The main objective of the OREN project was to involve agricultural entrepreneurs in an interactive learning programme; more particularly, the OREN objectives were: - Discover insights and emerging patterns regarding rural business development; this objective has been covered in Project Result 1 (PR1). - Discover and analyze factors (environmental, socio-economic, geographical etc.) that contribute to successful rural businesses; said factors were identified through the activities carried out in PR2. - Analyze the structural elements of rural development, map the relationships that might lead to successful business models, and explore them through simulation with the purpose of identifying potential policies and points of unintended consequences; these activities have been carried out in PR3 - Develop and promote work-based learning for agricultural entrepreneurs with the purpose of increasing their business skills. To achieve such objectives, an e-course has been prepared in PR4, which provides the involved actors with the skills to design effective business models in diverse settings and the tools (theoretical and technical) to implement them appropriately.
Despite the diversity of rural areas in terms of their socio-economic performances, natural characteristics, and cultural heritage, the majority of them demonstrates intrinsic fragility in social, economic and environmental aspects. In 2016, OECD defined four areas of opportunity for the rural sector: forestry, local foods, tourism, and renewable energy. Maximizing the opportunities depends on various factors coming together. If one or two of the elements cannot be achieved, there could be stagnation or decline instead of transformation. These discussions underscore the importance of exploiting future opportunities in a manner that addresses rural vulnerabilities. Additionally, they underline the importance of properly addressing the potential of rural business by exploring the expected impacts of entrepreneurial choices, especially in terms of adopted business models and their sustainability in the future. In this context, OREN aimed to tap into the areas of rural opportunities, by promoting a managerialization of rural entrepreneurs while at the same time addressing the main weaknesses of the rural area through the possibility to help them simulate their business models’ expected outcomes, thus reducing business risks.