PROXTERRA - "Sustainable production, fair distribution and local consumption of Pyrenean agri-food products"

Proxterra logo

Submitted under the first call for projects of the Interreg V-A Spain–France–Andorra Programme (POCTEFA 2021-2027), the PROXTERRA project falls under the programme's priority 1: "Creating a shared space for knowledge and innovation, promoting digital transformation and sustainable growth", focused on developing research and innovation, deploying advanced technologies and making the most of digitalisation.

This cross-border initiative brings together a French and Spanish cross-border partnership made up of CREACCIÓ, the BETA Centre of the University of Vic (UVic-UCC), PRODECA, the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Occitania and the Eastern Pyrenees, the Chambers of Agriculture of Ariège and the Eastern Pyrenees, and the University of Pau (UPPA-IPREM).

  • Project start: 01/01/2024
  • End of activities: 31/12/2026
  • Total project budget: €1.77 million
  • ERDF funding : €1.15 million

Objectives 

The PROXTERRA project offers support aimed at strengthening the sustainable growth and competitiveness of agri-food SMEs. Its main objective is to support and promote sustainable production, fair distribution and local consumption of Pyrenean agri-food products.

Specific challenges 

  • Promoting innovative solutions for the sustainable production of agri-food products and their packaging, through training, collaboration between local economic players and support in obtaining certifications.
  • Driving a new cross-border polycentric distribution model that favours local consumption and sustainability through the development of digital tools.
  • Encouraging and promoting demand for sustainable, local products among end consumers, hospitality and tourism professionals and mass catering.
  • Structuring synergies with other projects or players, promoting the transfer of the results obtained to local, regional and national public policies and their adoption or transposition on a larger scale by other organisations, with the aim of making the project sustainable beyond its end date.

Project summary 

The agri-food sector is a strategic area for the cross-border territory of the Eastern Pyrenees-Ariège, Lleida-Barcelona-Girona and Andorra. 

However, the economic sustainability of the business fabric is not guaranteed: in this rural, mountainous area technology transfer is rare and most companies are micro, small or medium-sized and lack the resources to carry out their own R&D and innovation, which limits their competitiveness. 

The sector also has a significant environmental impact: it uses a great deal of resources and generates large volumes of waste and polluting emissions, particularly as the border effect favours national value chains and a far-flung distribution network. 

To tackle these challenges, PROXTERRA proposes to strengthen sustainable cross-border and local growth and the competitiveness of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises by creating and strengthening local short supply chains, making the most of cross-border complementarity. 

Over 3 years the consortium, made up of French and Spanish academic, private and public bodies, will carry out a series of activities covering supply (production and packaging), demand (consumption) and logistics (distribution). 

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises will receive support through a training programme to adopt sustainable, innovative solutions in the production and processing of agri-food products, inter-company collaboration and support in the sales process, especially across borders. 

As regards logistics, PROXTERRA aims to promote a local, polycentric, cross-border distribution network supported by a digital co-distribution platform. Finally, the consortium will promote local consumption through awareness-raising activities among the public, hospitality and tourism professionals and mass catering operators.

Planned activities

  • Supply / Identifying innovative, sustainable solutions for agri-food production; training - expert follow-up on implementing solutions; clustering - cross-border exchanges between players in the agri-food ecosystem (good practice, networking, etc.); support towards certification
     
  • Logistics / SWOT analysis, drawing up a cross-border strategy; creating a digital co-distribution platform; mapping stakeholders (producers and distributors); creating a network of logistics micro-platforms
  • Demand / awareness campaigns on consuming local products, support in marketing and promoting products among hospitality and tourism professionals; identifying good practice and training managers in  responsible public procurement.

Financial support from Interreg POCTEFA 

The PROXTERRA project is 65% co-financed by the European Union through the Interreg VI-A Spain-France-Andorra Programme (POCTEFA 2021-2027). The programme aims to strengthen the economic and social integration of the Spain-France-Andorra border area.

The POCTEFA partners