The first semester of Regions4Food project in South Ostrobothnia, Finland has been a good start for the project. The theme of the project is very timely and important for our region. We have gathered regional stakeholder group of interested forerunner entrepreneurs throughout the food value chain and IT sector, representatives of Regional Council, education, RDI, business development and rural advisory services.

We have communicated via e-mails and face-to-face meetings, and had our first stakeholder meeting in October. Discussions about the thoughts and ideas of the stakeholder group about the digitalization of the food value chain in South Ostrobothnia was interesting and important part of the meeting. The stakeholder group is already waiting for the next steps of the project.

Regions4Food –project was also chosen for the article in national agri-food sector newspaper Maaseudun Tulevaisuus, that was written about Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences and its activities concerning modern food production. Title was SeAMK boosts digitalization in the food value chain. The article included Regions4Food project introduction, and main goals. It had really good visibility, and was spread also via social media. 

The project was also presented in November in KERRU-group. The regularly gathering group brings together researchers and developers working with regionally important topic of Sustainable food solutions from over 15 different organisations, e.g. the University Consortium of Seinäjoki, the research network Epanet and the Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences. The main focus of the group is in connecting different actors and in spreading out information. Regions4Food -project was presented in the group, and we had very good discussions about digitalization of the food value chain in South Ostrobothnia, and its different possibilities.

The first dissemination event for wider audience will be in December, where the project will be presented in a bigger event of Growth for the Food Sector. We are proud to bring this important theme forward and be active to find solutions. 

Upcoming events

Dissemination event for Regions 4Food –project will be organized in 4.12.2018. The event is in cooperation with national and regional actors of food sector development. It is called “Ruoka-ala kasvuun – tehoa kehittämistoimintaan yhteistyön kautta”, which means “Growth for the Food Sector – cooperation for effective development work". The event includes themes of local food and development actions, and it gathers the developers, financiers, stakeholders, entrepreneurs and other actors to hear what is new in the field of food sector development. We are proud to disseminate information of Regions4Food for the audience.

More details are available at drive.google.com/file/d/1QMWvt8fOOOaINEkZzvqj58G-p5_8_KVO/view