Furkan Project

We bring town and village together to build the future of local food systems.

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Building the future together with our partners

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About the project Challenges and Objectives process Results and publications

About the project

Together, we are creating the future of local food.

The Urban and Rural Food Knowledge Ambassadors Network aims to support the transformation of the urban-rural food system, with a particular focus on small, local producers. By identifying key challenges in the food system of the municipality of Ostróda and co-designing future solutions, we aim to sow the seed of a new reality. This new reality will thrive through an inspiring network of knowledge ambassadors.

In the FURKAN project, we operate jointly and cross-sectorally, because the unique perspectives, knowledge and experiences of each group significantly enable a deeper understanding of potential future scenarios and their implementation.

The future must be shaped together. Limiting decision-making processes on the future of the region to a narrow group of decision-makers is unlikely to produce the expected results.

Challenges and Objectives

Supporting local communities and sustainable development

The aim of the project is to stimulate cooperation between the city of Ostróda and adjacent rural areas in order to support the development of a strong and sustainable market for local plant products. This initiative involves identifying existing challenges and developing effective solutions to identified environmental, quality and cooperation problems.

The project has the ambition to become a guide for sustainable practices in the region. In the long term, the main objective is to create a resilient local food ecosystem, which is to be achieved by disseminating knowledge and involving the local community in actions for the region.

Build a comprehensive picture of challenges in local food systems.
Analysis of challenges with a long-term perspective in the areas of food safety and quality, cooperation and environmental change.
Involvement of diverse actors of the food system.
To learn about the broadest possible spectrum of perspectives on the development of the local food system, work together to match the best solutions to the challenges and opportunities of the region, and then share knowledge about them.

Proces

STAGE 1. - Diagnosis

In this phase, the main challenges in the production of plant food in the municipality of Ostróda were identified, with a perspective of 10 years. The challenges were analysed in three areas: food quality, environment and cooperation. To diagnose the challenges, 75 survey interviews with manufacturers, 160 consumer surveys, and 25 interviews with experts were conducted. The mapped challenges were then analysed in terms of the impact of megatrends on all three areas and the individual challenges to determine priorities for intervention in the local food system.

STEP 2. - Building Solutions

At this stage, a set of solutions tailored to local challenges was developed. A set of solutions was selected during workshops in which producers, consumers, educators, distributors, representatives of controlling institutions, as well as the public administration of the city and rural municipality were involved. The solutions and good practices identified were the starting point for subsequent educational activities and community events organised by the Food Knowledge Ambassadors Network.

STAGE 3. - Education

In this phase, the Food Knowledge Ambassadors program was launched. 18 Ambassadors held 25 community meetings, 5 in the city of Ostróda and 20 in 20 surrounding villages. In total, more than 250 small producers of plant-based food took part in the educational meetings, who, based on publications and dialogue with the Ambassadors, had the opportunity to learn about local challenges and good practices in food production.

Results and publications

See the results of our actions

We conduct a comprehensive diagnosis of the local plant-based food system, identifying key challenges and opportunities for the future. We analyze good practices, current market trends and innovations that can support the development of small producers.

Take a look at our reports, use the developed tools and analysis results to better understand and support the implementation of sustainable practices in crop production.

Check the feasibility of implementing the project in your organization

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Furkan Project

About the project

Challenges and Objectives

Build a comprehensive picture of challenges in local food systems.

Involvement of diverse actors of the food system.

Proces

STAGE 1. - Diagnosis

STEP 2. - Building Solutions

STAGE 3. - Education

Results and publications

Challenges and good practices in the food market

Workshop: good practices for the future of food

Consumer opinion survey on local food - summary

Megatrends and the challenges of plant food production

The future of local food systems: summary

Check the feasibility of implementing the project in your organization