LAB4SUPPLY will develop an innovative solution to increase the competitiveness and profitability of small Mediterranean producers

Faced with the challenges of the value chain

The CREDA Research Center for Agri-Food Economics and Development (UPC-IRTA) coordinates this initiative, made up of 9 partners from 7 different countries in the Mediterranean area.

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Work on the development of LAB4SUPPLY, an R&D&i project in which 9 partners from 7 different countries in the Mediterranean area participate (Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Egypt, Algeria and Morocco). This initiative, coordinated by the CREDA (UPC-IRTA) (Center for Research in Agri-Food Economics and Development), is financed within the PRIMA-S 2 framework by the State Research Agency (AEI) from the Ministry of Science and Innovation (MCIN) with Next Generation EU funds/Transformation and Resilience Recovery Plan -PRTR- of the European Union.

 

The objective of this initiative is to develop a practical solution to address the current difficulties faced by small Mediterranean farmers regarding the challenges presented by the current value chain. In this way, LAB4SUPPLY will offer innovative and viable tools and techniques that allow these small local producers to increase their competitiveness and profitability. All of this will be possible by managing an optimized value chain and improving the ability to adapt to unexpected market changes that, at the same time. time, are mostly perceived by consumers.

 

Project structure

 

Ultimately, this project's main purpose is to empower small producers in Mediterranean agricultural systems through the definition, improvement and transfer of competitive and efficient alternatives in the value chain. In this way, it is expected to address, at the same time, the capacities of farmers, the needs of consumers and unexpected changes in the market.

 

To fulfill this purpose, LAB4SUPPLYIt is structured around three main technological pillars: 1) the development of a multidimensional framework for an aggregate analysis of the value chain; 2) the creation of a "Living Lab" (LL), that is, a Agri-Food Innovation Ecosystem (AIE) with a multi-agent approach and its application in five case studies; 3) the development of an ICT tool as a decision support system for small farmers.

 

This project is expected to address, at the same time, the capacities of farmers, the needs of consumers and unexpected changes in the market.

 

In this way, the project proposes the design and development of a multidimensional framework to analyze five agri-food value chains that will integrate economic, social and environmental indicators, applying a “bottom-up” approach that considers the perspectives of the agents.

 

On the other hand, the participatory approach of the project consists of the creation of a living laboratory (Living-Lab, L.L.) as an Agri-Food Innovation Ecosystem (IEA). This will be the scenario to extract information about the sector and consumers, in order to transfer and apply the new optimized models. This approach will be developed through the joint creation of two levels of interaction: one through the creation of an Agri-Food Platform of Agents (Agri-food Stakeholders Platform, ASP) and another through a Decision Support System (Decision Support Systems, DSS).

 

In this way, the AIE-LL is based on the perspective of the quadruple helix system of innovation that incorporates local groups of farmers, small industry and distributors, public institutions, academia, research centers and consumers. In this context, the ASP will carry out multiple group activities (workshops, training and networking) that will allow a definition of innovative alternatives to the traditional value chain. Furthermore, the ICT tool developed will focus on the consumer-farmer with the indicators generated, providing the small producer with key information about new markets and contributing to better decision-making.

 

innovative approach

 

This innovation approach is presented as an appropriate vehicle to support and achieve the objectives of LAB4SUPPLY, whose participants will be closely connected by a ASP and a tool DSS-ICT. In LLs, the parties involved will cooperate in an open space to analyze barriers and opportunities and, thus, jointly develop innovative ideas. Each agent will be able to use the innovations derived from this open space to find solutions.

 

During the 36-month duration of the project (July 2021 to June 2024), LAB4SUPPLY will analyze five agri-food value chains that will integrate economic, social and environmental indicators. Addressing the entire production process, from farm to table, this initiative will have a bottom-up approach and considering the perspectives of the different agents and groups involved.