Public Engagement Strategy & Summary of Activities and Results (Final)

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement N° 101036838. D7.3 – Public Engagement Strategy & Summary of Activities and Results July 2025 Authors: Aran Blanco (KVC); Alba Matamoros (KVC) Ref. Ares(2025)6161286 - 29/07/2025 A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 2 І73 Technical references Project Acronym Agro2Circular Project Title TERRITORIAL CIRCULAR SYSTEMIC SOLUTION FOR THE UPCYCLING OF RESIDUES FROM THE AGRIFOOD SECTOR Project Coordinator Fuensanta Monzó CETEC [email protected] Project Duration October 2021 – March 2025 (42 months) Deliverable No. D7.3 D50 Dissemination level* PU Work Package WP 7 - A2C systemic solution adoption, replication and scalability Task T7.1.1– Public Engagement Strategy Lead beneficiary 21 – KVC Contributing beneficiary/ies UVEG, ICONS, CARM, INFO, EURA, CJM, AGRO, PRIMA, PROEX, CETEC Due date of deliverable 31 February 2025 Actual submission date 28 February 2025 * PU = Public PP = Restricted to other programme participants (including the Commission Services) RE = Restricted to a group specified by the consortium (including the Commission Services) CO = Confidential, only for members of the consortium (including the Commission Services Document history V Date Comments v0.1 10/02/25 First draft of document v0.2 17/02/2025 Revised version based on the comments of CJM, PROEX, PRIMA, CETEC V0.3 27/02/2028 Revised version based on the comments of ICONS, INFO A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 3 І73 v1.0 28/02/2025 First final version, approved by the WP leader and the project coordinator, submitted to EC. v2.0 29/07/2025 Second final version, approved by the WP leader and the project coordinator submitted to EC. Document Distribution Log Version Date Distributed to v0.1 13/02/2025 CJM, CETEC, PROEX, PRIMA, AGRO, UVEG, EURA, CJM, ICONS, INFO V0.2 17/02/2025 INFO, ICONS for internal peer review V0.3 27/02/2025 Coordinator for approval V2.0 29/07/2025 Coordinator andWP leader Verification and approval Name Date Verification Final Draft by WP leader Maite Ferrando 29/07/2025 Approval Final Deliverable by coordinator Fuensanta Monzó 29/07/2025 Disclaimer and acknowledgement This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101036838 Disclaimer This document reflects only the views of the author(s) the European Research Executive Agency (REA) is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains. Whilst efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of this document, the A2C consortium shall not be liable for any errors or omissions, however caused. A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 4 І73 Table of contents List of abbreviations .......................................................................... 8 Glossary .......................................................................................... 10 1 Executive summary <abstract> ................................................. 11 2 Introduction ................................................................................ 12 3 Agro2Circular Engagement Process ......................................... 14 4 Ecosystem Analysis ................................................................... 16 4.1 Analysis of the Citizen Engagement Infrastructure [updated] ...................... 17 4.1.1 Regional Level .............................................................................................. 17 4.1.2 Local Level ................................................................................................... 26 4.2 Stakeholders and Services ............................................................................... 28 5 Diagnosis ................................................................................... 29 5.1 Selection of Existing Infrastructure [updated] ................................................ 29 5.2 Preliminary Review ............................................................................................ 30 5.3 Levels of Participation in A2C Activities [updated] ........................................ 31 5.4 A2C Virtual and Face-to-Face Infrastructure [updated] ................................. 35 5.4.1 A2C Virtual Infrastructure [updated] ............................................................. 35 5.4.2 A2C Face-to-Face Infrastructure [updated] .................................................. 37 6 . Action Plan ............................................................................... 41 6.1 Regional Workshop on Public Engagement [updated] .................................. 41 6.2 Public Engagement Activities [updated] ......................................................... 43 6.2.1 Inform level [updated] ................................................................................... 43 6.2.2 Consult [updated] ......................................................................................... 53 6.2.3 Involve level [updated] .................................................................................. 55 A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 5 І73 6.2.4 Collaborate level [updated] ........................................................................... 62 6.2.5 Empower [updated] ...................................................................................... 67 7 Evaluation of the results ............................................................ 69 8 Conclusions ............................................................................... 71 9 Bibliography ............................................................................... 73 List of Tables Table 1 Virtual and face-to-face infrastructures ................................................................. 30 Table 2 Regional stakeholder panel .................................................................................. 63 Table 3. EU Stakeholder Panel. ......................................................................................... 64 List of Figures Figure 1 Quadruple Helix of Stakeholders ......................................................................... 14 Figure 2 Spectrum of Public Participation. Source: Vancouver Mayor’s Engaged City Task Force. Final Report. (2014) based on IAP2 Spectrum of Public Participation ............. 15 Figure 3 Region of Murcia and the municipality of Alhama de Murcia. Source: IDERM .... 16 Figure 4. Citizen participatory platform (Region of Murcia) ................................................ 18 Figure 5. Screenshot of the SAT linked to the website of CARM ministry of Agriculture ... 19 Figure 6 SIT MURCIA (Geoportal) homepage ................................................................... 21 Figure 7 EIEL CARM showing equipment for urban waste management in Alhama de Murcia ......................................................................................................................... 21 Figure 8 Screenshot of Plataforma Tierra .......................................................................... 22 Figure 9 Training section of Plataforma Tierra ................................................................... 23 Figure 10. LOOPA website ................................................................................................ 24 Figure 11. LOOPARM Best practices indicator framework ................................................ 24 Figure 12. A2C as success case at LOOPA dynamic catalogue ....................................... 25 Figure 13. Preliminary SWOT matrix: engagement processes for the implantation of the CE .............................................................................................................................. 31 A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 6 І73 Figure 14. Levels of public participation. ............................................................................ 32 Figure 15. A2C website homepage (What? section) in English ......................................... 35 Figure 16. Event created for the collaboration with Biowaste Club of HOOP project in April 2023............................................................................................................................ 36 Figure 17 Zones of the Alhama market with food stalls (marked in light green). One of the areas is located around the food market hall (Mercado de Abastos), marked with a shopping cart on the map. .......................................................................................... 38 Figure 18 Panel of opportunities for public engagement ................................................... 42 Figure 19 Plenary session ................................................................................................. 