As the Food4CE project approaches its conclusion, it is time to present the results achieved and reflect on how they can continue to strengthen Alternative Food Networks (AFNs) across Central Europe.
The Food4CE Final Conference, titled “From Best Practices to Policy – Advancing Logistics and Collaboration in Alternative Food Networks”, will take place on 26 February 2026 at the University of Maribor (SI) – SLOMŠKOV TRG 15, 2000 Maribor, Conference Hall: Borisa Podrecca.
Over the past years, the FOOD4CE project has worked to strengthen AFNs across Central Europe by enhancing their logistics, digital capacities, and cross-sector collaboration. Now, as the project nears its conclusion, we are excited to bring together the entire community — local food producers, resellers of local food, logistic providers, researchers, policy makers, and innovation stakeholders — for a dynamic final event.
Why attend?
Over the course of the project, Food4CE has worked to improve logistics, cooperation and knowledge exchange within Alternative Food Networks in Central Europe. The final conference will feature:
- Key project results: Matchmaking Platform, Knowledge Transfer Platform and tool for Mapping of Best Practices.
- Policy recommendations: from local to macro-regional level.
- Showcase of inspiring best practices from partner regions.
- Recognition of excellence in AFNs.
- A forward-looking panel on sustaining the Innovation Hubs and scaling project results beyond FOOD4CE.
Whether you are a food producer, cooperative, logistics provider, policy stakeholder, researcher or AFN supporter, this is a chance to explore practical solutions and policy recommendations, join dynamic cross border exchange of knowledge and experience, access proven tools and connect with others from the fields of food, logistics, policy, and innovation.
Conference Agenda
The detailed agenda is available here: Food4CE_Final conference_Agenda.
Registration
Participants are kindly invited to register by 19 February 2026 via the registration form, by clicking here.
The event will be held in person and online and conducted in English. For online participants, simultaneous translation into their own language will be available via subtitles.
For more information, please contact Dr. Maršenka Marksel (Coordinator of Food4CE Project, University of Maribor): marsenka.marksel@um.si
We look forward to welcoming you in Maribor or online!
