This autumn, the Shared Kitchens Network introduces a training programme for young food artisans. Supported by the Barcelona Provincial Council, the initiative aims to foster collaborative entrepreneurship and ease generational turnover in the Barcelona area. The network currently includes six facilities: the meat-processing facility at the Montserrat Rural Park, the Lluçanès cheese dairy, and the food processing facilities at Tagamanent, Manresa, Gallecs, and the Odena Basin Agrarian Park.

The programme targets farmers, shepherds, and livestock producers interested in transforming their products and selling them directly to enhance the economic viability of their businesses. It is especially geared towards young people with emerging food production projects.

The current edition features 13 courses covering a wide range of topics, including blue cheese production, meat processing techniques, and modules on legislation for operating workspaces, packaging, labelling, and agro-food marketing. Some courses are offered online, while others are in person, but all share the goal of providing valuable knowledge to small-scale entrepreneurs looking to diversify their production processes and highlight local food products.

The Shared Kitchens Network is part of the BCN Smart Rural strategy and is co-financed by the Barcelona Provincial Council and the FEDER funds.

For more information about these facilities and the training programme, please contact Sònia Callau, head of the Agricultural Territorial Directorate of Barcelona Provincial Council and coordinator of the BCN Smart Rural strategy.

— BCN Smart Rural Editorial —