42 Figure 20. Last news published at A2C local website ........................................................ 44 Figure 21. Events published at the local website ............................................................... 44 Figure 22. Agrofood working day in Cartagena .................................................................. 45 Figure 23. Agrofood working day in Murcia ........................................................................ 45 Figure 24. Poster of the webinar ........................................................................................ 46 Figure 25. Workshop on circular business models at CCRI ............................................... 46 Figure 26. CETEC during the workshop at UPCT .............................................................. 47 Figure 27. A2C poster at the "Challenges of bioeconomy" conference.............................. 48 Figure 28. Photos of Cajamar Talent Area Conference ..................................................... 49 Figure 29. Exposition on multilayer films at CETEC/CTNC booth. Murcia Science Week 2022............................................................................................................................ 50 Figure 30. Food and nutraceutical compounds at CTNC booth during Science Week 2024 ................................................................................................................................... 50 Figure 31. Murcia FOOD Brokerage Event 2023 ............................................................... 50 Figure 32. CETEC presenting A2C at CONAMA 2024 ...................................................... 50 Figure 33. CJM at the Researchers' Night 2024 in Almeria ............................................... 50 Figure 34. PROEX at FRUITATTRACTION 2024 .............................................................. 50 Figure 35. Students during an Open Day at CETEC, Green Week 2023 .......................... 51 Figure 36. Demonstrator 4 at DMC Facilities. Site visit during General Assembly in October 2024 .............................................................................................................. 52 Figure 37. PRIMAFRIO and KVC at Alhama city market during the survey implementation ................................................................................................................................... 54 Figure 38. Survey on market and business analysis by ICONS ......................................... 55 A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 7 І73 Figure 39 Pictures of the Community-Based scheme ........................................................ 57 Figure 40 Seminar for the development of the Circular Game ........................................... 57 Figure 41 Circular Game awards at PRIMA facilities ........................................................ 57 Figure 42. Videogames presented at DISTOPIA Festival .................................................. 58 Figure 43. Final Agro2circular Video documentary. Link: https://youtu.be/pH1LYUV6alo . 59 Figure 44. Video pills published at A2C YouTube channel involving partners ................... 59 Figure 45. Roundtable at CIRCULARMENTE event with participation of EVERSIA as A2C partner ........................................................................................................................ 60 Figure 46: A2C partners at CIRCULARMENTE event: INFO, REGENERA, GWC, AGROFOOD and EVERSIA ....................................................................................... 61 Figure 47. GWC and AGROFOOD representatives being interviewed during the CIRCULARMENTE event ........................................................................................... 61 Figure 48: Visit to the Cañada Hermosa waste management plant during the mentoring programme ................................................................................................................. 62 Figure 49. Joint workshop with the HOOP project: Biowaste Club .................................... 65 Figure 50 Workshop at INFO ............................................................................................. 66 Figure 51. Screenshot of the 5th online workshop for validation of A2C model ................. 67 A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 8 І73 List of abbreviations A2C Agro2Circular AGRO Agrofood Cluster of the Region of Murcia CARM Autonomous Community of Region of Murcia CE Circular Economy CEBM Circular Economy Business Models CETEC Technological Centre for Plastic and Footwear of the Region of Murcia CETENMA Technological Centre for Energy and Environment of the Region of Murcia CJM CAJAMAR Foundation CIFEA Integrated Centre for Training and Agricultural Experiences CTNC National Technological Centre for Canning Industry DoA Description of the Action Dn.n Deliverable (number) DEMn Demonstrator number DIS Data Integration System F2F Face to face IAP2 International Association of Public Participation IDEE Spanish Spatial Data Infrastructure IDERM Region of Murcia Spatial Data Infrastructure INFO Development Institute of the Region of Murcia IPR Intellectual Property Rights KVC KVELOCE MCT MOCITOS Tn.n Task (number) M Month of project NDA Non-Disclosure Agreement PC Project Coordinator PRIMA Primafrio Foundation PROEX PROEXPORT (Fruit and Vegetable Exporters of the Region of Murcia) REA European Research Executive Agency SP Stakeholder Panel TCA Tecnoalimenti Tn.n Task (number) A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 9 І73 UPCT Polytechnical University of Cartagena UVEG University of Valencia WPn Work Package (number) A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 16 І73 4 Ecosystem Analysis This section aims to analyse the existing citizen engagement infrastructures and processes, to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the A2C citizen engagement strategies in the region of Murcia. The use of these infrastructures in the A2C project will be further explained in the section diagnosis (section 5), and action plan (section 6). The ecosystem analysis covered two different levels (Figure 3). a) Regional, as the Agro2Circular Project is focused on the implementation of a systemic solution for the upcycling of the most relevant residues in the agrofood sector (fruits, vegetables and multilayer plastics) that are produced and processed at the region of Murcia b) Local, as pilot activities for citizen engagement, namely a community-based scheme, have been carried out in the Municipality of Alhama de Murcia, in the centre of the region. Moreover, the engagement strategy was complemented at EU level by the activity 8.5 (Networking and Clustering) led by EURADA. Figure 3 Region of Murcia and the municipality of Alhama de Murcia. Source: IDERM A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 17 І73 4.1 Analysis of the Citizen Engagement Infrastructure [updated] 4.1.1 Regional Level 4.1.1.1 Virtual Virtual infrastructures comprise online platforms, application software, and collaborative channels having as a purpose citizen engagement at all levels (Inform, Consult, Involve, Collaborate, Empower), in the region and its municipalities. Region of Murcia Participation Platform The Region of Murcia participation platform (https://participa.carm.es/, Figure 4) responds to the regulation document (Law 12/2014 of the Region of Murcia Autonomous Community) that recognises the rights of citizens to participate in public affairs and requests the implementation of measures and tools to articulate this participation, applied within the scope of public administration of the Region of Murcia Autonomous Community and entities conforming the public sector. It is aimed at the Region’s citizens as well as citizen organisations having the region as their main area of activity. This technological platform is managed by CARM, concretely by the Office for Transparency and Citizen Participation (OTPC). It allows the diffusion, and the management of the citizen participation tools, promoting channels to interact with regional administrations in designing and evaluating public policies. The platform also includes links to different territorial scopes of participation, such as the municipalities, communities of citizens from Murcia in other Spanish regions and abroad, participation at the national and the EU level, as well as resources and information for associations. The platform also provides information on activities to promote citizen participation, such as workshops or funding. A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 18 І73 The platform foresees 5 types of participative processes: citizen contributions, public consultations, participative deliberation