How can local food businesses overcome barriers to cross-border cooperation and reach new markets?
Farmers, food producers and other businesses in the agri-food sector often face different regulations, standards and support systems when operating across borders. At the same time, many existing projects have already developed valuable solutions, tools and networks that can help address these challenges.
Central2Table aims to build on these achievements by bringing together and capitalising on the results of 10 previous projects, transforming existing knowledge and experience into practical solutions that support local producers, advisers and public authorities.
Running from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2028, the two-year project is implemented under the Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE Programme. It focuses on strengthening skills, fostering cooperation between stakeholders and improving opportunities for local food products to access markets beyond their regions and national borders.
Building on the results of 10 projects
Central2Table will draw on the experience and outputs of 10 initiatives funded through different European cooperation instruments. These projects have addressed a range of topics relevant to local food systems, rural development, innovation and cross-border trade.
The capitalisation process will cover the following projects:
- Interreg transnational cooperation: Central Mountains and Food4CE.
- Interreg cross-border cooperation: Tracing Traditions, InfoPoints, Startup 50+ and CROSSDEST.
- b-solutions: Crossmarkets 2.0 and Breaking Barriers.
- Other initiatives: Bio-Model-Region and Rural Innovation Network.
By identifying transferable results, sharing good practices and connecting existing networks, Central2Table will explore how the knowledge generated by these projects can be used to support local food businesses and strengthen cooperation across Central Europe.
A partnership spanning five countries
The project brings together six partners from Poland, Czechia, Slovenia, Hungary and Austria:
- Fundacja Ochrony Krajobrazu (FOK), Poland – Lead Partner
- Okresní hospodářská komora Jablonec nad Nisou, Czechia
- University of Maribor, Slovenia
- RRA Podravje – Maribor, Slovenia
- Pannon European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation, Hungary
- RegiotechRegio3, Austria
The partnership combines expertise in regional development, business support, research and territorial cooperation to connect stakeholders and help local food systems benefit from European cooperation.
From local food to new opportunities
Over the next two years, Central2Table will work to connect local producers, food businesses, advisers and public authorities, strengthen their capacities and promote the practical application of knowledge and solutions developed through previous projects.
The ambition is to make existing project results work beyond the lifetime of individual initiatives, creating lasting connections between local food systems and opening up new opportunities for cooperation and market access across borders.
From Central Europe to the table – Central2Table is bringing local food, knowledge and people together to create new opportunities across borders.