| PROVE – helping small agricultural producers | |
| Brief Description | PROVE is a project that has responded to the difficulties of agricultural producers, especially those with small and very small productions. Building on producers’ concerns and local entities’ know-how about their territory and producers, the project has created a proximity trade, dispensing intermediaries. In addition, this practice involves building solutions through collaboration between local entities, producers and consumers, generating specific responses to each situation. This flexibility of work methodology makes it capable of responding to very diverse situations in very different areas. This practice promoted more appropriate management of the agricultural business, ensured the monitoring of agricultural production by technicians, diversified production through collaboration with other producers, provided computer tools for order management and accounting, and linked producers to information technologies and communication, giving another business visibility. In short, it enabled producers in the different levels of business, generating a sense of ownership that was dimmed.
The work done with the producers has resulted in a greater interest in this type of products, increasing the number of consumers and their geographical coverage. This has contributed to the flow of production, which results in higher incomes for producers and in healthier eating practices by consumers who eat local fresh products. Recognized as a good practice at the level of the European rural network, recently PROVE was the only one selected at national level to represent Portugal in Ireland at Cork2.0, the European Conference on Rural Development. To this aspect are added several prizes won over time. |
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| European Country/Countries | Portugal |
| Field | Consuming: Sustainable Production, Consuming: Healthy and Sustainable Consumption |
| Type | Intervention |
| Impact | Health, Equity, Environmental sustainability |
| Status | Ongoing |
| Target Group | General population |
| Evaluation | Yes |
| Level | Local, Regional |
| INHERIT Perspective | This project has been chosen for inclusion because of its role in promoting more sustainable forms of food production and consumption. New, more balanced and sustainable forms of production were created, along with the greater capacity of producers to manage their businesses. The agricultural products marketed are local, fresh and invite healthier food practices. Consumers gained greater knowledge of the rural world and changed and/or adopted their habits of consumption. Also, PROVE led to the valuation of an activity associated with a low level of schooling, increasing the income of the households of small producers. |
| Detailed description PDF filename | Download file |
| Relevant links | http://www.prove.com.pt/ |
| Contact | PROVE Tel.: 212 337 930 Email: prove@prove.com.pt |
