Project duration: 04/2025 – 10/2026
Status: DODIJELJEN

Izazov

Vela Luka, on the island of Korčula, faces significant threats to its agricultural and cultural heritage. The region’s production areas, notably olive groves managed by the Vela Luka Olive Growers Association, suffer from poor connectivity, youth emigration, and an aging farming population lacking digital skills. These factors contribute to a decline in agriculture’s competitiveness and threaten the long-term sustainability of local practices and indigenous olive varieties. As farming interest drops and knowledge transfer stalls, the risk to both economic and ecological resilience grows.

Naše rješenje

Heritage for the Future is a collaborative project designed to build a robust model for preservation and valorisation of Korčula’s natural and cultural legacy. The initiative centres on:

• Strengthening NGOs’ digital capacity: Training sessions in business planning and GIS analysis enable local organisations and producers to harness digital tools, enhancing their capacity to manage, optimise, and advocate for sustainable agriculture.

• Connecting local associations: Through workshops and joint activities, the project fosters collaboration between the Vela Luka Olive Growers Association, Novi Otok Association, and other stakeholders. This network approach supports shared learning and collective action.

• Developing sustainable cooperation models: By facilitating partnerships and dialogue, the project aims to develop strategies that balance economic growth with conservation of local heritage.

• Knowledge transfer and best practice sharing: Fieldwork led by the Rumarinka family farm (registered agricultural holding) will generate scientific recommendations for sustainable production. Interviews, data collection, and practical workshops encourage the adoption of resilient agricultural practices.

This approach builds on previous work mapping the local supply chain and promoting the geographical origin and quality of Korčula’s olive oil.

Ishodi projekta

• Educational workshops: Training on economic valorisation and GIS technology for olive growers, NGOs, and local producers.

• Fieldwork and research: Scientific data collection and interviews to inform sustainability recommendations.

• Cooperation models: Strategies for heritage preservation and sustainable rural development, created through stakeholder engagement.

• Best practices transfer: Documenting and sharing lessons learned for broader adoption across Dalmatian islands.

Uvid u organizaciju

Founded in 2018, the MIRO Institute is a French-Croatian organisation committed to sustainable island development. Leveraging international expertise and partnerships, MIRO collaborates closely with local institutions, such as LAG5 and Mljet National Park, to define agro-environmental baselines and address pressing environmental challenges. Their active engagement in both research and community initiatives positions MIRO as a leader in supporting the long-term sustainability and ecological value of the Dalmatian islands.