Down to Earth's 2nd Thematic Conference and 4th Study Visit in Slovenia
During the first week of February 2025, the ISOCARP Institute was in the Slovenian region of Gorenjska for the 4th Study Visit of Down to Earth. As the project approaches the end of its second year, the Consortium met for three days to review the progress made so far, concentrating primarily on the research topic of Year 2: Access Barriers to Young Farmers in Depopulated Rural Areas.
The first day of the study tour included the project’s second Thematic Conference on the Interdependency between Climate Change, Agriculture and Rural Development with a focus on Youth. Throughout the morning, local experts, including representatives of the University of Ljubljana, the National Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and Slovenia’s Association of the Rural Youth, discussed challenges faced by young farmers to access and remain in the agriculture sector. The event was also the opportunity for project partners to present Down to Earth’s second Joint Thematic Report, including a Factsheet with Infographics, developed by the ISOCARP Institute.
During the afternoon and the following two days, project partners visited a number of local enterprises and farms in different municipalities of the Gorenjska region, including some within the area of the Triglav National Park. Through the exchange with farm owners and Mayors, we got insights into local funding schemes, promotion instruments for the insertion of young people in agriculture, and resilience strategies in views of the effects of climate change on the agricultural activity.
The Down to Earth Consortium also held a Management Committee Meeting in the morning of February 6th, during which project partners collectively discussed the main takeaways from the study visit. The ISOCARP Institute presented the latest communication and dissemination activities, as well as the strategic plan for the months ahead. The meeting was also the occasion to examine potential improvements of policy instruments, as well as to lay the grounds for the project’s third year, focused on “Policy instruments to foster the role of farmers and land managers in fighting climate change and environmental risks”.
Discover more about Down to Earth and this Study Tour here.
