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Murska Sobota

Murska Sobota 01

CRFS Lab description

Main aim and objective of the CRFS Lab

City of Murska Sobota cooperates closely with Green Point Living Lab to continuously implement innovative business models and technologies, to increase the proportion of local and safe food.

The key specific objectives, identified needs or problems that the CRFS Lab aims to address:
  • Increase the proportion of local food in the region
  • Empower citizens with information about the origin of food
  • Introduce and test the concept of reducing food loss and waste within the short food supply chain
  • Provide end-to-end technological and collaborative environment where SFSC actors and solution providers (SMEs, startups) could meet and use the living lab for systemic innovation in the areas of food production & processing, distribution, marketing, access and food consumption
The primary solutions that the lab intends to pursue during project implementation:
  • Ensure the traceability of products from farmers, with help of blockchain technology
  • Organising events in the local market in order to ensure the restoration of the city market
  • Establish the marketplace for food loss and waste at Green Point Living Lab and influence policy measures to cope with this important thematic.
  • Enlarge the network of farmers within the blockchain-based traceability system and connect the data sources within the newly established data space organised with the help of Digital Innovation Hub AGRIFOOD.
Living Lab Team
  • Tomaž Zadravec
  • Dr. Saša Štraus
  • Aleksandra Kocet
  • Daniel Copot
  • Tomaž Bokan
  • Vida Lukač
  • Simon Sukič
  • Dr. Tadej Pirc
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Murska Sobota

Slovenia

Murska Sobota is the largest town in Pomurje and the northernmost town in Slovenia. It is the administrative, economic, cultural, educational and health center of the Pomurje region. City of Murska Sobota cooperates closely with Green Point (Zelena točka) Short Food Supply Chain (SFSC) incorporating more than 70 local farmers, food producers and cooperatives, with logistics from own distribution centre and different means of sales. GREEN POINT acts as a living lab in the area of Short Food Supply Chain (SFCS), based on fully deployed and functional SFSC called Green Point, located in Pomurje region (Slovenia). Its mission is to: empower cities and regions as agents of food system transformation by providing a demo-based environment for social change and provide end-to-end technological and collaborative environment where SFSC actors and solution providers (SMEs, startups) could meet and use the living lab for systemic innovation in the areas of food production & processing, distribution, marketing, access and food consumption.

The region of Pomurje is covering 1.337km2 of land and has 122.068 inhabitants (roughly 5% of Slovenian population). The region has preserved unpolluted and untouched environment with vast fertile plains. At present sustained agriculture employs 8% of the working population. Among the most prosperous industries there are:

  • Textile
  • agri-food
  • metal-processing
  • chemicals

Main geographic and economic features of the region:

  • Typical rural area – villages spread around flat area and small hills
  • The most important area suitable for food production in Slovenia
  • Majority of farmers are small and specialized, focused in low-volume/high quality produce
  • Farm tourism very popular (farms, vine-shops, gastronomy)

Main needs of the region in terms of Smart Transition:

  • New/smart technologies to be implemented for smart farming
  • New/innovative (disruptive) business models following rural development goals
  • New markets (customers) where higher margins are achieved – transformation to agricultural tourism
  • Transition to eco-friendly, zero waste, healthy, socially responsible environment

Cities2030 partner organizations participating in the Murska Sobota CRFS Lab

Within the framework of Cities2030, the City of Murska Sobota or Pomurje region is represented by two project partners. Their collaboration is built upon their activities in the Green Point Living Lab, where both actors are engaged into bringing citizens healthy and safe food with involvement and promotion of local farmers.

ITC – Innovation Technology Cluster Murska Sobota (ITC, P30) is a non-profit Business Support Organization located in the North-Eastern part of Slovenia, with a vision to foster cross-sectoral innovation and implementation of novel technologies and ICT in rural-based sectors. ITC is also manager of the Green Point Living Lab activities. Please visit: https://itc-cluster.com/

Mestna Občina Murska Sobota (MOMS, P34), is a young and energetic town. The rich soil in the region creates conditions for excellent cuisine, where local and fresh ingredients are used. Full of ethnological curiosities, historical monuments, events and tradition, Murska Sobota is a true tourist delight. Please visit: https://www.murska-sobota.si/