From 22 to 24 October 2025, the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy in Potsdam hosted the European kick-off meeting for the Horizon Europe project NEXRUR (Next Generation Sustainable Business Models and Monitoring for Rural Resilience and Innovation). The project, which will run until 2029, aims to develop innovative and sustainable business models for rural regions and strengthen their resilience to economic and climatic challenges. It brings together research institutions, companies and regional stakeholders to develop new monitoring and analysis tools for rural innovation. In addition, practical solutions are to be developed that will be tested directly in selected European regions and further developed in collaboration with local stakeholders.
According to the specifications developed in the project, the focus of the work at the start of the project is on analysing the Austrian case study (FoodCoop S'Gartl in Upper Austria, Windischgarsten). S'Gartl is a non-profit association (also known as a food cooperative) that aims to provide people in the region with easy access to regional food that is as organic and sustainably produced as possible. At the same time, it seeks to establish fair and direct exchange between the association and regional farmers and producers.
Klaus Wagner and Georg Wiesinger (BAB) as well as Katrin Hofer (BAB Project) took part in the meeting. More than 50 participants from EU member states and China kicked off the project activities with various presentations on formal and technical content as well as several workshops, such as the presentation and discussion of the case studies and stakeholder mapping planned for the project. An excursion focused on projects to strengthen regional development, such as hemp cultivation for fibre production – Felde Fibres, Katerbow oil mill, Bio Ranch Zempow, Wittstock lock shed.
Nexrur - Fostering sustainable business models for rural resilience in Europe and China
all photos: Greenovate! Europe
