Bucking tradition Traditional Balkan farmers have learned new ways of capitalising on their skills through support given by the REC in 2005. Grants supporting farmers in the Stara Planina region promoted various initiatives, including knowledge transfer from the Austrian Organic Farming Association. With REC support, the District of Pirot, Serbia and Montenegro, organised a study tour for local farmers to organic farms in Upper Austria (Schlierbach area). Workshops on agro-biodiversity conservation and regional branding and marketing were held. Other funds enabled local stakeholders to attend organic farming workshops outside the region. Following up, the REC has committed to a pilot initiative involving similar activities on the Bulgarian side of the border.

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