The 31st APDR Congress, held at the Polytechnic University of Leiria in Portugal from June 26-28, 2024, provided a rich platform for discussions on Regional Innovation Ecosystem and Sustainable Development.

AgriNext Project Lead at the Technological University of Shannon, Dr Anthony Oyeogbe, chaired the 'Regional Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem' session and presented the AgriNext Project on Multifunctional Agriculture.

Dr. Oyeogbe's presentation delved into Multifunctional Agriculture, emphasizing its potential as a sustainable model for fostering rural entrepreneurship and revitalizing rural economies. Here are some of the key points and takeaways from his talk:

Multifunctional Agriculture can play a pivotal role in revitalizing rural areas by creating resilient and sustainable communities. Dr Oyeogbe called for supportive programmes and policies that encourage multifunctional agriculture practices. Effective support systems on training and advisory services and collaboration with educational institutions, government agencies, and private sector (social) partners are crucial for empowering farmers to explore multifunctional opportunities, including subsidies and tax incentives for farm diversification activities.