processes, citizen participation forums and citizen initiatives. At the moment of writing this deliverable, there are no open participatory processes in the fields related to the project. The platform also communicates through Twitter/X using the account @RMTransparencia Open Data Region of Murcia [updated] This website (https://datosabiertos.regiondemurcia.es/). responds to the commitment of the Region of Murcia administration to join the Open Data Initiative. The website works at the Inform level, providing data on a wide range of indicators (environmental, social, economic). Data can be used to generate applications and services. Currently, two applications are already launched: AGROCLIMA (integrated management of meteorological data with open access for agricultural planning, developed by the Institute in Murcia for Agricultural Innovation and Research – IMIDA) and Agenda Regional – Region de Murcia Digital (for Figure 4. Citizen participatory platform (Region of Murcia) A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 19 І73 mobile devices, providing information on next events extracted from the Region of Murcia digital portal, developed by an SME). Although there are no applications on the topics related to the CE, the platform includes a section where citizens can suggest the development of other services. Although in previous versions of the Public Engagement Strategy it was foreseen that this space could also host the Data Integration System (DIS) generated within A2C, in the form of a link, this could not be accomplished as the platform is not under direct control of the CARM department involved in the project. Nevertheless, both the website of the project as well as the public component of the DIS (https://sat.agro2dis.eu) has been linked hosted at the website of the Regional Ministry of Agriculture of the Region of Murcia (https://www.carm.es/web/pagina?IDCONTENIDO=933&IDTIPO=140&RASTRO=c80$m, Figure 5) allowing stakeholders to evaluate the environmental readiness of their region focusing on waste and resource management in the Agrofood sector. Figure 5. Screenshot of the SAT linked to the website of CARM ministry of Agriculture Open Knowledge Site of the Region of Murcia [updated] URL: https://conocimientoabierto.carm.es/ It is an open access repository where documents are stored and disseminated using normalised protocols to ensure the visibility of the documents and their authors, in such a way they are findable by specialised and generalist search engines. The repository was initiated as a training modality by the public administration school in 2011 and became a project for knowledge management in 2014 collecting digital contents A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 20 І73 from research, technical reports and other publications from the Region of Murcia. The website is currently coordinated by the transparency office of the Region of Murcia, while the document upload is overseen by designated persons in charge of each collection depending on the topics covered (Agriculture, Livestock and Fishing, Social Policies, European Union). Although in previous versions of the Public Engagement Strategy it was foreseen that this space could also host a link to A2C Public Deliverables, this option has been dismissed due to a wide range of IPR aspects to be considered and the operation of the Open Data service by departments not directly linked to CARM units linked to the project. As indicated above the link has been included in the Regional Ministry (Figure 5). Transparency Site of the Region of Murcia This website can be found at URL https://transparencia.carm.es/. It responds to the obligation of the autonomous community to provide active advertising that is regularly updated and published without an explicit requirement by the citizenship, thus ensuring the transparency that constitutes the first level of public participation (Inform) regarding institutional and organisational information, relationships with society, regulations, contracts and agreements, grants and subsidies, as well as information on budgets, properties, assets, land planning and environment. The information provided refers to the public administrations, autonomous bodies, public entities, foundations, and consortiums. The website includes information on corporate and civic participation bodies, the regulatory frameworks governing them, their sessions and the agreements achieved. The transparency platform also includes links to the open data website and the participation website. Other communication channels are: ● Twitter/X https://twitter.com/RMTransparencia ● YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnaWZAz4krBWI3GVcJw6wvA A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 21 І73 SITMURCIA: Geoportal of the Region of Murcia Spatial Data Infrastructure [updated] This service can be accessed at https://sitmurcia.carm.es/ (Figure 6) Integrated into the Spanish Spatial Data Infrastructure (IDEE), the Region of Murcia Spatial Data Infrastructure (IDERM) provides georeferenced data on different thematic areas, that can be visualised (thus relevant for transparency and information) using a GIS visor (hosted) or WMS/WMTS services (Figure 6). Under the thematic area Infrastructures and equipment, the portal includes the Local Infrastructures and Equipment Survey (EIEL; https://geoportal.imida.es/eiel_carm/), a qualitative and quantitative analysis tool of the services under the competencies of municipalities, allowing the distribution of resources and the planning of public investments, Figure 6 SIT MURCIA (Geoportal) homepage Figure 7 EIEL CARM showing equipment for urban waste management in Alhama de Murcia A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 22 І73 such as the location of waste management bins (paper/board, plastic, organic, batteries) as shown in Figure 7 for Alhama de Murcia. This infrastructure was initially considered of interest for the engagement of local actors for the community-based scheme: for instance, to host the information on bins installed to collect food waste. Nevertheless, it was later discarded, due to the punctual allocation of the bins during the days when Task 7.1.2. was carried out the first year of the scheme. Instead, the location of the bins was informed to the market vendors. Plataforma Tierra [updated] The Plataforma Tierra (Tierra Platform, URL: https://www.plataformatierra.es/) is owned by the CJM non-profit foundation partner of the A2C Project, created by the Cajamar credit cooperative bank private funding entity. It is available in English. The platform allows users to register as a user through a form, the compulsory fields being personal data (name, surname), the field of activity (Agriculture/Livestock, Industry and services, Knowledge, Public Bodies and Associations, Financing, Consumers, others) and fields of interest (including different types of crops and livestock species). After registering, the platform offers a summary of upcoming events and meteorological predictions (Figure 8) as well as information on key agricultural indicators (market prices), links to videos and news. In the top bar, the main menu is included with the following sections: Markets, Innovation, Tools, and Training. Figure 8 Screenshot of Plataforma Tierra A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 23 І73 It was initially considered to include a link to the A2C Data Integration System (DIS) in development under WP1 (Task 1.5) in the section Tools, and to offer courses under T8.6, aimed at different professionals and including technical and financial aspects of CE under section Training. Nevertheless, it is planned that the platform will finally host capacity building materials in the field of funding and webinars and seminars will be organized in the following months. Figure 9 Training section of Plataforma Tierra A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 24 І73 LOOPARM: Observatory of CE and Entrepreneurial Sustainability of the Region of Murcia [New] The Observatory of CE and Entrepreneurial Sustainability of the Region of Murcia (LOOPARM, https://looparm.es, Figure 10) was pushed forward by the Technological Centre of Energy and Environment of the Region of Murcia (CETENMA) with the collaboration of the CARM, INFO and backed by the Smart and Sustainable Strategy of the Region (RIS4, https://www.ris4regiondemurcia.es/). It is supported by the participation of different stakeholders representing academia (Polytechnical University of Cartagena, UPCT); private technological centres (Plastic and Footwear, CETEC; Canned Food, CTNC; Wood and Furniture, CETEM; Building, CTCON), Innovation and business centres from Murcia (CEEIM) and Cartagena (CEEIC) and entrepreneurial associations (FREMM). The website is available in Spanish. Figure 10. LOOPA website Figure 11. LOOPARM Best practices indicator framework A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 25 І73 LOOPA aims to stablish alliances to foster circularity, to set up a network of agents, professionals and agents implementing activities to drive the circular transition, to promote skill acquisition and awareness raising on concepts related to CE, and to measure the progress of CE through a framework of indicators (Figure 11). It also includes a dynamic catalogue of best practices and R+D+i projects related to the CE, one of them being A2C (Figure 12), reflecting the solutions for upcycling agrofood wastes. In addition, the website offers dissemination articles on different practices related to CE, some of them have been implemented by A2C such as the Digital Product Passport (DPP), a glossary with basic concepts and a section with events. The LOOPA website has facilitated the participation of A2C project in several initiatives related to the promotion of the CE at regional level, particularly CIRCULARMENTE (further described in the Action Plan section, see page 60) and a Sectoral Club (see page 45) on the circular transition of the plastic sector. 