Digital & Sustainable Farmers’ Markets for a Greener Europe
An Erasmus+ project to reduce the digital divide among farmers, strengthen skills, and promote a fair, resilient, and sustainable food system.
About the Project
The project, developed in collaboration among partners in Italy, Croatia, and Spain, aims to make farmers’ markets a powerful tool for promoting sustainable food distribution. By strengthening the skills of farmers and market operators, the initiative contributes to the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork strategy.
It also promotes digital farming, recognized by the European Union as a sustainability tool, addressing the digital divide still present in rural areas. The project introduces farmers and market operators to Erasmus+ opportunities, fostering cooperation, co-design, and co-creation of tools that benefit people, communities, and territories, while reducing travel-related fuel consumption and emissions.
Key objectives:
- Reduce the digital divide among farmers.
- Improve competitiveness and resilience of small-scale agricultural enterprises.
- Promote sustainable production and sales models.
- Raise awareness of EU programs and strategies.
Project Outcomes
The project will deliver:
- A tailor-made e-learning platform designed specifically for farmers, offering basic digital skills and customized content.
- Exchange of good practices and innovative solutions at European and international levels, leveraging Erasmus+ Project Results and EPALE platforms.
- Multilingual training materials, including videos, in Italian, English, Croatian, and Spanish.
If you would like to receive the ppt slides related to the Erasmus+ Project, please email us at info@worldfmc.org with the subject line: Erasmus+ Slide Request, and we’ll give you access.
Target Groups
- Farmers: Those already participating or interested in participating in farmers’ markets, particularly entrepreneurs less familiar with digital tools.
- Market operators: Professionals managing farmers’ markets, trained to use the platform, integrate content, and ensure sustainability of project results.
Why This Project Matters
Global food systems face major sustainability challenges:
- Excessive transport distances leading to high fossil fuel consumption and emissions.
- Biodiversity loss (75% genetic diversity lost since 1990).
- Food waste (14% lost before storage).
- Rising global population and increasing focus on food sovereignty.
Farmers markets represent a sustainable, local alternative, supporting micro-enterprises, improving access to fresh food, preserving biodiversity, and reducing environmental impact.
The project was designed based on thorough needs analysis conducted in 2022 by:
- World Farmers Markets Coalition (Italy)
- Udruga hrvatskih tržnica (Croatia)
- Xarxa de Consum Solidari Tržnicapartner (Spain)
Research activities included focus groups, data analysis, questionnaires, and field observations in farmers’ markets. The findings highlighted the need for:
- Knowledge of market management and regulations
- Low-impact, sustainable proposals
- Awareness of EU strategies (Green Deal, Farm to Fork)
- Digital skills for small-scale agricultural enterprises
How the Project Addresses Needs
The project offers flexible, accessible, and tailored training, allowing farmers and operators to gain crucial skills while accommodating seasonal work and geographical constraints.
By combining digital tools, practical training, and international knowledge exchange, participants will become more competitive, resilient, and aware of their role in building a green, sustainable, and inclusive Europe.
The Value of International Cooperation
Transnational collaboration ensures:
- Co-creation of tools and strategies with diverse perspectives
- Access to innovative solutions and transferable practices
- Shared knowledge and experiences across countries
- Sustainable impact beyond the project lifetime
The partnership enables participants to experiment with new solutions, exchange expertise, and jointly develop customized training content and strategies.
Project Partners
- World Farmers Markets Coalition (Italy) – Project lead, fostering international collaboration and sustainable farmers’ markets.
- Udruga hrvatskih tržnica (Croatia) – Supporting Croatian farmers’ markets and promoting EU strategies.
- Xarxa de Consum Solidari (Spain) – Coordinating Spanish markets and community engagement.
- Tabilia – Contributing digital expertise and platform development.
Promoted by:
- Erasmus+ Programme, funded by the European Commission
Some testimonials
Click here to watch the video testimonials about the project and the platform
