What we do

The INSPIRE project wants to transform agrobiodiversity conservation into touristic opportunities. 

How can this be achieved? 

First, by getting the 8 partners working on designing a sustainable tourism model based on agrobiodiversity. It will then be tested in 5 regions (Albania, France, Greece, Italy, Spain), where public and private tourism groups, farmers, and local communities will work together to apply it. 

In the end, all these initiatives would be transferable to a wider sample of territories in the future!

The project is organized in three “work packages” (WP). Together, they form a coherent path from local mapping and planning (WP1) to co-design and testing (WP2), and finally to mainstreaming and policy uptake (WP3). The collaboration between municipalities, civil society, and expert organizations ensures a multi-level and cross-sectoral impact, aligned with the broader objectives of the Interreg Euro-MED programme and the EU Green Deal.

Phase 1 – Local mapping and planning

This first work package, led by the Municipality of Messina, focuses on laying the foundations for a shared sustainable tourism strategy grounded in agrobiodiversity, through mapping, tool refinement, stakeholder engagement.

This foundational phase focuses on building a common understanding and strategic direction among all partners. Activities include:

• Mapping the agrobiodiversity across pilot areas in the Mediterranean
• Engaging local stakeholders in participatory diagnostics
• Refining and aligning existing tools for tourism and biodiversity management

This WP sets the stage for all future activities, anchoring the project in solid data, shared values, and tools tailored for local implementation. The inception workshop and the first study tour act as key activators for collective vision-building.

Phase 2 – Co-design and testing

This second work package, coordinated by Slow Food, tests co-creation processes for experiential tourism services and products in local Living Labs, with a strong emphasis on community involvement and capacity building.

WP2 activates on-the-ground implementation through Living Labs in the five pilot areas. It promotes a bottom-up, collaborative approach where local communities and stakeholders co-design:

• Authentic tourism experiences linked to agrobiodiversity (e.g., food routes, rural walks, heritage farming)
• Capacity-building initiatives and storytelling techniques to valorize local knowledge
• Strategies to promote inclusive, regenerative tourism models that restore both ecosystems and communities

The WP applies the Slow Food Travel methodology, encouraging a deeper connection between visitors, producers, and place. The testing phase also generates valuable insights for replication and improvement.

Phase 3 – Mainstreaming and policy uptake

This third work package, led by Eurovertice, ensures the transfer and capitalization of project outcomes, engaging policymakers and broader networks to amplify impact through the INSPIRE Pact and Interreg Euro-MED synergies. Together, this transnational partnership ensures a holistic, multi-scalar approach that bridges local needs with global sustainability goals.

WP3 ensures that the project’s knowledge, methodologies, and tools are shared, scaled, and sustained beyond the original partnership. Key outputs include:

• The creation of the INSPIRE Pact, a policy-oriented commitment to regenerative tourism and biodiversity
• Integration of INSPIRE outputs into Euro-MED and Interreg frameworks
• Development of a transferability plan and policy briefs aimed at local, regional, and EU-level stakeholders

This WP connects the dots between local innovation and transnational policy influence, ensuring that INSPIRE’s results live on through networks, institutions, and new projects.