovators looking to make an impact in the agricultural / food sector through digital technologies? 

We consider the Multi-Actor Approach (MAA) to be the cornerstone of our methodology, ensuring that FUTURAL focuses on the real needs and challenges faced by the end users, specifically people in rural communities. MAA is a collaborative and participatory method that involves engaging a diverse range of stakeholders. Our MAPs have been established with this mindset and methodology. Therefore, our advice would be to engage as many stakeholders and actors as possible from the beginning, to address the actual needs and challenges of your target groups.

What is the added value of Synergy Days for your project? 

Synergy Days adds significant value to our project in several ways:

Collaboration and Networking: Synergy Days event facilitates connections with diverse stakeholders, fostering partnerships that can lead to collaborative projects and providing opportunities to engage with key players in the agri-food sector, including policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders.

Knowledge Sharing: The event encourages the sharing of best practices, innovative solutions, and research findings, enhancing the collective knowledge base. Through the organisation of workshops, we are able to showcase the project’s achievements to a wider audience and engage in discussions that provide valuable insights and new perspectives for our project.

Ecosystem Building: The event helps in the building of a vibrant ecosystem around FUTURAL by connecting various stakeholders and fostering a sense of community. It contributes to creating sustainable networks that support ongoing collaboration and innovation.

Want to meet them and learn more about the project? Join Futural at Synergy Days 2024! More details and how to register.