The third interregional meeting of the INSPIRE Interreg Europe project was hosted by OPE (Office of European Projects) and RMEF (Rural Mountainous European Forum) - Cantabria, Spain, on May 27th and 28th, 2025.

The two-day event brought together partners and stakeholders from across Europe to share knowledge, examine local good practices, and explore policy approaches that support smart, sustainable development in rural areas. 

Study Visit  & Examples of Good Practice

The first day began with a field visit to Finca La Jerrizula in Coo, Los Corrales, led by CIFA (Centro de Investigación y Formación Agraria). The visit focused on innovative landscape management techniques for common grazing land, with the reintroduction of the hardy Tudanca cattle breed at the heart of the effort. Attendees learned about sustainable land maintenance strategies using controlled burning and managed grazing with goats and sheep.

The area faces several challenges, including a dense scrub landscape, wildfire risk, and resistance from farmers towards controlled burning due to historical distrust and administrative complexity. A combination of high-tech solutions—such as drones, GPS collars, and real-time data monitoring—and low-tech, traditional herding practices is yielding promising results. The initiative demonstrates how sustainable meat production and circular economy principles can go hand in hand with biodiversity preservation and climate resilience.

Steering Committee Meeting

In the afternoon, the Steering Committee gathered at Los Corrales Town Hall for an in-depth project update. Ongoing collaborations, including knowledge exchange and good practice opportunities, were discussed, along with a review of the latest developments and next steps for policy instrument implementation.

Workshop, Examples of Good Practice & Study Visit

The second day took place at Dougall’s Brewery, where participants took part in a workshop facilitated by Centro Tecnológico CTC. The session encouraged partners to reflect on Day 1’s learnings through the lens of Smart Village dimensions, using Cantabrian project case studies to inspire replication across other EU regions.

Participants explored a range of local projects in themed groups—Environmental, Cultural, and Economic—before selecting standout initiatives for deeper analysis. Projects showcased included:

• Fortexuval – Transforming forest waste into biogas and biochar

• Adbiotec – Pioneering biomethane production through anaerobic digestion

• Culturea – Preserving intangible heritage in small rural villages

• Natura Trail Network – Developing self-guided routes with digital infrastructure

• Art Points – A cross-regional initiative using micro-frequency communication to enrich cultural site visits

The day concluded with an engaging study visit to CIFP La Granja, a vocational education centre in Heras specialising in agriculture, livestock, and environmental studies. Recognised as a national Centre of Excellence, the school is a living example of how digitalisation and smart technology are being embedded in rural education.

Innovations at CIFP La Granja include:

• Hybrid classrooms with VR and 360° recording

• Simulators for forestry machinery and livestock care

• Smart irrigation and pest control systems in greenhouses

• Sensor anklets to protect livestock from predators

• AI-assisted breeding for hardy cattle and local poultry preservation

The centre’s commitment to applied innovation, sustainability, and regional development was widely recognised by INSPIRE participants as a model of excellence.

This third meeting of the INSPIRE project demonstrated once again the value of interregional cooperation, practical learning, and the integration of tradition with technology. Participants left inspired and equipped with new ideas to bring back to their own regions, continuing the shared mission of building smarter, stronger rural communities.

Looking Ahead 

The next interregional workshop will take place in the Tokaj Region of Hungary, in October 2025.

To find out more, visit the INSPIRE Project website below:

INSPIRE Project Website

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For any further information about the INSPIRE Project, please contact Nichola Grufferty at [email protected].