In late September, the Seville Chamber of Commerce became the meeting ground for farmers, social entrepreneurs, policymakers, and educators determined to rethink what “sustainability” really means. The occasion was the rE-dESIGN Transnational Workshop, part of the European project fostering resilient, green, and digital agri-food systems across southern Europe. Under the theme “Integrated Social Agriculture: Inclusion, Community Services, and Sustainability,” the workshop gathered partners from Spain, Greece, and Italy for two days of learning, exchange, and field visits — and, most importantly, to witness how social economy principles can bring regeneration to life.
Seeds of Inclusion and Innovation
The opening session, hosted at the Ayuntamiento de Dos Hermanas, set the tone: sustainability is not only about protecting nature, but about building fair, inclusive communities.
Participants presented local initiatives and good practices, each showing how social and environmental goals can strengthen one another. Among the most inspiring cases was Flor de Doñana Biorganic, a company proving that ethical business and agricultural excellence can grow in the same soil. Employing 99% local staff — over 80% of whom are women — Flor de Doñana has become a symbol of regenerative agriculture in Andalusia. Beyond its organic berries and environmental credentials, the company stands out for something rarer: a culture of dignity and shared prosperity. Flexible working hours, fair pay, and participatory decision-making aren’t slogans here — they’re everyday practice.
The Power of Social Enterprises: BioAlverde
The workshop’s first visit took participants to BioAlverde, a social and labour integration enterprise created by Cáritas Diocesana de Sevilla. There, the group saw regeneration in its purest form — people once excluded from the job market now cultivating organic fields, running local markets, and even reimagining sustainable fashion. BioAlverde embodies the spirit of the social and solidarity economy, showing that environmental impact and human dignity are inseparable. Its message was simple and powerful: “No sustainability without inclusion.”
Olive Trees and Heritage at Fundación Juan Ramón Guillén
The second day led participants to the Fundación Juan Ramón Guillén, an organisation devoted to preserving Andalusia’s olive-growing heritage while driving rural innovation. Set among centuries-old olive trees, the Foundation’s Olive Heritage Centre demonstrates how culture, education, and sustainability can merge. Through training programs for young people and women, environmental awareness campaigns, and responsible tourism initiatives, the Foundation connects tradition and modernity, ensuring that rural life remains vibrant and viable. Here, regeneration is not just about land — it’s about rooting the future in community values.
Andalusia as a Living Laboratory
Complementing the visits, representatives from AGAPA (Andalusian Agency for the Management of Agriculture and Fisheries) and the Seville Chamber of Commerce presented regional initiatives that make Andalusia a model of green transition. Projects such as Andalhuerto, Biodistricts, and Rural Energy Communities highlight how collaboration between government, businesses, and citizens can transform rural economies. As one participant put it: “What’s happening in Andalusia isn’t just sustainable farming — it’s a social renaissance powered by innovation and cooperation.”
A New Vision for the Agri-Food Sector
By the close of the workshop, one conclusion was clear: the future of food systems will be built by communities that care — about their soil, their workers, and their neighbours. From Flor de Doñana’s fair-labour model to BioAlverde’s circular economy approach and Fundación Guillén’s olive heritage work, each story reinforced a shared belief: social economy is not a side project — it’s the backbone of real sustainability. As the rE-dESIGN partners move forward, Seville’s workshop leaves a lasting reminder — that regeneration begins not in policies or technologies, but in people willing to collaborate, create, and care.
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