Rural Living Lab for diversified agri-food value chains and short supply systems in North-West Europe

The PNR Avesnois (Northern France) is seeking to join or contribute to a consortium under HORIZON‑CL6‑2027‑02‑FARM2FORK‑05 (Innovation Action).

Our proposal is based on the creation of a territorial living lab focusing on diversified agricultural systems and resilient local value chains, addressing both economic and environmental challenges faced by farmers.

1. Context and challenges

European agricultural systems are currently facing:

climate variability and increasing pressure on water and soil resources

economic instability and fluctuating prices

dependency on input-intensive systems

weak territorial value chains and market access

Diversification and value chain innovation are key to improving farmers’ profitability and resilience, as highlighted in the FARM2FORK strategy.

2. Proposed contribution

The PNR Avesnois offers a ready-to-operate demonstration territory (TRL 6–8), combining:

a. Diversification of production systems

development of vegetable production, legumes and orchards

strong grass-based livestock systems (beef and dairy)

transition towards low-input and climate-resilient farming models

b. Strengthening agri-food value chains

consolidation of local beef and dairy value chains

development of vegetable-based supply chains

creation of links between production and local transformation units

c. Local processing and added value

pilot projects on:

on-farm processing (cheese, meat, preserves)

shared facilities (small-scale processing units, food hubs)

testing of light infrastructures (washing, sorting, transformation equipment)

d. Short supply chains and logistics

existing Localim platform connecting producers and local demand

development of cooperative distribution systems

integration of producers into public procurement (canteens)

e. Farmers’ cooperation and governance

strengthening of producer cooperation networks

testing of new collective economic models

integration of territorial governance approaches (PAT — Food Policy)

3. Innovation dimension

The project contributes to innovation through:

combination of technical, organisational and social innovation

development of hybrid models (production + processing + distribution)

implementation of territorial multi-actor approaches

testing of replicable solutions across European rural areas

4. Expected impacts

The project aims to:

increase farmers’ income stability and diversification

reduce dependency on external inputs

strengthen local value chains and market access

support low-carbon and circular agricultural systems

provide scalable models for rural and peri-urban areas in Europe

5. Role of the PNR Avesnois

We propose to act as:

Demonstration site / pilot territory

Leader or co-leader of work packages on:

diversification strategies

value chain development

territorial governance

Contributor to:

stakeholder engagement

real-life testing and validation

dissemination and replication

6. Partners sought

We are looking to collaborate with:

Research organisations (e.g. INRAE, universities)

Agri-food SMEs and cooperatives

Other rural territories / living labs

Logistics and processing actors

European networks focused on food systems and agroecology

7. Commitment to European collaboration

The PNR Avesnois is already connected to:

Europen partners (e.g. Europa parc system networks)

regional food policy stakeholders

initiatives related to Food Policy Councils (PAT)

We are ready to actively engage in a European consortium and contribute to the co-construction of an integrated proposal.