First Stakeholder Meeting in Neckar-Alb on 17th July!

Our regional partner, the Regionalverband Neckar-Alb, hosted their inaugural Down to Earth Stakeholder Meeting in Mössingen on the 17th of July. The first Regional Stakeholder Meeting organised in the Neckar-Alb region focused on presenting the Down to Earth partnership to local stakeholders and discussing the topic of year 1: Demographic challenges to improve resilience against environmental risks in rural areas.

Regionalverband Neckar-Alb underscored the significance of sharing experiences with other European regions faced with comparable challenges in rural development. When discussing the project and its objectives, stakeholders put forth several recommendations to address challenges specific to the Neckar-Alb region. These included concerns related to forest health, workforce shortage and agri-structure and conflicts in land use within agricultural zones. Participants proposed a variety of solutions, including the introduction of a "People's Proposal" for land consumption, the implementation of "Netto Null" (net-zero space consumption) principles, enhanced training and apprenticeship opportunities within the agricultural sector, and the integration of practitioners into the project.

The exchange of ideas was facilitated through a SWOT analysis to thoroughly examine and discusse the challenges related to depopulation and environmental risk. The discussions highlighted weaknesses in the agriculture and food sector, particularly regarding professions like butchers and bakers. Economic factors, including higher wages in other industries like mechatronics, are leading people away from traditional farming roles. Despite a strong awareness of regional purchasing, the transition from awareness to action remains a weakness: the absence of suitable structures sometimes hinders access to local supplies. The potential for consolidating regional products in a single location is also considered.

Additional topics discussed include:

• the challenges of providing health for older individuals, digital infrastructure, and telemedicine, 
• mobility in rural areas: people struggle to shift from individual transportation

Down to Earth will take account of these discussions to develop its first thematic report, which is planned for the end of 2023.

As Down to Earth continues its mission to foster sustainable rural development, these stakeholder meetings serve as crucial forums for collaboration and exchange of ideas and ensure actual impact on rural communities.