About

The aim of FOOD ZONE project is to improve the green, blue, digital and entrepreneurship skills of owners and managers of food SMEs to build more sustainable, regenerative, inclusive and resilient enterprises, which in turn contribute to a more regenerative and resilient rural food and tourism ecosystem. The concrete development of regenerative food tourism experiences means building bridges between the education, agriculture, food and tourism sectors and applying the acquired knowledge in practise. In addition to skills development, the project aims to connect the broader food and tourism ecosystem and help foster innovation and sustainable change in the food tourism sector.

Project objectives

Support the development of green and blue skills, behavioural change and the upgrading of sustainable practises to regenerative practises as well as the development of regenerative food tourism;
Protect the environment through increased focus on regenerative agriculture and food production, sustainable use of resources (water, energy, etc.), respect for nature and biodiversity, including local species and rare food varieties;
Support the development for digital skills development among food tourism professionals and SME owners and managers;
Increase flexibility in Vocational Education and Training, provide new training opportunities and bridge the skills gap in the labour market by creating alliances between the (agri) food, tourism, education and culture sectors.

Target groups

Professionals (food SME, food start-ups, tourism (including hospitality, culture, heritage) professionals (primarily owners and managers);
Educators in vocational education and training, adult and higher education, active in (agri)food, tourism and hospitality, agriculture, SME support and culture); also vocational education and training students;
Vocational education and training, adult and higher education providers in food, tourism, hospitality, agriculture and culture;
Other organisations and SMEs (networks, associations, promoters etc. involved in education, culture, food and tourism (food start-up incubators, food networks and associations, local and regional food tourism companies etc.)
Associated partners, in particular NHL Stenden, The Netherlands