Main stories
Join Us in Generating a Vision & Strategy for Rural Europe – Now!
Help ARC2020 build a vision and strategy for rural Europe, by joining the civil society participation at a high level webconference on 7th July. […]
debates
Latest from EU Member States
Rural Dialogues | Intergenerational Collaboration in the Vineyards of Southern France
Lack of access to affordable land is one they key obstacles to new farming entrants. The sector is suffering from a seriously aging population which puts the future of European small-scale farming at risk. How can we encourage more young people to get into the profession when access to land is so tricky? Natasha Foote talks us through the problem and explores one exciting approach on the vineyards of Southern France. […]
Main stories
Rural Dialogues | Not Necessarily Money – farm renewal and (inter)generational considerations
How do farms pass on between the generations in a way that respects the needs of older and younger people? Share Conway and colleagues argue for an approach that allows older farmers to maintain and sustain normal day to day activity and behaviour on their farms in later life, whilst also ‘releasing the reins’ to allow for the necessary delegation of managerial responsibilities and ownership of the family farm to their successors. […]
Latest from key partners
Rural Dialogues | The Three Conditions of Sustainable Rural Digitalisation
Gianluca Brunori argues that access, design and complexity are three conditions that define how rural digitalisation is unfolding, and if rural digitalisation is in line with the sustainable development goals. Building on this base, through Responsible Research and Innovation the DESIRA project will help society and political bodies respond to the challenges digitalisation generates in rural areas, agriculture and forestry. […]
Latest from EU Member States
Rural Dialogues | Culture as Connection in Rural Europe
Rural places are peopled places – and people have and need cultural life. Culture can include heritage and the arts, the activities we enjoy, the food we eat, and the language we speak. Since these things matter in all our lives, they matter for all the places where we live, too. But talk about rural renaissance can often miss making cultural connections. […]
Latest from EU Member States
Rural Dialogues | Ruralization: Finding Frontiers for Rural Regeneration
Repositioning rural areas in response to problems of decline means overcoming complex, interconnected challenges. The RURALIZATION project is exploring innovative ways to overcome issues of rural regeneration and support generational renewal. […]
Latest from EU Member States
Rural Dialogues | Smart Villages: How to Make Them Really Work
How are smart villages different from and add value to existing initiatives and policy tools? Edina Ocsko proposes practical steps to develop policies in support of multi-funded integrated smart village strategies. […]
Latest from EU Member States
Rural Dialogues | Stochastic System Collapse Part 2 – the Social and Solidarity Economy Alternative
In part one, we outlined just how bad the situation is regarding climate and biodiversity collapse, as well as the people-driven responses to this – from extinction rebellion to the school strikes. Beyond these alarm-raising direct action initiatives, what is there out there to become the system change that’s so clearly needed? Here in part 2 we introduce the social and solidarity economy, and the interesting lessons we can learn from separatist movements from the past and present, from Quebec to Ireland. […]
Main stories
Rural Dialogues | Stochastic System Collapse Part 1
Just how bad are the twin climate and biodiversity crises, and what is anyone doing about it? The first of a two parter on the topic from ARC2020’s Oliver Moore. […]
Main stories
Rural Dialogues | Smart Villages – Turning Momentum into Support for Local Action
The momentum behind Smart Villages continues to grow – both within EU and national policy circles and on the ground among rural communities. The challenge is to translate this momentum into a policy framework that provides fast and flexible tools which meet the needs and expectations of rural communities in different parts of Europe. This will mean avoiding complicated structures and plans, mobilising what exists in each place – and supporting local action rather than words. […]
Latest from EU Member States
Rural Dialogues | Peasants of Nature – French Initiative Reconciles Agriculture & Biodiversity
There are farmers interested in the environment, and environmentalists interested in farming…and now, there are environmentalists who have started to farm in a way that speaks to their values. Meet France’s Peasants of Nature. […]
Latest from EU Member States
Rural Dialogues | Landcare Germany – Bringing Farmers, Conservationists & Policymakers Together
How can farming organisations and environmental organisations have real conversations with each other – where everyone listens, and difficult issues grappled with respectfully? Where everyone comes away with a better understanding of other people’s positions? There are in-situ meetings, and then there is the Landcare process. Oliver Moore has more.
[…]
Latest from EU Member States
Rural Dialogues | Agroecology and a Living Countryside in the Netherlands
The Dutch agricultural miracle comes with a downside too, but there are agroecological approaches – even in this most urban of nations – that resonate with the call for a living countryside. […]
Latest from EU Member States
Rural Dialogues | Best Immigration Practice can help Alleviate Rural Depopulation
Many rural areas suffer depopulation, while there is a need for newcomers to a country to be accommodated and given purposeful activities. Some lessons from a thoughtful approach to better rural integration of immigrants in rural Spain, with lessons for rural development more generally. […]
Latest from EU Member States
Rural Dialogues | What are the 3 A’s of Feeding Ourselves in Ireland?
ARC2020 was involved in the Feeding Ourselves gathering in Ireland. This event focused on some important aspects to this idea – how do we better feed ourselves. So what are the A’s of better food systems? […]