In recent years, the castane-farming sector has evolved considerably, moving from essentially family food production to processed and marketed production. However, in Europe, there is a strong demand from the food-processing industries, but regional production does not cover its needs. This increased demand is due to the change in the dietary behaviour of consumers who are looking for gluten-free flours, natural and healthy products. This mismatch between supply and demand makes it possible to envisage a potential for development that would create profitable outlets and jobs. However, the chestnut sector is an agricultural sector in difficulty and in decline. In view of this reality, the CASTANA project aims to set up a programme of formative exchanges between actors of the sector at the European level in order to consolidate a sector in difficulty but rich in job potential and collectively create a European chestnut cluster. The project concerns technicians, trainers, producers, marketers in the chestnut sector, and people looking for employment or complementary activities or farmers, breeders wishing to open up to pluriactivity. The project is an exchange of good practices in this framework. Over 24 months, we foresee 4 mobilities on 4 well-worked themes - Castana Métier/formation mobility dedicated to the development of professionalizing resources in order to match training supply and demand. To upgrade the skills of the participants (arboriculturists, farmers, young people and unemployed people) and train them in the profession of castana farmer. - Castana Strategy, Development of collective strategies to support employment development in the sector - Castana Innovation and the circular economy - Work on the organization of a circular economy and innovation paths with regard to new consumer trends. - Castana Alliance - Strengthening the European network for enhanced cooperation by creating a European cluster These 4 mobilities will give rise to the emergence of a European cluster and pedagogical tutorials available on a youtube channel as well as on the partners' websites and other social networks. 3 transnational meetings are planned to follow the project and its good evolution, including a meeting with members of the European Commission and European elected representatives in Brussels. Methodology and results At the end of the project, the European chestnut sector is strengthened. The training tools (acts of the mobility sessions), the training tutorials lay the foundations of a prospective work. It is planned to continue the work on 2 European programmes: KA2 Erasmus strategic partnership Innovation and on line L-1144 of the Chafea programme (EU). An analysis on the circular economy and a cycle of recovery of lost products is proposed on each territory as well as a collection of innovative practices. Ultimately, the expected impact concerns the consolidation of jobs through training, the emergence of new bean farmers and the creation of a European cluster.
Strengthening and consolidating a European network of players in the chestnut sector in Europe, Establish a collective commitment between European players by creating the EUROPEAN CHESTNUT CLUSTER. Extending this network to other chestnut-producing countries The introduction of collaborative working methods with new applications submitted collectively, in particular the submission of an Erasmus+ CASTANA2 project. Organising the transfer of skills and technicians between European partners Recognition of the sector and its difficulties by national and European political bodies. Distributing educational videos on a YouTube channel
We applied to the Erasmus+ programme to support the chestnut industry in Europe. The chestnut sector is an agricultural sector in difficulty and in decline, and we wanted to take collective action at European level to consolidate the links between the European players in the chestnut sector. At the end of the project, our ambition was to set up a European chestnut cluster. Indeed, this sector is tending to disappear from our territories due to a significant drop in consumption, a lack of knowledge of the product among young people and diseases (cynips) that have endangered orchards. With CASTANA, we have set up a programme of educational exchanges and collective reflection on the future of the sector, which plays a significant role in the forest management of our rural areas, often located in areas that are difficult to access.