PRODECA is a partner in the European PROXTERRA project (POCTEFA)

"Sustainable production, fair distribution and local consumption of Pyrenean agrifood products"

Submitted under the first call of the Interreg V-A Spain-France-Andorra Programme (POCTEFA 2021-2027), the PROXTERRA project falls within Priority 1 of the programme: "creating a common space for knowledge and innovation, fostering digital transformation and sustainable growth", focused on developing research, innovation, the implementation of advanced technologies and the exploitation of the advantages of digitalisation.

This cross-border action mobilises a French-Spanish 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: €1.77M
• ERDF funding: €1.15M

Objectives

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

Specific challenges

• Promote innovative solutions for the sustainable production of agrifood products and their packaging, through training, collaboration between local economic actors and support for obtaining certifications.
• Drive a new cross-border model of polycentric distribution that fosters local consumption and sustainability through the development of digital tools.
• Encourage and promote demand for sustainable, local products among end consumers, tourism professionals and traditional and institutional catering.
• Structure synergies with other projects or actors, and promote the transfer of the results obtained into local, regional and national public policies and their adoption or transposition on a larger scale by other organisations, with the aim of ensuring the project's sustainability beyond its completion.

Project summary

The agrifood sector is a strategic field in 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 scarce and most companies are micro, small or medium-sized and lack the resources to carry out their own R&D&I activities, which limits their competitiveness.

In addition, the sector has a significant environmental impact: it uses many resources and generates a large amount of waste and polluting emissions, especially because of the border effect that favours national value chains and an extensive distribution network.

To address these challenges, PROXTERRA proposes strengthening cross-border sustainable growth and the competitiveness of micro-SMEs through the creation and strengthening of local short supply chains, taking advantage of cross-border complementarity.

Over a three-year period, the consortium 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-SMEs will receive support through a training programme to adopt sustainable, innovative solutions in the production and processing of agrifood products, collaboration between companies and support for the marketing process, especially across borders.

In terms of 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 actions among the public, restaurant and tourism professionals, and institutional catering operators.

Planned activities

• Supply / Identification of innovative, sustainable solutions for agrifood production; training - expert follow-up in implementing solutions; clustering - cross-border exchange between actors in the agrifood ecosystem (good practices, networking, etc.); support for certification;
• Logistics / SWOT analysis, development of a cross-border strategy; creation of a digital co-distribution platform; mapping of stakeholders (producers and distributors); creation of a network of logistics micro-platforms;
• Demand / Awareness campaigns on the consumption of local products, support and guidance for the marketing and promotion of products among restaurant and tourism professionals; identification of good practices and training of purchasing 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 aim of this programme is to strengthen the economic and social integration of the Spain-France-Andorra border area. The PROXTERRA project partners

The PROXTERRA project partners

• CREACCIÓ
• Fundació Universitària Balmes - UVic-UCC (CT BETA)
• PRODECA - Promotora d'Exportacions Catalanes SA
• Chamber of Agriculture of Ariège
• Chamber of Agriculture of the Eastern Pyrenees
• University of Pau and the Adour Region-IPREM
• Chamber of Commerce and Industry Occitania Pyrenees – Mediterranean
• Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Eastern Pyrenees