The final DESIRA conference took place in Brussels, Belgium, on 26-27 April 2023 and featured a range of speakers discussing the challenges and opportunities of digitalisation in rural areas.
Around 100 people came together to learn about innovation in rural areas and discuss the results, impacts and practice and policy implications of the project.
Eight projects took part in a pitch session and presented their projects to the audience in a dynamic short pitch supported by presentations. Among them was SafeHabitus, presented by Lucia Princikova, SafeHabitus Communication Manager.
Through a place-based, multi-actor approach and a social innovation process, SafeHabitus aims to strengthen Farm Health and Safety Knowledge Innovation Systems (FHS KIS) and support the EU’s transition towards social sustainability in farming. Through novel methods and a collaborative approach, the project aims to advance safer practices on farms across the EU.
It was also an opportunity to meet other projects involved in innovation at the heart of rural areas, and to create new synergies and connections to help this sector evolve. It was particularly important to have discussed proven methodological approaches.
The DESIRA conference was a crucial event for discussing digitalisation in rural areas, and the importance of context, coordination, and integration to ensure the sustainable digitalisation of the EU’s agriculture sector. As the EU moves forward with its Rural Action Plan and Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas, it will be essential to continue these discussions and collaborations to ensure that the potential of digitalisation is fully realized in rural areas.
To find out more about DESIRA, visit their website here.