4.1.1.2 Face-to-Face (F2F) Face-to-face participation structures include those in which people can physically see one another, in person (meetings in the same room) or virtually through teleconferences. Sectoral Councils [updated] Different types of collegiate bodies operate in the Region of Murcia, among which those related to the topics of A2C are mentioned. These bodies meet the requirement of the government (President, Vice-president, or Regional Councillors): ● Regional Agricultural Advisory Council: ● Regional Advisory Council of Agriculture Professional Organisations. Figure 12. A2C as success case at LOOPA dynamic catalogue A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 32 І73 The spectrum ranges from low participation, where people are simply informed about the relevant problems and alternative solutions (on websites for example) to high participation, where stakeholders collaborate in the development of project deliverables through workshops. The spectrum levels within the A2C project were: Citizen engagement goal: To provide the public with balanced and objective information to assist them in understanding the problem, alternatives, opportunities and/or solutions. Promise to the public: We will keep you informed. Inform level only involves a one-way flow of information from the project to citizens, although it is an important foundation for community engagement since it builds knowledge and allows citizens to understand the public decision-making process and take informed decisions. Some authors ([1], [2]) consider that the Inform level should be placed across the spectrum, since effective engagement requires effective information to fully understand the project’s actions so that they can reach their own conclusions. This way, although informing does not involve community participation per se ([3], [4]), it increases the understanding of the issues, the ability of the stakeholders and communities to address them, and the compliance with regulations [5]. Hence, the Inform level is appropriate in situations where there is no opportunity for the public to influence decision-making. Simply informing them is the appropriate Figure 14. Levels of public participation. Source: http://tompkinscountyny.gov/tccp/publicparticipation A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 33 І73 activity. These activities overlap and are to be coordinated with those in WP8. Citizen engagement goal: To obtain public feedback on analysis, alternatives and/or decisions Promise to the public: We will keep you informed and will acknowledge concerns and provide feedback on how public input influenced the decision. The Consult level of public participation focuses on feedback and is the basic minimum opportunity for the public to input on analysis, alternatives or decisions. The responsibility for the decisions remains with the government or the organisations doing the consulting (i.e., the project manager). The Consult level is appropriate when specific input is sought from citizens for the decision-making, but early engagement is not possible throughout the process. There is a wide range of ways to perform consultations, some of which include processes that require little or no dialogue (surveys in a newsletter or digital platform) or involve a debate (public meetings, focus groups). Several activities in the Region of Murcia have involved stakeholders (among them citizens) at the consultation level: Citizen engagement goal: To work with the public to make sure that concerns and aspirations are considered and understood. Promise to the public: we will work with you to ensure that your concerns and aspirations are directly reflected in the alternatives developed and provide feedback on how public input influenced the decision. At the Involve level, citizens are invited into the process to a greater extent than at the Consult level. The goal is to work with the public throughout the process and to make use of their knowledge and expertise on a given issue. This implies a two-way exchange of information that encourages discussion while providing an opportunity to influence the outcome. The Involve level not only ensures a common understanding, but also the products or services provided are better tailored to the stakeholders’ needs. The regulation, standardisation or A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 34 І73 behaviour needs are accepted and sustainable and the resources are effectively applied at this level. However, while ‘Involve’ assumes a greater level of participation by stakeholders as they work through issues and alternatives to assist in the decision-making process, the organisation undertaking the engagement generally retains responsibility for the final decision. Citizen engagement goal: To partner with the public in each aspect of the decision-making. Promise to the public: We will seek direct advice and innovation in formulating solutions from you. Your advice and recommendations will be incorporated into the decisions to the maximum extent possible. At the Collaborate level, the public is directly engaged in decisionmaking in an interactive process with an emphasis on two-way processes. The Collaborate level of public engagement includes all the elements of Involve but takes it a step further, including an explicit attempt to find consensus solutions. However, similar to the Involve level of participation, the administration or project management board remains the ultimate decision-maker. The main challenge of this level is to create trust and to ensure that there is genuine engagement, which is often costly and time-consuming. Besides, there can be risks involved in processes at this level. If the promise is seen as being broken (e.g., if members of a community cannot agree on ways forward, or if some sections of the community feel their views were not taken into account), trust can be broken and future relationships with key stakeholders can be significantly damaged. The Collaborate level is particularly useful for controversial issues and complex problems because it entails a high level of participation. Citizen engagement goal: To place final decision-making into the hand of the public. Promise to the public: We will implement what you decide. At the Empower level, the public has the opportunity to make decisions for themselves, which implies a shared responsibility for making A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 35 І73 decisions and accountability for the outcomes of these decision. Empower represents the most challenging approach in community engagement, since it represents a commitment by the initiators (administration, government, project management board) to participate as a stakeholder and to share power in decision-making for collaborative actions [1]. 