Harghita County Development Agency, an institution subordinated to the Harghita County Council, carries out as the sole beneficiary the European project CAPfuture Information measures for healthy and quality foods. The approval was submitted during July 2021, and the project has a duration of 12 months, until July 2022. The main objectives of the project include the promotion of organic, precision agriculture and the new "Farm to Fork" European strategy in order to encourage young farmers to stay in their homelands, to support the production of healthy food and their organic certification. Between the specific objectives of the project are the activities of information and promotion among pupils and students of the EU Common Agricultural Policy, in order to raise their awareness about the importance of small producers, farmers and healthy eating by opting for local organic products. In this sense, the project provides for the organization of 5 thematic visits to farms in the county for high school students, interested in European measures regarding agriculture and following a specialized profile, for example in the field of agrotourism or horticulture. Young people are one of the most important target groups of the project. Therefore, in addition to high school students, the project also aims to collaborate with Sapientia University in Miercurea Ciuc. The first 3 visits to the farms will take place at the beginning of November, and two in December 2021, respecting the sanitary restriction measures in force. This activity will be organized in collaboration with several schools in the region and will be a real opportunity for young people to get a clearer picture of the process of production, processing of food raw materials. "Our goal is to bring productive activity closer to younger generations and to educate our children to buy responsibly. The clear vision of the Harghita County Council and the activity of the Harghita County Development Agency, as well as the mobilization of European Union funds are important in these efforts. Local producers, as well as traditional fairs, have an important role to play in presenting their work and efforts. We have started the Szekler Product movement for more than ten years, we draw strength from its results and we will continue to work to achieve our goals ", said Borboly Csaba, President of the Harghita County Council, regarding the project. "The Development Agency treats this project as a great achievement but also as a serious challenge. The project equally targets existing farms which can be pointed out as good examples, young farmers through exchanges of information and experience, consumers to consume local, traditional and healthy food, and finally students through farm visits and good practices.We want more and more consumers to recognize that choosing a local product not only stimulates the local economy but also takes an important step to preserve their health" declared Cilip Arpad, the director of the agency. Another central activity of the project is the planning of 4 bilateral good practice exchanges in Slovakia, Hungary and Belgium. The first bilateral exchange will take place in November, in Slovakia, depending on the evolution of health restriction measures. Thus, 15 farmers will be able to participate in the first delegation. This event is a unique opportunity to gain and exchange experience in the field of organic farming and obtaining organic certification. These exchanges of experiences will add value to farmers and producers in the county, including those who sell products under the local brand Szekler Product, which is more than 11 years old. The brand encompasses a wide variety of bee handicrafts, sausages, pastries, vegetables and the list goes on. Traveling abroad will be a great opportunity to promote this local brand outside the borders. Although for most project implementation members it is a new experience, they are delighted that through this project they can contribute to the promotion of precision agriculture, of From farm to fork Strategy, they have the opportunity to participate in exchanges of experience from which they can learn many new things and they are confident that they will handle the new challenges. The project has a value of 182,185.69 Euros and is co-financed by the European Commission, through the information measures program on the Common Agricultural Policy (IMCAP) and the Harghita County Council. In order to be up to date with the news and evolution of the project, the public is invited to follow the Facebook page of the CAPfuture IMCAP Inform 2021 project.

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