Central2Table will turn existing cross-border agri-food knowledge into practical, tested and transferable solutions for producers, SMEs and public authorities in Central Europe. Over 24 months, the project will build cooperation structures, test three border-area pilots and feed the results into policy and a joint toolbox.

Agri-food businesses in Central Europe face fragmented markets, differing national rules, certification requirements, language barriers, logistics constraints and administrative obstacles. These challenges are particularly acute in border areas, where producers are close to potential customers and partners but face practical barriers to cross-border cooperation.

The sector also faces demographic pressures: many farmers are approaching retirement, while young entrants and women remain underrepresented among farm managers and new business owners. This limits the sector’s capacity to adopt digital tools, new business models and cross-border market opportunities.

Central2Table addresses the limited practical uptake of existing knowledge, tools and cooperation models in cross-border agri-food systems. Previous projects have produced valuable results on innovation, logistics, regional branding, tourism, administrative barriers and inclusive entrepreneurship, but these are not yet sufficiently connected, adapted or applied by agri-food actors in border regions.

Producers and SMEs need accessible advisory support, practical tools and durable cooperation structures. Policy makers also need evidence on the barriers preventing producers from accessing markets and services across borders.

Central2Table will capitalise on existing project results by adapting, testing and upstreaming solutions across four pillars: Structured, strengthening cross-border cooperation structures in the agri-food sector; Skilled, improving innovation skills, digital capacities and knowledge exchange; Connected, improving cross-border market access, including logistics and administrative cooperation; and Rooted, strengthening cross-border tourism, marketing and the visibility of regional food identity.

Rather than creating solutions from scratch, the partnership will refine and apply existing outputs in three cross-border territories, working closely with local stakeholders.

The project will be implemented in three connected phases. During the capitalisation phase, partners will assess and refine existing tools and develop the joint strategy. During the pilot phase, they will test adapted tools through three cross-border pilots. During the upstreaming phase, they will consolidate results, engage policy makers and secure long-term uptake.

The pilots will test solutions in three border areas. At the Polish–Czech border, the project will support the cross-border market expansion of regional brands, including the Polish–Czech House of Regional Brands, advisory services, events and digital-platform upgrading. At the Slovenian–Hungarian border, it will promote business innovation and cross-border agritourism through the expansion of the Innovation Hub ORbITaLA, support to small and medium-sized enterprises and joint agritourism packages. At the Austrian–German border, it will provide inclusive cross-border innovation advisory services, workshops, cooperation mapping, branding support and training on legal and administrative requirements.

By the end of the project, Central2Table aims to create a more functional cross-border ecosystem in which producers, small and medium-sized enterprises, business-support organisations and public authorities can cooperate more easily across borders. The project will strengthen inclusive innovation by involving young people, older entrepreneurs and women in training and pilot activities.

In the longer term, the pilots, hubs, Info Points and toolbox will provide a replicable model for other Central European border regions seeking to turn local food identity and cross-border proximity into economic opportunity.