SARETZEN, a collaborative network to transform the Basque rural agri-food sector

In the Basque Country, many small producers have food processing centers located in rural areas. On a daily basis, these producers face important challenges such as the need to adapt to a constantly evolving market, limited technical and commercial resources, and the lack of specific knowledge to innovate their processes. Sector studies have shown the need to offer them support in training, cooperation and innovation to strengthen their business models and improve their competitiveness.

In this context, SARETZEN was born, an innovation project promoted and energized by the Leartiker technology center, which is committed to collaboration as an engine for change. Its objective is to provide small rural producers with new tools and knowledge that will enable them to diversify and better market their products, thus contributing to the sustainable development of their activities and the environments where they work.

One of the main focuses of the project is the creation of a network among rural producers with processing centers, identifying their common needs. As a first action of the project, a questionnaire has been drawn up to identify the needs of food producers located in rural areas, with low production volumes and who market their products through short sales circuits, in aspects related to the diversification and marketing of products.

On the basis of the results obtained and with a shared diagnosis, work dynamics adapted to the context of the producers will be developed, focused on improving their strategies for diversification of processes and products as well as marketing. In addition, the exchange of experiences on production processes, product development and commercial actions of reference producers in rural areas will be encouraged, in order to generate useful and replicable learning, strengthening the producers' capacities to better position themselves in the market.

The dissemination of the actions developed and the results obtained will also be a key part of the project, to ensure that the knowledge generated reaches the sector as a whole and has a real impact.

Initiatives such as SARETZEN seek to strengthen the rural agri-food sector through collaborative innovation, generating mutual support networks and new opportunities for small producers in the Basque Country.

SARETZEN is led by Leartiker S. Coop. and has the collaboration of the rural development agency ADR Zabaia and the participation of producers such as Ana de la Maza, from Conservas Garai Maskilu Koop. Elk. Txikia, and Iker Yurrebaso, from Mimintzepe Baserria.