FoodCoP

🌱 Join us for the FoodCoP Policy Dialogue! How can we turn grassroots innovation into lasting policy support for rural communities? On 27.10 at 14:00 CET, FoodCoP is bringing together policy makers, Startup Villages, and circular bioeconomy practitioners for an OPEN conversation on what rural areas need to thrive, and how European and local policies can HELP. 💬 What we’ll discuss: ▪️ Lessons learned from Startup Villages across Europe ▪️ Policy barriers and opportunities for the circular bioeconomy in rural areas ▪️ Concrete recommendations for decision makers 👉 Register here:  https://lnkd.in/eaRdciJA Want to explore our recommendations beforehand? Download the FoodCoP Policy Brief: https://lnkd.in/eABcMvfq Be part of the conversation and help shape the future of rural circular bioeconomy! 🌍 #PolicyDialogue #Circularbioeconomy #Startupvillages #HorizonEurope #RuralInnovation Project funded by EU

🔴 We're LIVE! 🔴 Today we're celebrating the FoodCoP final event, a day to share the results, lessons learned and the journey our community has travelled around the circular bioeconomy and Startup Villages. 🌱 We're waiting for you, and especially at 12:00 CET, when we'll kick off the round table, a space for dialogue and exchanging ideas on the future of the ecosystem worldwide. 🗣️ 👉 Tune in and be part of this very special closing. Thank you for joining us! #FoodCoP #FOODplusi #HorizonEurope #CircularBioeconomy #StartupVillages Project funded by EU

🌱 5 days to go: FoodCoP Final Event, 6 October! Here's what's on the agenda (all times CEST): 🔹 10:00 | Welcome & Opening, Município do Fundão and the Municipality of Kočevje 🔹 10:10 | FoodCoP: Transforming Rural Food Systems. Our approach and key results, presented by ENCO Engineering and Consulting srl and Climate KIC 🔹 10:50 | Kočevje's Journey with FoodCoP. What it means to be a Startup Village Podjetniški inkubator Kočevje 🔹 11:00 | Building Connections: The Ambassador & Mentor Programme, featuring local Kočevje businesses Tovarna podjemov - Venture Factory 🔹 12:00 | 🌍 Online Roundtable: Stories from Rural Communities Around the World. Voices from Slovenia, Japan, Uruguay and Canada on bioeconomy, food systems and local innovation, hosted by RDI Hub. Bring your questions! 🔹 13:00 | Looking Back, Moving Forward. Final reflections from our Project Officer at the European Commission 🔹 13:15 | Closing the FoodCoP Journey. A final moment to reflect, quiz, celebrate and reward our participants 🎉by Athena Research Center 👉 Join us online: https://lnkd.in/dG7vJQ7z #FoodCoP #HorizonEurope #StartupVillages #CircularBioeconomy #RuralInnovation #FoodSystems Funded by EU

Meet our Startup Village Ambassadors – Part II We're back with the second group of FoodCoP Startup Village Ambassadors, covering Portugal, Slovenia and Spain — completing our tour of 18 rural innovators across 6 EU countries. Meet: 🇵🇹 Science 351 – where science means business (bio-based packaging & materials) 🇸🇮 Kmetija Malerič – local food from field to table 🇸🇮 Društvo Herbs – herbal knowledge for sustainable local development 🇸🇮 Ekološka kmetija Kocjančič – pioneering organic dairy in Kočevje 🇸🇮 Gobnjak d.o.o. – where mushrooms are at home 🇸🇮 Pr' Poloni in Juriju – fermented organic garlic from Kočevska 🇸🇮 Prokum d.o.o. – where wood meets precision and tradition 🇸🇮 Zavod Eneja (Apipedagogy®) – education for empathy and nature 🇪🇸 Ingredalia – natural functional ingredients for a circular bioeconomy 🇪🇸 Rural Technological Development Association – technology against rural depopulation 🇪🇸 Rurópolis – a human-scale model for rural life From mushrooms and fermented garlic to bio-based packaging and rural repopulation tech — these ambassadors show the full diversity of Europe's circular bioeconomy in action. Together, Part I and Part II bring you all 18 Startup Village Ambassadors — the lighthouses of rural innovation across Europe. 🌟 https://lnkd.in/dx-xaAvt   #FoodCoP #CircularBioeconomy #StartupVillages #RuralInnovation #HorizonEurope Funded by EU

