Quality for the mountains: prosperity from people and territories
Euromontana's vision of mountain food supply chains.
The IX European Mountain Convention was organised on 22, 23 & 24 October 2014 in Bilbao, Spain. Entitled “A new CAP: mountain of opportunities”, this edition focused on quality products and mountain supply chains.
Mountain areas provide high-quality food products that contribute to the sustainable development of mountain areas. The recently created Optional Quality Term “mountain product” also helps to create added value in our regions. Yet, policies and funding instruments must better support mountain food and farming.
Following 3 days of discussions, the IX European Mountain Convention resulted in the adoption of the Bilbao Declaration “Quality for the mountains: prosperity from people and territories”. It sets out Euromontana’s position on agriculture and quality foods.
The Declaration includes:
- An overview of the 6 key elements for mountain supply chain development: innovation, territorial approach of mountain products, socio-economic benefits, protection of natural and cultural heritage, marketing and tools for quality and traceability.
- Recommendations to improve networking and cooperation between mountain products supply chains actors, to develop better synergies between mountains food supply chains and tourism and to prepare local development strategies that take into account the development of mountain food products.
- Euromontana’s future actions to promote mountain food supply chains.