A food lab for entrepreneurs and citizens has been established in Batuecas Natural Park, sharing equipment and training to avoid food loss and food waste.
The “Community food lab” addresses the problem of the loss of traditional urban farming in rural areas, mainly in Natural Parks. An aging local population, the loss of traditional products and the lack of generational change to continue collecting food at local urban gardens and orchards (including chestnuts, cherries, or wild fruits) mean that a big amount of food produced at gardens and edible forests is not consumed and increases the food loss problem.
The community food lab addresses these problems by organising training activities for entrepreneurs and providing equipment for food conservation and food production. The space is available for entrepreneurs, so they do not have to make the initial investment to start a business. They are taught by hired experts how to use the equipment of the food lab and how to work with the traditional products of the Natural Park. Also, a total of 5 orchards owners are collaborating with the food lab, offering their surplus to create new products.
The main stakeholders and beneficiaries are local entrepreneurs and citizens with interests in giving value to traditional urban garden production and develop handmade food to sell it in local markets or local specialized shops. Some of the entrepreneurs are creating a cooperative under the support of FPNCyL, which is part of the regional government in Castilla y León, with the idea to sell the products produced at the Food Lab.
Resources needed
10.000 euros for the training activities, 5.000 euros for the equipment and 2 technicians at a 20% of their working day.
Evidence of success
A total of 36 entrepreneurs have already participated in the lab. Now a selection of the best products produced at the lab, with the highest potential for developing local markets, has been performed.
Participants of the food lab are creating a cooperative to put the products at the market In the near future to sell it under the same label.
Local entities like “Leader Local Action Group” and Local Authorities as “Mancomunidad Sierra de Francia” are also supporting the project.
Difficulties encountered
The main challenge was to start the training activities during COVID-19. It was very difficult but finally the personal, on-site training activities were possible. The product selection and the creation of the cooperative is also a challenge.
Potential for learning or transfer
The rural Food Lab is a very good way to promote urban farming, local products, and new businesses. From the point of view of the circular economy, the shared equipment cannot only help entrepreneurs economically avoiding them to make an initial investment; it also can help the environment.
This initiative allows to promote local products avoiding the transport footprint of products from big supermarkets and it can enhance new business models and income for the local population.
The practice has been transferred to the Provincial authority of Avila in another rural area, and the Natural Heritage Foundation has reached an agreement with the Provincial Authority of Valladolid to transfer the food lab experience in an itinerancy through rural populations, creating a van food lab.
Tags: Entrepreneurship, Food, Innovation, Sharing ideas, Urban farming
