Agridea

Research projects

AGRIDEA has taken part in Research and Development projects related to Geographical Indications and collective differentiation strategies for agricultural and food products. Some of the projects are closed; others are still going on. Being a research competence pool on the subject, AGRIDEA has been able to develop advice tools for producers and their organisations, institutions and policy makers in order to set up and implement innovations (such as GI registration) in agro-food supply chains.

  •  FOCUS-BALKANS (Food Consumer Science in the Balkans)

Frameworks, Protocols and Networks for a better knowledge of food behaviours.

FOCUS-BALKANS aims at improving the competencies and understanding in the field of consumer food science in the Western Balkan countries (WBC). The scientific results of the research will make important contribution to the supply chains communication, consumer awareness and protection. It gathers 15 partners from Western and South Estaern Europe, gathering research centers and universities, associations, smes and market research company. There are three main activities: develop the competences and understanding of public organisations, private enterprises and NGOs in the WBC countries regarding food consumer science (training) ; develop a network of universities, institutes, high schools, consumer organisations, NGOs and private enterprises active in the field of food consumer science that are able to develop joint-research activities (networking) ; have a better understanding of food consumers in the WBCs, through market and consumer studies on products with positive nutritional properties (fruits and health / diet foods) and / or sustainability (organic and traditional food products).

FOCUS-BALKANS web-site: http://www.focus-balkans.org

 INSIGHT (Strengthening Innovation Processes for Growth and Development)

The aim of the IN-SIGHT project is to identify success factors in innovation systems and processes. The situation and dynamics in innovations systems and processes in seven European countries will be examined and a representative set of in-depth studies carried out. The project will use individual case examples in order to illustrate best practices. Recommendations for further research agenda as well as public policies at regional, national and European level will conclude the project. The direct involvement of relevant institutions and stakeholders in the research process is a key feature of the IN-SIGHT project. Concerning agriculture, the project will focus on innovations related to products and agricultural marketing. INSIGHT started in 2006 and ended in december 2008.

 INSIGHT web-site: http://www.insightproject.net/

  • SINER-GI ( Strengthening International Research on Geographical Indications. From research foundation to consistent policy)

SINER-GI is an EU funded project which started in 2005 and ended in 2008. The objective is to build and share a coherent scientific basis world-wide, regarding economic, legal, institutional and socio-cultural conditions of success of GIs in order to support their legitimacy in the framework of the WTO negotiations. It is done in an explicit international approach and will allow an enhanced knowledge and a better awareness among practitioners, policymakers and academics on the effects of geographical indications for agricultural products. SINER-GI intends to highlight the central role that GI products can play in: the viability of farms and food processing enterprises, the fight against poverty in marginal areas, the preservation of biodiversity and traditional knowledge systems as well as in fairness of trade issues.

SINER-GI web-site: http://www.origin-food.org

  • SUS-CHAIN (Marketing Sustainable Agriculture)

The aim of the SUS-CHAIN project was to analyse the potential role of new food supply chains in sustainable rural development. It was co-financed by the European Commission and ran from the beginning of 2003 until the middle of 2006. It brought together a multi-disciplinary team of sociologists, economists and marketing experts from seven leading European Universities which are active in the field of sustainable food production and marketing. In this context, AGRIDEA contributed to the development of an empirically grounded understanding of different experiences in enhancing the sustainability of agro-food chains. The results were drawn in several lessons that need to be born in mind when becoming involved in the (re)construction of sustainable food networks.

The book, Nourishing Network, Fourteen lessons about creating sustainable food supply chains, Rural Sociology Group, Wageningen University, Dirk Roep & Han Wiskerke Editors, presents the SUS-CHAIN findings and gives recommendations for practitioners and their supporters.

SUS-CHAIN web-site: http://www.sus-chain.org