The overall objective of the project was to improve the recognition of the social economy and its potential by increasing its awareness and visibility through local social trials of short food supply chains (SFSCs). The specific objectives of the project were: - To train local communities in the creation of SFSCs and Solidarity Economy Districts (SEEDs) capable of connecting citizens and territorial stakeholders in the promotion of the principles of social, economic and environmental sustainability indicated by the European strategies CAP post-2020, Green Deal and Farm to Fork. - To build a community of practice to connect citizens, organizations and local administrations to create territorial development through methods of action at local level based on the principles of democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. - Respond to the problems of the social economy sector (as outlined in the Staff Working Documents accompanying the Social Economy Plan), in particular, the tools to reduce the impact on the environment and climate in the SFSC, starting from the producer up to the final consumer, understood as a consum-actor.
Participatory models of social economy (SFSC and Solidarity Economy Districts) were still a little-used tool for the promotion of communities and territorial economic development. Therefore, PlanningSEEDs sought to increase the value of local economies and societies by promoting their inclusiveness, resilience and sustainability, with a view to intergenerational enhancement and mutual reinforcement among the various target groups. Through a training course, we have tried to support the integration of people with fewer opportunities into European society and local communities, while responding to the need for active ageing and the involvement of the older population. The project aimed to promote communities as the centre of decision-making processes, creating sustainable mechanisms and structures of participation at the local level and building foundations for a stronger and stronger civil society across Europe. This is to directly improve inclusion and respond to the social isolation of target groups, also strengthening their European identity and valuing everyone's role as a valuable resource for the community.