• The finalists are the "Andalusian Shepherds' School" in the "Socially Inclusive Future" category and the "Local Circular Bioeconomy Pilot Project" in the "Resilient Future" category.
• The 3rd edition of the "Rural Inspiration Awards 2021" - organized by the European Network for Rural Development - reveals the projects that have received support from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) for the period 2014-2020.

  The theme of this call is "Our Rural Future," in line with the "Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas" strategy promoted by the European Commission.

  This third edition consolidates the awards launched in 2018, which both years have had a Spanish flavor. In its first edition, the Spanish initiative Agroberry won the award for improving the competitiveness of rural areas. In the previous edition, the Spanish project Ecopionet came in second place in the popular vote category.

  Spanish finalists 2021

  The European Network for Rural Development has selected two projects from the eight submitted by the National Rural Network in January. The finalists compete for the award in two of the four established thematic categories (plus a fifth by popular vote).

  Specifically, the Spanish representatives in the European final are:

Within the category “ Socially inclusive future” , for initiatives that contribute to the inclusion of rural society:

• Andalusian Shepherds School (Andalusia)

  The Andalusian Shepherds' School is a training project that includes teaching traditional and rural knowledge, along with environmental aspects related to livestock farming, both theoretically and practically. The main objective is to support generational renewal in rural areas. With nine editions already held, this project has a student recruitment rate of between 60 and 90% in livestock farming.

Within the “ Resilient Future” category, for projects that contribute to strengthening the resilience of rural Europe:

• Local circular bioeconomy pilot project with a social and educational dimension (Bordablanca, Navarra)

  Josenea is a circular economy company dedicated to biomass cultivation: it collects biowaste from its neighbors and transforms it into compost to fertilize its own crops, regenerating the soil and the climate. Thus, the project contributes to the creation of green social jobs. It also integrates research , as the Public University of Navarra studies the composting process in experimental plots installed on the farm. And it even integrates training : the company and the University of Navarra train composting technicians.

  Awards ceremony

  The 2021 Rural Inspiration Awards ceremony will take place on March 25th as part of the European Network for Rural Development's Rural Vision Week. The third edition of these awards will feature five winners , who will be announced during a virtually broadcast gala.

  The European Network for Rural Development has received 125 entries from 22 Member States, of which only 22 finalists have been selected. The ENRD jury is responsible for determining the winners based on thematic categories, but the public can also choose their winner in the "Popular Vote" category, which you can enter here .

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