Rural areas and agriculture as well as aquaculture are facing major economic, social and environmental challenges regarding climate change, loss of biodiversity and water supply. Consequently, there is a need for new or improved innovative business and production models in rural areas that tackle these challenges and have an impact on sustainability.
In this context, NEXRUR is supporting farmers and communities in rural areas co-design and co-create sustainable business models through a network of established community-led cases in Europe and China. By combining knowledge, practice, and international cooperation, NEXRUR aims to strengthen rural resilience, generating more jobs, better services, improved access to healthy food, and greater value for agriculture.
What you need to know about NEXRUR
- NEXRUR’s goal is to accelerate the development and adoption of new sustainable business models that support local economies and communities and protect and restore nature and resources.
- The project focuses on 22 case studies covering different areas like food production, agroforestry, food processing, and aquaculture, all spread across both the EU and China.
- Key stakeholders involved include consumers, farmers, local entrepreneurs, industry, landowners, and various other stakeholder groups, like local authorities and non-profits.
Our Objectives
Business model analysis
Study innovation dynamics surrounding community-led agricultural business models and provide guiding concepts and framework for co-creation and analysis of the business models.
Testing in real conditions
Design and test new bottom-up business models in an innovation network of established community-led cases in 22 case studies in the EU and China.
Engaging stakeholders
Bring together relevant stakeholders, initiating rich dialogues and collaborations, achieving the stakeholder engagement and promoting experience sharing.
Monitor performances
Investigate the key methods, indicators and parameters for monitoring and verifying improved social, environmental and economic performance for agricultural businesses
Disseminate
Promote the adoption of new innovative sustainable and inclusive business and production models in the EU and China in different agri-food value chains.
Future Impacts
Successful community-led business models
NEXRUR will develop tested and improved pathways, strategies for upscaling and outscaling, monitoring tools and policy recommendations for successful community-led business model development.
Boosted rural resilience
The project will foster the uptake of next generation community-led business models to boost rural resilience.
Rural areas development
Economic profit and competitiveness drawing on social and environmental benefits will be key to improve farmers’ position in value chain and create new jobs in rural areas.
NEXRUR at a glance
Full name:
Next Generation Sustainable Business Models and Monitoring for Rural Residence and Innovation
Call topic:
New sustainable business and production models for farmers and rural communities (RIA)
Programme:
European Union's Horizon Europe, under Grant Agreement ID: 101181273
Budget:
€ 5 999 774,50
Duration:
48 months (October 2025 - September 2029)
Coordinator:
ATB - Leibniz-Institut für Agrartechnik und Bioökonomie e.V
Project Partners
NEXRUR is a multidisciplinary consortium with 31 partners – 20 from the EU, across 9 countries, and 11 from China. It brings together research and technology organizations, academic institutions, associations, and companies.
The project consortium, coordinated by Leibniz-Institut für Agrartechnik und Bioökonomie e.V. (ATB, Germany), connects partners from Europe:
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The 11 partners from China are:
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Related projects
GreenCoop project
NEXRUR is sharing knowledge and developing synergies with the GreenCoop project.