5.4 A2C Virtual and Face-to-Face Infrastructure [updated] 5.4.1 A2C Virtual Infrastructure [updated] In addition to the already existing participation infrastructures mentioned in section 4.1, the following virtual channels and sites have been used for the A2C public engagement. Web platforms • A2C website (https://agro2circular.eu ) – active, managed by ICONS as WP8 leader. The website homepage (Figure 15) includes information on the project (why, what, how, where, who), resources to download (deliverables, flyers, postcards), and news at EU level. It is linked to the Spanish version through the menu. Figure 15. A2C website homepage (What? section) in English A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 36 І73 • A2C local website (https://agro2circular.eu/es/ ): it was deployed by ICONS as Dissemination and Communication Level in May 2022, managed by PRIMA as partner leading the local outreach desk, and KVC responsible for the engagement strategy, while other partners (CETEC, PROEX, AGRO, DMC, CTNC) have also provided information and news for the local website. The Spanish section of the A2C website reproduced the general project website, with news related to the activities carried out at the regional level such as the pilot demonstrators, the community-based scheme, and events such as workshops and mentoring activities, forums and consultations, avoiding linguistic barriers (Figure 16). • Social networks: The Twitter channel (@Agro2Circular) and the official hashtag #agro2circular have been set by ICONS, as well as the LinkedIn profile (https://www.linkedin.com/company/agro2circular) . Current status Two types of publications were used at the A2C local website: o Events: This category was used to announce future events and activities, in which the public is called to participate. o News: News pieces are uploaded once the activities have taken place, summarising the main results and conclusions. Figure 16. Event created for the collaboration with Biowaste Club of HOOP project in April 2023 A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 37 І73 Current status According to D8.1, a Twitter profile (@Agro2Circular) and the official hashtag #agro2circular, as well as the LinkedIn profile were set and managed by ICONS, offering information in English language; at the local level, publications in these social media were shared by the partners in their own accounts (mainly PRIMA and KVC but also CETEC, AGRO, DMC, EVERSIA) in Spanish, tagging the projects’ profile and those of collaborating partners to ensure a wider dissemination. In April 2023, a Youtube Channel was opened, in which short videos were uploaded depicting the multidisciplinary scope of the project, the role of different stakeholders in the CE related to the agrifood sector, and the video documentary produced by PRIMA. Up to date, 22 videos have been uploaded. The impact of these activities is explained in detail in the Dissemination and Communication report. 5.4.2 A2C Face-to-Face Infrastructure [updated] Different structures and spaces for public participation were created within the A2C Project. • A2C Space at the regional level: This space was aimed at providing information on the project and the systemic circular solution of A2C. The local outreach desk deployed a stand at the local market (near the zones dedicated for food stalls, see Figure 17 and Inform paragraph in section 6.2.1) on a regular basis, where information on the project was provided and the activities were carried out. A request was also made to Alhama de Murcia Town Hall for a space in the Town Hall of Alhama de Murcia, as a supporting entity where participatory events, seminars, workshops and meetings would be held, constituting the office of the local outreach desk. A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 38 І73 Figure 17 Zones of the Alhama market with food stalls (marked in light green). One of the areas is located around the food market hall (Mercado de Abastos), marked with a shopping cart on the map. A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 39 І73 • Coordination and Management Group: This group was composed of the partners responsible for the public participation methodology of the project, who established agile and flexible governance systems to ensure the smooth communication and coordination towards all stakeholders (policy makers, industry, research and education, and citizens). The Current status Up to the launch of this Final Report, information regarding the project (brochures and flyers) were available at the Local Development Office of the Alhama de Murcia City Council. This office has also hosted meetings with stakeholders for the preparation of Task 7.1.2 and the implementation of interviews for the socioeconomic and sociocultural analysis (T7.4). As space limitation did not allow full dedication to A2C, the information was present in a corner together with other projects, which contributed to generating synergies with environmental initiatives. The local outreach desk at the Alhama City market was in function during two different periods: i) From November 2023 (M14) to June 2023 (M21), a booth was installed every 2 weeks at the Alhama city market within the activity T7.1.2. This booth acted as a space fully dedicated to the project, where information was shared using brochures and flyers, samples of upcycled products were distributed to citizens, and a raffle was held among the participants in questionnaires and surveys on CE practices. The booth was accompanied by 6 containers, in which the waste of fruit of vegetables (apple, broccoli, cauliflower, lemon, and grape) was collected during the community-based scheme further explained in D7.4. The activity was interrupted during the summer months, due to the high temperatures (weather alerts). ii) From October 2023 (M25) to April 2024(M31), the booth constituting A2C local space was present at the Alhama City market, on a monthly basis. During this period, the containers were not installed due to logistical constraints, and the booth was reoriented to raise awareness on the importance of CE practices and collect the feedback of visitors on the topic and potential acceptance of the products through questionnaires and surveys. Furthermore, the networking activities carried out by the project have also allowed the availability of spaces for the organization of participatory events, seminars, workshops and meetings, such as the Circular Education Lab in Murcia, aimed at the awareness raising and the widespread of circular practices. A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 40 І73 coordination and management group coordinated the different bodies created for the engagement process and acted as mediator in case any controversy arises. • Driving Group: This group was built in September 2022 after the CE workshop held in Alhama de Murcia in June 2022. Their main objectives were to generate synergies with other existing and ongoing projects at the local and regional level, organising activities, seeking mutual support, and detecting solutions for the implantation of the circular systemic solution. Current status The Coordination and Management Group was set up by KVC and PRIMA. They have held regular meetings (approx. 1 per month, online) to supervise the performance of the activities being carried out as part of the Public Engagement, and to coordinate the Local and Regional Dissemination and Communication according to the project needs, ensuring wider outreach. CETEC as project coordinator has supported this coordination and management group, providing advice and means to achieve the desired objectives (contacts, requirements to partners, information). Current status The Driving Group acted as part of the local stakeholder panel set up for the project. It was composed by partners based in the region of Murcia: Regional Development Agency (INFO), Industry (AGRO, PROEX, CJM), Research (CETEC, CTNC) and public Administration (CARM), together with KVC (Systemic Approach Manager) and PRIMA (Local Outreach Manager). During the project implementation, five workshops were organised, further detailed in the Action Plan (Collaboration level). A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 41 І73 6 . Action Plan 6.1 Regional Workshop on Public Engagement [updated] Under WP7, a regional workshop on public engagement at the regional level was organised in June 2022 at CETEC facilities in Alhama de Murcia to establish a participatory approach toward the stakeholders’ needs and priorities. It was organised to identify the interest, opinions, and wishes of the partners involved in WP7 at the regional level and to detect potential infrastructures and analyse synergies and barriers. The workshop represented a key point for organising the community-based scheme. Moreover, this workshop served to nurture further public engagement activities. Current status The workshop was organized by KVC and attended by CETEC, PRIMA, AGRO, PROEX, CJM, and CARM, constituting the first meeting of the Driving group. During the workshop, participative methodologies were used to explore the opportunities for engagement at the regional and local scales. First, shared in groups their interests and prospects, based on the 5 levels of engagement of the IAP2; thereafter, during a plenary session, the proposed activities were displayed on a panel (Figure 18). Most of the activities were framed