For the last few years, more than half the world’s population has lived in cities; a turning point in society has been reached and humanity has changed its ancestral way of living especially in view of the general digital development. These epochal social, cultural and economic changes are under research and a cognitive framework, through which we can discover the cultural and gastronomic heritage of our own territories as trajectories for a creative future, should be outlined. A 2020 EU-wide #Eurobarometer survey on food & farming was conducted and 95% of people say agriculture is important for our future. The collection, survey and communication of the cultural data–in our case the traditional agri-food resources–can be a precious capital of knowledge, resource of memory, identity and heritage for the present which, now as never before, feels the need to digitally connect with its analogical past. Our partnership for Creativity has engaged organizations in the fields of Agri-food, Youth, Non-formal Education & Digitalisation (GR), Agri-food & Entrepreneurship (BG), Agri-food & Tourism (SI), together with a Grass root Agri-food Cultural Association (IT) and has organized a vast, in-depth European youth project aiming to address the 2nd priority of the KA2 Erasmus+ Call, launched in light of the exceptional circumstances presented by Covid-19, whose objective is to enhance Creativity in the field of Youth. AHEAD, in total line with the EU Green Deal, is facing the challenges of Agri-food Cultural Heritage preservation in the age of digital technology we live nowadays, while raising awareness on the importance of promoting our agri-food traditions (traditional foods, techniques & methods of their preparation, acquaintance with local Agri-food organizations etc.) with the ultimate aim of enhancing the cultural tourism & agro-tourism sector of the regions involved. AHEAD's main aim is to enhance skills development and competences of young people (18-30) that reinforce creativity, as well as to boost quality, innovation and recognition of youth work, thus contributing to the recovery resilience of the Agri-food Cultural Heritage sector by making them Agri-food Cultural Heritage Ambassadors. AHEAD will organize the following IOs, all included in the project's Website, all in digital form addressing the needs of distancing given the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, using non-formal educational methods & game-based learning: 1.Methodological Handbook (e-Book) with all the necessary information on agri-food traditions for the research/promotion/preservation of the ivolved countries’ heritage. 2.Video Tutorials development for local agri-food products agricultural processes using innovative agricultural methods. 3.Digital Agri-food Serious Game design within which the participating youth can interact with each other and put into practice the Tutorials learned in IO2. 4.Online Seminar (e-Course) Curriculum development with the method of a living Lab for the selection of the Agri-food Cultural Heritage Ambassadors. We aim to involve at least 150 young people (age 18-30), youth workers & youth leaders who are working directly with disadvantaged youth in underprivileged rural and urban areas, and representatives from the participating bodies, all with a source need for their local agri-food heritage preservation. The project will engage a variety of local stakeholders in all project stages to increase their understanding on the challenges faced and thus boost their motivation to participate in similar initiatives. Objectives: •identify the traditional agricultural & food resources of local areas •raise awareness of youth on the significance of their preservation •equip young people with the necessary tools & competences needed to come up with creative, innovative solutions to promote their local heritage •acquisition of specific technical skills (cultivation, harvesting, management of an agricultural enterprise, marketing in a farm etc.) •provide opportunities for disadvantaged youth to understand their cultural heritage as a driving force of local development •fight back Agri-Food Cultural Heritage devaluation Results: •accessibility on cultural heritage knowledge •improve creative skills on local heritage preservation •raise awareness on its importance among youth of different origins •make them advocates of their local agri-food heritage, active, healthy living in their local communities Impact: •visitors' number in the countries involved increase through the agri-food value chain exploitation •establish EU partnerships •expand involved bodies' networks •participation of youth with fewer opportunities in international projects Long-term effects: •Covid-19 effects on cultural sector reduction •cultural tourism & agro-tourism sector of the participating regions enrich •digital agenda provision through which other cities all over the world can set up processes of capitalization of ther agri-food resources.
Our partnership for Creativity involves organizations in Agri-food, Youth, Non-formal Education & Digitalization (GR), Agri-food & Entrepreneurship (BG), Agri-food & Tourism (SI), along with a Grass root Agri-food Cultural Association (IT). Together, we have organized an in-depth European youth project aligned with the EU Green Deal. Named AHEAD, the project addresses the challenges of preserving Agri-food Cultural Heritage in the digital age while promoting awareness of our agri-food traditions. Our goal is to enhance cultural tourism and agro-tourism by developing skills and competences among young people (18-30), fostering creativity, innovation, and recognition of youth work. By creating Agri-food Cultural Heritage Ambassadors, we contribute to the recovery and resilience of this sector.
In recent years, there has been a significant shift in global demographics, with more than half of the world's population now residing in urban areas. This milestone marks a turning point in society, as humanity has departed from its ancestral way of living, primarily due to the rapid advancement of digital technologies. These transformative social, cultural, and economic changes have sparked considerable interest among researchers, who are actively exploring a cognitive framework that can unravel the cultural and gastronomic heritage of our territories. By understanding and embracing our past, we can pave the way for a creative and prosperous future. In 2020, the European Union conducted a comprehensive #Eurobarometer survey on food and farming, which revealed that an overwhelming 95% of respondents recognized the paramount importance of agriculture for our future. This finding underscores the recognition of agriculture as a critical pillar for sustenance and development, even in the face of digital progress. However, the significance of agriculture extends beyond mere sustenance; it encompasses the preservation and celebration of our cultural heritage.