YEARD (Youth entrepreneurship in agriculture and rural development)

Youth entrepreneurship in agriculture and rural development – YEARD (2022-1-KA210-YOU-000083830) is a project about agricultural entrepreneurship. Many of the Europe’s most disadvantaged youth live in rural communities and small villages whose weak economies offer them few opportunities to obtain decent employment. Especially in countries of Southern Europe, such as Greece and Italy, the rates of youth unemployment are almost double the European Union average. As a result, young people from rural areas are migrating to big cities and towns in order to have better chances of employment. At the same time, villages become deserted and life becomes harder for those left behind, while cities overpopulate, an effect that contributes to ecological degradation and a higher risk of large-scale disasters like pandemics. On the other hand, we would say that youth unemployment and few decent employment possibilities in rural areas are not the only common characteristics between Greece and Italy. Both countries are distinctive and unusual within the European Union (EU) because they both share a Mediterranean climate which enables production of a variety of crops not possible further north on the continent. Greece produces nearly 80% of the EU’s cotton and 9% of its rice. Italy produces over 50% of the EU’s rice and 45% of its soybeans. For other commodities, Italy is typically the EU’s fourth-largest corn producer and the fifth-largest wheat producer, including a significant amount of durum wheat for pasta. Greece also produces corn and wheat. Both countries have a hot and dry climate. They are also famous for their wineries and olive mills and the local products used in the Mediterranean cuisine that attract worldwide interest. Apart from the common challenges and characteristics, some very important common opportunities. Opportunities that if we use them wisely, we can tackle some challenges and meet some many important needs that rural communities and rural youth have. As we present in this project, a very important opportunity is the introduction, development and promotion of youth entrepreneurship in agriculture and rural development. Rural areas are ideal for the agriculture and rural development sector and can provide decent employment opportunities for young people, including NEETs and fewer opportunities (rural youth). Our are active in rural areas of Greece (Peloponnese, Glykovrisi in the region of Laconia) and Italy (Cicily island Giardini- Naxos) and have personal and professional connections with young people and synergies with stakeholders in these areas. By implementing this project, we will contribute to EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027 and score EU Youth Goals including connecting EU with youth e to regain trust and increase participation, moving rural youth forward to create conditions which enable young people to fulfil their potential in rural areas, quality employment for all and sustainable green Europe that is directly related to agriculture. This highlights the added value of funding and implementing the project.