in the inform, consult and involve levels. During this session, the infrastructures of public engagement in A2C were also discussed. These results were already reflected in D7.1, as the activities to be carried out at the different levels of IAP2. A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 48 І73 • CJM also presented a poster at the “Challenges of Bioeconomy in Andalusia and Spain” Conference in May 2024. The Conference took place at the Scientific-Technologic Park of Almeria (PITA) and was also attended by the partner DMC. The poster of the project was shown to companies and entities in the agrofood sector (Figure 27). • CJM organized a Conference in October 2024 “Cajamar Talent Area Conference” at the headquarters in Estación Experimental Las Palmerillas in Almeria, attended by 50 attendants from Cajamar branch network, primarily from the territorial divisions of Almería, Murcia, Málaga, Alicante and Extremadura, in which A2C goals were presented (Figure 28). Figure 27. A2C poster at the "Challenges of bioeconomy" conference. A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 49 І73 • Innovam+22 held in Cartagena attended by AGRO and CTNC in October 2022; • Attendance and presentation of results at National and International congresses in 2022, 2023 and 2024, such as CONAMA (Environment Congress in Spain); Murcia FOOD Brokerage Event organized by INFO in collaboration with CTNC in May 2023 (Figure 31); Crecestartup Agrifoodtech held online June 2023 with the participation from AGRO and CTNC; or FAMEINNOWA fair attended by PROEX in April 2023 and 2024. • FRUITLOGISTICA, attended by PROEXPORT in February 2023 and 2024 in Berlin, where A2C results were explained to agriculture professionals. • FRUITATTRACTION, attended by PROEXPORT and PRIMA in October 2022 (Torre Pacheco, Murcia), 2023 and 2024 (Madrid), explaining A2C Goals to professionals • CTNC together with Agrofood have organized an Event on 11th February 2025, in which the Catalog of Best practices for CE for the Agrofood sector was presented Further information on these activities can be found in the Dissemination and Communication Final Report (D8.3; M42). • PROEXPORT has held diverse meetings among their associates (General Assembly September 2022 in Aguilas, February 2023 in Torre Pacheco, and June 2024 in Murcia, together with the Governance Board held April 2024 in Murcia). Figure 28. Photos of Cajamar Talent Area Conference A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 50 І73 Figure 29. Exposition on multilayer films at CETEC/CTNC booth. Murcia Science Week 2022 Figure 30. Food and nutraceutical compounds at CTNC booth during Science Week 2024 Figure 31. Murcia FOOD Brokerage Event 2023 Figure 32. CETEC presenting A2C at CONAMA 2024 Figure 33. CJM at the Researchers' Night 2024 in Almeria Figure 34. PROEX at FRUITATTRACTION 2024 A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 51 І73 Site visits. Up to date, CETEC has already performed site visits (called Open Days) coinciding with the Green Week (June 2023, Figure 35), specially dedicated to young people and to students in the region from primary and secondary schools, vocational training and university degrees with close relationships to the project’s topics (CIFEAs, environmental sciences, biotechnology, chemistry, agricultural/industrial/chemical engineering, to mention some). Figure 35. Students during an Open Day at CETEC, Green Week 2023 Moreover, during the General Assembly held in October 2024 in Granada, DMC organised visits to the demonstrator at their facilities (DEM4 from those described in WP6 for extracting polyphenol from lemon waste and elaborating food additives), allowing the public (particularly industrial stakeholders and industry, but also researchers and public administrations) to fully understand the actions’ features and implications. A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 52 І73 Next steps During the Final Event to be carried out in March 2025, an Open Day is being organised consisting on site visits to the demonstrators (DEMs) are planned in 3 different locations: Alhama de Murcia (DEM1-First recycling plan of plastic Multilayer materials at GWC, DEM2-Building blocks production from PE and PET hydrolysates for cosmetic uses at CETEC; DEM5 -PHBV and carotenoids production at CETECBIO) and Molina de Segura (DEM3-Extraction of high added value substances from fruit and vegetable wastes at CTNC). They will be offered to the project partners, but also external stakeholders from the Quadruple Helix of Innovation (industry and private investors/funding entities, researchers and education sector, public administrations and civil society representatives) at regional level. In addition, videos will be recorded about all the demonstrators, also comprising those that for logistical challenges cannot be showcased during the event: DEM4-High added-value extracted substances from agrifood residues by green extraction +enzymatic hydrolysis assisted extraction + microwave; DEM6-Bioplastic PHBV compounds for packaging, DEM7-Recycled and recyclable high barrier compounds for food packaging, DEM8Bioplastic PHBV compounds for agricultural mulching applications and DEM9Recycled and recyclable high barrier compounds for agricultural applications), Murcia (DEM2-Building blocks from PE and PET for cosmetic uses, DEM5 -PHBV and carotenoids production and DEM10Digital Integration System. The videos will be disseminated through WP8 activities. Figure 36. Demonstrator 4 at DMC Facilities. Site visit during General Assembly in October 2024 A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 53 І73 6.2.2 Consult [updated] Socioeconomic Analysis: Under T7.4, the socioeconomic and sociocultural analysis required the participation of the stakeholders participating in two of the value chains addressed in the project (lemon pulp and peel, and disinfection film); the analysis is embedded in the evaluation framework, using the social organizational Lifecycle assessment (SO-LCA) approach. For the screening stage, a questionnaire was answered by 115 workers of the partners involved in the value chains described, and the results were reflected in the Socioeconomic and sociocultural analysis report (D7.8; M18). A parallel consultation was run targeting stakeholders’ managers, while VTT collected information for the environmental LCA (T7.3) and UB for the Lifecycle Cost Analysis (T7.4, results reflected in D7.8). It is worth highlighting that the questionnaire included different sets of questions, aimed at analysing the awareness and consciousness regarding CE, through selected questionnaires, as well as the environmental concern measured using the revised NEP (New Ecological Paradigm) scale ([6], [7]). Subsequently, from September to December 2024, the second stage of the Social Impact Evaluation (SOLCA) was performed, framed within T7.4. KVC designed questionnaires and interviews for different types of stakeholders: a) teachers participating in the video game contest and seminars; b) representatives of public administrations at local and regional level; c) representatives of industry participating in site visits and mentoring activity; c) market vendors and citizens involved in the community-based scheme in Alhama de Murcia. The content of the interview was adapted, depending on their participation level in the project and also taking in consideration accessibility issues to ensure participation of vulnerable groups (easy language, avoiding digital technologies to overcome the digital gap). For the case of the participants in the community-based scheme, the participation was rewarded with cosmetic products and A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 54 І73 biodegradable bags similar to those produced in the project. These methodologies complemented the questionnaires fulfilled by managers and workers from A2C partners, and the detailed methodology and results of the Final Socioeconomic and sociocultural analysis are described in T7.9 (M42, March 2025). Survey at the community-based scheme: In addition to the survey mentioned above, PRIMAFRIO implemented a survey in April 2023 embedded in Task 7.1.2, aiming at further engage the public in the implementation of CE and the A2C model while collecting their feedback on the activities. To optimize the participation, citizens were rewarded, for which specific merchandising materials were collected and the respondents of the survey participated in a raffle with a prize consisting of fresh fruits and vegetables. Other consultations. Other surveys have been performed along the project implementation: - For the co-creation of the multidimensional model (Task 7.5), a survey and an interview was fulfilled by 24 participants (partners and members of the Regional Stakeholder panel, see Collaborate Level) previous to the Workshop in July 2023. The surveys and interview consisted of a series of statements encompassing the 8 dimensions of the A2C model, environmental, technological, socioeconomic, financial, regulatory, governance, training and awareness raising, and standardisation). - For the elaboration of the Training Materials (T8.6), an online survey was designed by UVEG targeting stakeholders from academia and education but also industrial stakeholders (companies and professionals) and public administrations. The objective was to collect Figure 37. PRIMAFRIO and KVC at Alhama city market during the survey implementation A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 55 І73 insights on the types of materials and the contents considered priorities for the final version of the Toolkit of guidelines and training materials (D8.7; M35). - Framed in the Exploitation Strategy (T8.7), ICONS published an online survey at the website in October 2024, targeting experts from different industries to provide feedback on market trends, needs and opportunities in sustainable product development, connecting the advances of the project with real-world market demands in the sector of bioplastics, food additives and cosmetics (Figure 38). The results of the survey served to enrich the market and business analysis included in the Final Exploitation Strategy (D8.5, M41). - A Survey on Policy recommendations was elaborated by UVEG in November 2024, to collect information from EU stakeholders on the policy dimension of the A2C Model. The survey included a wide range of statements proposing policy measures to promote CE in the agrofood and plastic sectors, that was sent by email by UVEG, EURADA and KVC to the members of the A2C stakeholder panels and other representatives of industry and public administrations to be prioritised by the respondents prior to the organisation of a dedicated Workshop in December 2024. The results of the survey, refined during the workshop, are included in the Policy Briefs Final version (D7.13, M41) 6.2.3 Involve level [updated] Community based scheme. Under task 7.1.2, a participative and community-based innovation (T7.1.2) has been organised by PRIMA, with the collaboration of KVC, CETEC, CTNC, AGRO, MCT and EVERSIA, to foster the acceptance, awareness and knowledge of climate-neutral practices, alternatives, and behaviours but also aimed at strengthening Figure 38. Survey on market and business analysis by ICONS A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 56 І73 communities, paying special attention to the challenges that disadvantaged and deprived communities may face. After preparatory meetings with the Alhama de Murcia City Council (particularly, the Local Development Department), and associations of market vendors, the activity started in November 2022. During the first year (November 2022 to May 2023), the scheme consisted of the installation of a booth at the City Market , that acted as A2C Face2face infrastructure (see section 0), and 6 containers in which the market vendors deposited the 6 types of fruit and vegetable waste considered in the project, to be sent to CTNC for further processing and incorporation to the A2C value chains (Figure 39). After summer break, the activity continued from November 2023May 2024, but only installing the booth at the market, while the containers were not installed due to logistical constraints that difficulted the collection of fruit and vegetable waste for upcycling. The communitybased scheme has also served to distribute surveys and questionnaires to measure the social impact of A2C, organize awards, and present products similar to those that will be the final products delivered in the project. The results and the lessons learnt are included in the Community based innovation schemes report (D7.4, M42) elaborated by PRIMA. A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 57 І73 Figure 39 Pictures of the Community-Based scheme Circular game award. Circular Game was an initiative to teach young people (Primary and secondary education) about the CE in a fun and engaging way, creating videogames related to the CE using the software Arkade Makekode. With this aim, more than 300 students from different centres in Alhama and Murcia joined in groups in each of the two editions (2023 and 2024) to create videogames after receiving a series of seminars in their educational centres from February to May (Figure 40). At the end of the activity the videogames designed were presented to take part in a big contest on CE videogames. After the evaluation of the videogames by a multidisciplinary jury, considering criteria related to the presence of circularity concepts, design and usability, the winners were awarded in a ceremony celebrated at PRIMA facilities in May 2023 (Figure 41). In 2024, the awarded videogames were presented as a parallel activity at the Festival DISTOPIA of Cinema and Environment performed in Murcia (Figure 42. Videogames presented at DISTOPIA Festival Figure 42). Figure 40 Seminar for the development of the Circular Game Figure 41 Circular Game awards at PRIMA facilities A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 64 І73 Research/Academia CETENMA (Regional level) Environment research centre (private non for profit) Civil Society Ambiente Europeo (Regional level) Specialized in CE and pollutions issues, collaboration with industries Civil Society Ecologistas en Acción Región Murciana Environmentalist association with experience on impacts of with agrifood sector Table 3. EU Stakeholder Panel. Sector/Type of entity Entity & Level Description/Rationale Consumer Association Unione Nacionale Consumatori Umbria (Italy) Unione Nazionale Consumatori (UNC) is the first consumer association in Italy. Industry Spanish Food and Drink Federation FIABFOOD4LIFE Association of Spanish industry for food and drinks, member of the EU federation of food and drink associations. Experience supporting R+D, publishes documentation on food security and sustainability of food and drink industries Industry FILSE SPA (Italy) Regional development agency Liguria (Italy) supports region (public administrations) in development of policies and interventions Industry Agrotransilvania Cluster (Romania) Technology transfer centre of RDI in agro-industrial field at national level. Research/Academia Holland Circular Hotspot Private Research foundation that aims to accelerate the international transition to a CE through networking activities and knowledge change. A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 65 І73 Research/Academia Aalborg University (Denmark) Packaging technology, packaging machinery and press-forming, heat sealing and converting of fibre-based materials. Public Administration Municipality of Nea Smyrni (Greece)- Deputy Mayor. Implementation of circular projects related to food waste. . Workshops. Along the A2C project, 5 workshops were organised, consisting of different cocreation activities: 1. The first workshop served to validate the ecosystem analysis of the engagement strategy and draft the actions to be performed in the following months. The results of this workshop are detailed in section 6.1. 2. The second workshop was organised jointly with the HOOP project, as one of the Biowaste Clubs that take part in the city of Murcia, hosted by the Circular Education Lab (Figure 49). The workshop aimed at addressing the challenges that the regional industry faces to implement the circular bioeconomy and identify opportunities for collaboration. Regional partners of the project (CETEC, KVC, CTNC, SOLPLAST, GWC, MCT, PROEX, INFO) attended the workshop (Figure 25, together with stakeholders (UPCT, CETENMA and Science for Change-SfC). The workshop also highlighted the importance of collaboration and synergies between different actors and the need for development and improvement of cutting-edge technologies, to fill the existing gaps in circular value chains. Figure 49. Joint workshop with the HOOP project: Biowaste Club Figure 25. 