• Five Local Action Groups from Andalusia are joining forces to support the trade of organic and local products in their five regions.
• The creation of the digital platform "i+Rural" allows for the creation of links between producers, sellers and consumers at a closer and more territorial level.

The small business sector in rural areas is not alone and has many potential customers. The problem is often that their lower competitiveness compared to larger companies, a lack of communication with other players at different levels of the supply chain, and consumers' lack of awareness of their existence prevent them from moving forward with their projects.

Five Local Action Groups ( LAG ) from Andalusia have set to work to support the revitalization of local consumption in five regions of Seville and Malaga through one of the most useful tools of European rural development : a cooperation project. LEADER .

Their work is crystallized in “ i+Rural” , a digital platform for e-commerce and promotion of local products whose main objective is to act as a means of connection with consumers and producers of the same territory, thus creating a virtual community.

The objectives of the project are:

1. Support the promotion and marketing of local organic products.
2. Strengthen the competitiveness of local producers.
3. Create synergies and opportunities for mutual collaboration among producers.
4. Raise awareness about the importance of local consumption .
5. Valuing the underestimated role of rural women .

The virtual platform

All in all, i+Rural crystallizes as a free registration platform Available on the web and mobile app. The GALs provide interested parties with direct access to new promotion and marketing channels.

The population groups targeted by i+Rural are:

• Producers and distributors in the regions: They can seek collaborations with others thanks to a network/meeting point.
• Local merchants : who can link their own virtual stores to the website's "storefront."
• Citizens : who can go to i+Rural to learn about local and organic commerce.
• Rural women : they have a special focus on local production and short marketing circuits.

This type of interaction allows the project to contribute to sustainable development , as local consumption benefits producers and consumers. The products are sourced from the region itself, minimizing transportation costs and emissions, as well as the resulting premiums. Furthermore, proximity favors the sale of fresh, high-quality products.

Likewise, "i+Rural" goes beyond sales, and also carries out training activities dedicated to promoting digitalization in the business environment.

According to data from the community itself, as of October 2024, it has more than 60 participants and 160 profiles and resources, three projects in progress, an established relationship, and more than 110 active conversations.

Partners and financing

The LEADER cooperation project “i+Rural” has been promoted by the Sevillian LAGs Adelquivir , Gran Vega de Sevilla, Corredor de la Plata and Serranía Suroeste Sevillana and by the Sierra Norte de Málaga GAL .

It has been financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development ( EAFRD ) of the European Union and by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development of the Regional Government of Andalusia .