Author: Serafin Pazos-Vidal (AEIDL) The European Commission’s proposal for the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework will shape rural development for the next decade. The European Commission tabled ambitious proposals last...
Changing patterns of farmland ownership in Europe raise sustainability questions
Farmland ownership in Europe is shifting from family farms toward corporate and group holdings, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. While company-owned farms often improve economic performance, this trend raises concerns about food security, rural livelihoods,...
New GRANULAR report shows what matters for rural wellbeing
Author: Gundi Knies, Thünen-Institute of Rural Studies Wellbeing, fairness, and resilience are central goals of the European Commission’s Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas (LTVRA), yet the drivers of wellbeing remain complex and...
Housing prices and rural attractiveness: case study from Czechia
Authors: Ing. Jan Pavlík, PhD. (CZU), Ing. Tereza Burešová (CZU) Rural areas can be attractive places to live, but how much do housing prices influence their attractiveness? Research emerging from GRANULAR project, led by the Czech University of Life Sciences...
Rethinking Accessibility: Universal Design in Rural Lithuania
Author: Monika Belhaj and Živilė Gedminaitė-Raudonė New research from the GRANULAR project highlights inclusive innovations in the Ignalina region in Lithuania. Dr. Živilė Gedminaitė-Raudonė and Dr. Monika Belhaj from the Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences, have...
Exploring Rural Futures: GRANULAR Cross-Visit in Scotland
Author: Luise Koeppen (James Hutton Institute) On 21 to 23 October 21-23, GRANULAR partners from the James Hutton Institute welcomed participants from across Europe to Aberdeenshire for a three-day cross-visit exploring rural diversity, sustainability, and innovation....
GRANULAR Latvian Lab showcased at the Rural Pact Conference
More than 250 participants from across Europe gathered at the Rural Pact Conference for two days of dynamic exchange and debate on the future of rural policies. Among the highlights, GRANULAR partners from PREPARE presented the project, showcasing how community-led...
Unlocking rural potential: GRANULAR partners present tools for rural resilience at ERSA 2025
Earlier this summer, the heart of European rural innovation beat strongly at the 64th European Regional Science Association (ERSA) Congress in Athens. GRANULAR partners hosted a special session on “Taking into Account Diversity to Shape just Rural Futures: Novel...
Testing the GRANULAR Rural Proofing: What Living Labs Taught Us
Author: Giulia Martino (Ecorys) Can rural proofing really help policymakers design better, fairer policies for rural areas? That’s what eight Multi-Actor Labs across Europe set out to explore as part of the GRANULAR project. From Finland to Greece, and...
Rural resilience through a gender lens: What labour data and Regional Economic Dynamics in the EU reveals
Authors: Debora Pricila Birgier & Carlos Tapia (Nordregio) In many EU Member States, rural women face persistent structural disadvantages in labour markets. This has significant implications – not just for gender equality, but for the long-term resilience of...