In a continued effort to reinforce connections among agri-food stakeholders across Europe, maximise networking opportunities and ensure ground impact from research within the VISIONARY project, the University of Aberdeen hosted the second cross-country visit in September 2024. This stakeholder’s exchange brought together a diverse group of stakeholders from six European countries – Spain, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, and the UK – representing various sectors within food and farming industry, including local policymakers, producers, advisory service providers, certification bodies, Food and farming NGOs, and direct food sales channels and cooperatives.

During the two-day workshop in September 2024, participants joined several farm visits to learn from Scotland’s sustainable farming sector. Guided by farm owners, the tours stressed the importance of raising public awareness for sustainable farming as well as consumption. Also challenges like the welfare of farmers or the need to improve children’s nutrition through local organic sourcing in the public catering sector at Schools were discussed.

Another focus of the Workshop lied on international knowledge exchange and strategic discussions. How to promote the sustainability of the short food supply chains (SFSCs)? Strategies for marketing, consumer recruitment, and logistical efficiency of the SFSCs were discussed. Participants emphasised the importance of direct marketing, building trust between consumers and farmers, and the education of the public about the value of locally sourced and organic food.