We're proud to introduce the first group of FoodCoP Startup Village Ambassadors: 18 rural innovators from 6 EU countries (France, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain), all driving the circular bioeconomy transition forward. In this first spotlight, meet: 🇫🇷 OCTOMETHA – turning farm residues into biomethane 🇫🇷 TERAVENIR – precision agriculture driven by the soil 🇫🇷 VEGSKIN GROUP – turning biomass into bio-based materials 🇬🇷 Growth Hub – empowering youth for a sustainable future 🇮🇪 Agromus (FromFarm) – farm-to-fridge for local, traceable food 🇮🇪 Zolvia – formulation technology that makes nutrients perform 🇮🇪 Dingle Sea Salt – hand-harvested, made with sun, wind & sea These Startup Villages are becoming true lighthouses of rural innovation — proof that entrepreneurship, collaboration and circularity can strengthen rural communities across Europe. Check it out below!  Stay tuned for Part II 👀 #FoodCoP #CircularBioeconomy #StartupVillages #RuralInnovation #HorizonEurope

🎥 A new voice from the FoodCoP community: Meraki People, Greece We're excited to share the testimonial video from one of our FoodCoP Startup Village members 🌱 In this video, the team talks about the real challenges rural innovation hubs face — from limited access to human and financial resources to water management difficulties. They also share a major milestone: being invited to participate as school partners in the Horizon Soil Mission programme, addressing governance and business models for rural innovation hubs. Their approach puts farmers at the centre, bringing together scientists, local communities, and NGOs in a true co-creation process — showing how cooperatives and stakeholders can pool their knowledge to find real solutions. The goal: to become a bio-village model for the future, resilient and autonomous in the face of environmental challenges, and paving the way for a new economy. 🎬 Watch the full video to hear their journey, in their own words: https://lnkd.in/d3gWv6hH  #StartupVillages #CircularBioeconomy #RuralInnovation Funded by UE

🌱 The countdown is on! FoodCoP is heading to its Final Event, and you're invited. 📅 October 6th | 📍 Kočevje, Slovenia — hybrid, so join us online from anywhere: https://lnkd.in/dGaCfSCP After an incredible journey supporting Startup Villages and driving circular bioeconomy innovation across Europe, we're bringing the FoodCoP community together to celebrate what we've built. Plus, don't miss our Global Online Roundtable, bringing together circular bioeconomy voices from around the world. 🌍 This is more than a closing event — it's a celebration of collaboration, innovation, and the future of Europe's food systems. 📍 Register now and be part of it #FoodCoP #CircularBioeconomy #StartupVillages #HorizonEurope #Sustainability

🎥 New video from one of our FoodCoP Startup Village members: Kocevje In this short testimonial, Podjetniški inkubator Kočevje shares their experience being part of the FoodCoP journey — from joining the Startup Village community to applying a concrete circular bioeconomy solution within their own activity. Their story is a great example of how FoodCoP's approach — connecting rural entrepreneurs, sharing knowledge, and testing practical tools — translates into real impact on the ground. 🎬 Watch the full video to discover their journey and takeaways. https://lnkd.in/erWGMzbj #FoodCoP #StartupVillages #CircularBioeconomy #RuralInnovation #HorizonEurope #SustainableFoodSystems

See you in Kočevje!  After months of hard work, learning, and collaboration around circular bioeconomy and Startup Villages, it's time to celebrate the results and share the journey together! 🔹 Project results and key learnings 🔹 Startup Villages testimonials 🔹 Sharing experiences and networking with partners and community 📍 Kočevje, Slovenia 🗓️ October 6th, 2026 Full agenda and registration form coming soon. Save the date! 🙌 #FoodCoP #StartupVillages #Bioeconomy #HorizonEurope FoodCoP is an Horizon Europe project funded by the EU

Curious about what our Policy Brief work means for the future of circular bioeconomy and Startup Villages across Europe? We've distilled the key findings into an easy-to-read infographic — perfect for policymakers, practitioners, and anyone working at the intersection of food systems and rural innovation. Download here:  https://bit.ly/4pDAAbS  #FoodCoP #CircularBioeconomy #StartupVillages #HorizonEurope #PolicyBrief FoodCoP is an Horizon Europe project funded by the EU