Our Fringe Workshop in Co-operation with the European Network for Rural Development (ENRD) at the Rural Vision Week 2021, wherein we were presenting the megatrends and innovative practices for rural regeneration this morning, was huge success!!

The workshop focused on two extensive studies performed in the framework of RURALIZATION. The foresight analysis provides ideas of the possible ingredients of the future of rural areas being those mainstream force fields (megatrends), or context specific developments (trends) or symptoms of change (weak signals). On the other side the innovative practices analysis provides inspiration for rural regeneration and generation renewal policies across Europe.

Regeneration is an ongoing process, and it has many avenues ahead. On one hand, trend analysis is one way to get ideas of the possible ingredients of the updated rural Europe and related future developments and, on the other hand, favouring access to land for new farmers carrying out sustainable projects is key for supporting them to enter the rural world and bring new life to rural territories. The identification and assessment of trends and innovative land practices that have relevance for rural regeneration are an integral part of RURALIZATION process in which the opportunities are translated into promising practices and policies. The workshop presented these analyses that have been carried out in the framework of RURALIZATION project.

The first speaker was Tuomas Kuhmonen, from the Finnish University of Turun Yliopisto. He spoke about the extensive trend analysis carried out during 2019-2020. The analysis will provide opportunities to benefit from mainstream force fields (megatrends), from some context specific developments (trends) or from symptoms of change (weak signals).

Following, William Loveluck, from the French civic organization Terre de Liens, presented the results of the study on access to land consisting in summarising, analysing and understanding 64 innovative land practices in 14 countries and that are contributing to rural regeneration and generation renewal in agriculture across Europe.

The presentations are accessible on the ENRD Website: https://enrd.ec.europa.eu/news-events/events/rural2040-vision-week_en