AI-Powered Circular Food and Waste Solutions for Resilient Rural Tourism Regions

CircuRural.AI responds to the environmental pressures facing Europe’s rural tourism regions by demonstrating how artificial intelligence and circular economy principles can be combined to optimise food systems, reduce waste, and support resilient, low-carbon development.

Focusing on two contrasting pilot areas—a coastal destination and a mountain/agri-tourism region—the project will deploy an integrated Food & Waste Intelligence System that leverages AI and IoT to:

• Forecast seasonal food demand in tourism zones

• Optimise farm-to-table logistics and reduce delivery mileage

• Monitor and valorise organic waste streams through composting or biogas pathways

• Provide real-time insights to SMEs and municipalities for smarter, data-driven decision-making

The solution will build upon proven AI and digital technologies, either by customising existing open-source modules or developing dedicated components as needed to address rural tourism challenges. The goal is to demonstrate a robust, scalable digital toolset capable of reaching at least TRL 6–7 within the project lifecycle, depending on the selected approach and piloting outcomes. The pilots will deliver tangible environmental and economic benefits, including:

• ≥ 20% reduction in food waste

• ≥ 15% decrease in transport-related emissions

• Enhanced local resource circulation and SME competitiveness

In addition to digital tool deployment, CircuRural.AI will provide:

• Hands-on training and capacity building for local authorities, food producers, and hospitality operators

• Evidence-based policy and business model packages to support replication in other EU regions

• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and circular performance indicators for robust impact validation

The project is fully aligned with key EU strategies including the European Green Deal, Circular Economy Action Plan, and Digital Europe Programme.

With its lean, targeted scope and clear scalability, CircuRural.AI offers a high-impact, cost-efficient model for circular transformation in rural tourism—demonstrating how AI can unlock practical, regionally grounded climate and resource solutions within 36 months.