3. The third workshop was held on July 7, 2023, at the headquarters of the INFO in Murcia. In this workshop, organised jointly by KVC and UVEG (Figure 50), organizations and companies represented in the workshop were members of the Driving Group (CETEC, CJM, PRIMA, INFO, MCT, Regenera, GWC, EVERSIA, AGRO) and the regional Stakeholder A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 66 І73 Panel (CETENMA, AEMA, UPCT, CIFEA, Alhama Municipality and Ecologistas en Acción). During the workshop, the results of the survey carried out electronically between June 15 and June 26, 2023, were presented, with the objective of gathering in first-hand the feedback of the participants about the results and validate with them the generalization of the multidimensional model that is being developed under T7.5, through the decontextualization of the statement of the items. The dimensions treated were: Environmental, Socioeconomic, Technological, Governance, Regulatory, Financial, Standardization and Training. For each dimension there were a series of items (challenges) that were assessed on the basis of the relevance for the adoption of the CE. Figure 50 Workshop at INFO 4. The fourth workshop was focused on the policy and governance dimension of the A2C model. It was held online, with the members of the Regional Stakeholder Panel, in November 2024, as a continuation of the third workshop and consisted of the validation and prioritisation of a range of statements, related with policy measures to promote the CE in the agrofood sector. A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 67 І73 5. The fifth workshop was held online on 17th January 2025, with the participation of the EU stakeholder panel. The aim of this workshop was to validate the A2C model and the selfassessment tool, evaluating their applicability to a wide range of EU regions and contexts (Figure 51).The results of this workshop are described in detail in the deliverables D7.16 Report on potential for adoption and scale up (M42). 6.2.5 Empower [updated] Figure 51. Screenshot of the 5th online workshop for validation of A2C model A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 68 І73 The activities of A2C have not covered specifically the empower level, as it was considered that this degree of engagement has been reached through the involvement in the decision making and policies processes implemented in the project, for instance, co-creating and validating the model and self-assessment tool, or elaborating policy recommendations . Hence, it is considered that the empower level has been reached indirectly, promoting 3 conditions among the public: • An enhanced awareness about the CE, the territory and the sectors involved. • The deployment of capacity building mechanisms at the individual and collective level. • The generation of a favourable environment allowing the development of an active and binding participation. A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 69 І73 7 Evaluation of the results The activities developed under the engagement strategy and their results have been analysed, and lessons have been extracted for the elaboration of the deliverable D7.11 A2C CE Action Plan elaborated by AGRO. Specifically, the lessons extracted from the Community based scheme carried out in Alhama de Murcia, together from the analysis of best practices in other regions, have been included in D7.4 by PRIMA. The replicability and transferability of the public engagement activities within the region of Murcia is reflected in several deliverables, mainly the A2C Multidimensional Model and SelfAssessment tool (D7.10). Moreover, the CE Action Plan (CEAP) for the region of Murcia (D7.11) addresses the needs and barriers that hinder the development of CE in the agrofood industry and drafts actions that can be implemented to overcome them along action pillars: improvement of critical mass; development of human capital, training and education; improvement of governance models and access to funding schemes; and enhancement of standardisation and regulations. The document also proposes the stakeholders that may play a key role in implementing the proposed measures and hence, the document can be considered as a “public engagement strategy” at the long term, after the project completion. • At the informative level, more than 20.000 people were reached by activities at the inform level. These indicators will be further detailed in the Dissemination and Communication Report-Final (D8.3). • At the consult level, the participation in surveys and questionnaires benefitted in the campaigns offering direct benefits such as small gifts or participation in raffles. All in all, more than 100 people provided their feedback, showing a degree of awareness on the problem of food waste and plastic pollution, and a certain acceptance of upcycled products (lower in the case of food products). In the case of the interviews, they counted with the participation of more than 20 stakeholders among public administrations, civil society organisations, and teachers participating in the social impact assessment. • At the involved level, the participation of vendors in the community-based scheme was lower than expected, but this was also related to the specificity of the fruit and vegetables to be used in A2C. There is a need for collaboration among different levels of public administrations (local, regional) to ensure consistent policies and measures. • At the collaboration level, 5 co-creation workshops were held, each one with the participation of at least 5 out of 8 members of the Stakeholder Panels, representing Public A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 70 І73 administrations, industry, research and civil society. Moreover, other collaborative activities have been performed with the other projects granted in the topic, such as co-organisation of workshops, participation in Events, further reported in D8.5. A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 71 І73 8 Conclusions The results obtained by the Public Engagement strategy could be applied at regional level through Action Plans, and at the European level in the D7.16 Report on potential for adoption and scale-up potential of the A2C project and other EU regions, and the Action Plans to be developed for the replication in Lombardy (D7.17) and Lithuania (D7.18). It must be highlighted that difficulties have been found along the project, to gather all the involved sectors and actors in the public engagement activities. These difficulties were different, depending on the level of engagement aimed: • At the informative level, no significant barriers were found. The creation of the Spanish section of the website has served to overcome language hurdles and emailing campaigns. Talks, seminars and participation in third parties’ events have been organized among the relevant stakeholders with the collaboration of CETEC, CETBIO, AGRO, PRIMA, KVC. The implementation of gamification techniques during the talks at primary and secondary school, such as Kahoot tests, was revealed as the most effective to engage the students. • At the consult level, the barriers found were related to creating forms that were accessible (in terms of language and use of technologies) with the target groups. These hurdles were overcome with designing tailored forms with adapted language, the duplication of surveys (using ICT and printed surveys to avoid the digital gap), and the organization of deeper interviews that allow reformulating the questions and solving doubts as required during the process. In the case of citizens and local communities, the provision of small gifts (samples of products obtained during the project, the award at the market) solved the potential hurdle of low participation. • At the involve level, the key role of public administrations and services at the regional and local level should be highlighted, providing participation infrastructures and facilitating the contact with relevant stakeholders, due to the long-time relationship and trust built before the project; nevertheless, this collaboration may be disrupted in case of political changes during the project lifecycle. To avoid this risk, collaboration was established with civil servants instead of policy makers, through meetings at the Local Development Agency and online, and allowed the direct contact with the market vendors, required for the communitybased scheme in T7.1.2, as well as the social impact assessment. On the other hand, the engagement of representatives of public administrations at the collaboration level (regional stakeholder panel) granted that their advice and recommendations were incorporated in the A2C model. A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 72 І73 • At the collaboration level, where higher commitment and time allocation is needed, there was a need to slightly change the composition of the Stakeholder Panels to maintain a balanced composition. This is aligned with the challenges reflected in the Diagnosis section for the collaboration level, due to the costly and time-consuming nature of the related activities. This problem was solved through the partners’ collaboration, that suggested contacts in their networks, and the implementation of additional mailing campaigns. A2C – Deliverable D7.3 v2.0 Page 73 І73 9 Bibliography [1] B. 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