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Category: Regional Cluster Agri-food & Forestry

IURC Regions Explore Joint Climate Adaptation Strategies for Forestry and Viticulture

Climate change is increasingly reshaping landscapes, ecosystems, and agricultural systems across the globe. To explore practical responses to these challenges, the region-to-region Community of Practice (CoP) #2 - Resilient Agri-food Industry & Forestry - recently brought together experts, researchers, policymakers, and regional representatives from Europe and Australia for a webinar focused on the impacts of climate change on forestry and viticulture. The event provided...

Meet the IURC LAC regions working on smart-agri food

Across Europe and Latin America, regions are working together to advance more sustainable, resilient and innovative agri-food systems. Through the IURC Latin America and the Caribbean programme, these territories collaborate within the Community of Practice on Smart Agri-Food to exchange knowledge, address shared challenges and explore solutions linked to bioeconomy, food security, sustainable agriculture and territorial development. These are the...

EU–Japan Cooperation Enters Intensive Implementation Phase

The EU-funded International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) programme has entered an intensive implementation phase in 2026, further strengthening city-to-city and region-to-region cooperation between the European Union and partner countries. Cooperation is structured through Communities of Practice (CoPs)—thematic platforms coordinated by leading EU regions or cities—which bring together public authorities, industry, research organisations, and universities under a quadruple-helix approach. Each...

IURC Strengthens EU–Australia Collaboration on Climate-Resilient Viticulture

The International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) continues to advance international cooperation through its Agrifood and Forestry Community of Practice, with a dedicated focus on strengthening collaboration in climate-resilient viticulture. On 31 March 2026, experts from Europe and Australia convened for a specialised viticulture subgroup meeting, bringing together researchers and regional representatives to explore shared challenges and opportunities in wine...

IURC Advances Regional Cooperation in Resilient Agrifood and Forestry

On 31 March 2026, partners from Europe and Australia convened for the second Regional Community of Practice (RCoP) meeting, focusing on the finalisation of the Regional Cooperation Action Plan (RCAP). The session brought together representatives from regions including Western Greece, Gippsland, Val d’Oise, and Southwest Western Australia, alongside IURC coordinators. A Roadmap Around Four Key Activities The meeting confirmed that...

IURC Regions Advance Forestry Cooperation between Europe, Chile and Australasia

The IURC Region-to-Region Community of Practice on Resilient Agriculture and Forestry (CoP #2) has strengthened international collaboration through two dedicated meetings held on 24 and 27 March 2026, bringing together partners from Europe, Chile and Australasia to explore joint approaches to sustainable forest management. They are members of the sub-group "resilient forestry", including Trier Region (Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany), Southwest (Australia), Concepción-Biobio...

From Slovenia to New Zealand: Cultivating Global Innovation in Agri-Food

Can international collaboration solve the future of food? On March 12, 2026, a significant step was taken toward answering that question. Facilitated by the EU International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) programme, an online Academic Exchange Workshop brought together the Regional Development Agency of the Ljubljana Urban Region (RRA LUR) and Massey University in New Zealand. The goal? To bridge the gap between Europe and the Pacific...

Bridging Kyoto and Ljubljana: A New Era of Academic Collaboration between KIT and UL

The partnership between the University of Ljubljana (UL) in Slovenia and Kyoto Institute of Technology (KIT) in Japan is reaching exciting new heights. As active participants in the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) program, both regions are collaborating within the Community of Practice for Agriculture and Innovation. Throughout February and March 2026, a series of strategic meetings and faculty visits have laid the groundwork for expanded...

EU-Australia Region-to-Region: Pilot Action on Forest Water Resilience and Climate Adaptation

The IURC CoP for a Resilient Agri-food Industry & Forestry Community of Practice (CoP) continues to strengthen international collaboration on climate resilience, with a meeting on 18 March 2026 bringing together experts from Australia and Germany to address one of the most pressing challenges facing forests today: water stress and climate-induced die-off. The subgroup discussed a potential pilot action involving...

European and New Zealand regions sign MoU on agriculture and innovation

The Ljubljana Urban Region in Slovenia and the regions of Taranaki and Manawatū in New Zealand have formed a partnership under the European Union’s programme on International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC). The partnership is part of the IURC community of practice on agriculture and innovation led by Catalonia in Spain. This community is helping regions in Europe and in...