Published On: 20 de December de 2025/Categories: Agrifood sector, Vocational training program/Views: 12/2 min read/

Fundació KREAS Advances in the European Project CERAS to Promote the Circular Economy in the Rural Agro-Food Sector

CERAS is a transnational initiative (Erasmus+) designed to provide rural SMEs and the educational sector with practical tools for sustainability and the circular economy. At Fundació KREAS, we adapt these resources to apply them directly to the reality of the Catalan agrifood sector.

Fundació KREAS actively participates in the  European project CERAS (Advancing Circular Economy and Sustainability in Rural Business Activities. Skills for the Future), funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ program (ref. 2025-1-RO01-KA220-HED-000361049). The initiative, with an overall budget of €400,000 and a duration of three years (2025–2028), aims to train rural small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and educational institutions in the transition toward sustainable and circular business models.

As a first major milestone, a representation of Fundació KREAS took part in the 1st international project meeting on December 14, 15, and 16 in Maribor (Slovenia), organized by DOBA Faculty. Academic partners from Catalonia (the Chair in Rural World and the Chair in Agroecology and Food Systems at UVic-UCC) as well as the remaining members of the international consortium from Romania, Greece, Albania, and Slovenia also attended the meeting.

The Role of KREAS: A Real Connection with the Agro-Food Industry

Within the structure of the consortium, led by the “Vasile Alecsandri” University of Bacău (Romania), Fundació KREAS acts as a benchmark applied partner in the agro-food sector. KREAS’s role is key to ensuring that the scientific knowledge and digital tools developed are adapted to the practical reality, needs, and challenges of rural SMEs and industries in La Garrotxa and across Catalonia.

Main Actions and Key Outputs of the CERAS Project

Over the three-year execution period, the project will develop a set of innovative and open-access resources:

  • Circular Economy Indicator Framework: Definition of key indicators tailored to rural economic activity and the agro-food sector.

  • Interactive Web Platform: Creation of a shared digital learning environment for students, educators, and professionals from rural enterprises.

  • Teacher Training and Summer School: Blended learning programs for educators and the organization of a transnational summer school to connect students with job opportunities in rural environments.

  • 5 Open Training Modules: Development of educational content in circular economy, sustainability, digitalization, and entrepreneurship.

  • Workshops and Sectoral Transfer: Organization of workshops and technical sessions in Catalonia to disseminate best practices in circularity among businesses in our region and surroundings.

Participants in the 1st meeting in Maribor

Participants in the 1st meeting in Maribor

Through this international alliance, Fundació KREAS reinforces its commitment to high-quality training, environmental sustainability, and the competitiveness of the Catalan agro-food sector.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.