A Fusquenlla: Agri-food transformation center for small farmers in Moeche
About this good practice
This project promotes the incorporation of young people into agriculture by reducing investments and contributes to curbing rural depopulation. In addition, it promotes more sustainable practices, which help mitigate climate change. Production and transformation in the territory itself allows to reduce the carbon footprint, as they minimize the need for transport and encourage a more efficient use of resources. Thus, "A Fusquenlla" plays a key role in the economic revitalization of rural areas and in supporting small farmers, fighting against depopulation and helping to prevent the abandonment of land, so reducing the risk of fires, an important problem in galician rural areas.
Four rural municipalities, traditionally linked to agricultural activity, have seen this reduced in recent decades. To reverse this trend, "A Fusquenlla" was born as a center that facilitates the transformation of local products, improving their marketing and creating new opportunities for rural employments.
This center is specialized in the transformation of garden products and fruit into juices, preserves and jams. It was created as a solution to process surpluses, and now it is becoming an incentive to increase local production. In addition, the center offers training, advice and marketing support, participating in pilot projects that seek to improve the profitability of farms and encourage collaboration between producers.
Resources needed
The total investiment was 355.625 euros, with two grants from the Leader program that covers 70%.
They also have a aid from the province of A Coruña for the investments and the maintenance of the facilities.
Evidence of success
Of the users who are dedicated to the sale, there are at least 11 people registered in the agricultural activity. Of these, 6 are women and 5 are men, all over the 30.
Approximately 10 young people under 30 used the workshop
The number of people qualified for compulsory training is around 80.
In addition, other municipalities joined the partnership that manages the space: Cedeira, As Pontes and Narón.
Visit of the Barbanza Ecosocial Laboratory: 5
Visits during the Moeche Cheese Fair : 60
Potential for learning or transfer
Creating an agri-food processing center in other regions has a high transferability potential, benefiting especially local producers. One of the main advantages is that farmers would not have to make investments to acquire equipment, since an entity would face those investments. This reduces the financial burden on small and medium-sized farmers, allowing them to access advanced technologies and transformation processes without the need to go into debt. By centralizing processing in a single location, resources are optimized, improving efficiency and the quality of the final product. In addition, this approach encourages collaboration between producers, generating economies of scale and increasing their competitiveness in the market. This model strengthens the local agri-food sector. In addition, given its ease of execution, it would allow its implementation in various regions.
Further information
Community food processing center
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Good practice owner
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