Innovation to foster sustainability and circular economy in Alpine forestry value chain

Traditional agricultural industries are producing natural food in a sustainable way. Small farmers in alpine regions have usually forestry and agricultural areas. This economically important sector is adapting its strategies to local and global challenges and has developed an enormous potential as enabler for new non-food products (e.g. bark). By fostering forestry/agricultural based innovations along new value chains (e.g. insulation materials).The development of small farms can be achieved through non-food activities by bring the farmers from supplier to producer of forestry products (e.g. unique furniture). The MAIN OBJECTIVE is to show ways of transforming the traditional agricultural areas into innovative, modern and sustainable manufacturing areas. This will generally enhance innovation activities and specifically improve the innovation culture of farmers unfolding the potential of agricultural value chains, expanding its traditional boundaries towards a stronger inclusion of customer-needs.The objective addresses the challenge of building up new forestry value chains for farmers (e.g. insulation materials). Particularly representatives from clusters, farmers and policy makers will be involved to ensure a transfer, take-up and development of methodological knowledge, tools and an appropriate support portfolio for the development of new value chains. This will lead to discussion and demonstration products to show possible new strategies for new value chains.