In the framework of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) project “Promoting Green Deal Readiness in the Eastern Partnership Countries (PROGRESS)”, the Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus (REC Caucasus), in collaboration with the Polytechnic University of Marche (UNIVPM) and with support from GIZ, organized a regional study visit to the Marche Region, Italy, dedicated to climate-smart and circular agriculture practices.

The four-day study visit gathered 20 delegates from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, representing farmers’ associations, research institutes, and local support organizations. The event served as a platform for regional exchange and peer learning, contributing to the PROGRESS project’s objectives of promoting green transition and resilience in the agricultural sector.

Participants engaged in a mix of lectures, field visits, and knowledge exchange sessions focused on efficient irrigation systems, integrated pest management (IPM), sustainable fruit production, and small-scale processing.

The study tour began with lectures at UNIVPM, introducing participants to Italy’s institutional frameworks for climate-smart agriculture and showcasing digital decision-support systems for integrated farm management.

During the study visit, participants had the opportunity to explore a range of innovative farms and cooperatives across the Marche region that exemplify climate-smart and circular agricultural practices. The program included visit to a local food processing that integrates biodiversity-friendly methods and multifunctional farming approaches to strengthen local ecosystems while maintaining high-quality production. At the Fabrizio Stoppo Farm, participants observed efficient irrigation techniques and the cultivation of climate-resilient berry varieties such as raspberries and blueberries — a clear demonstration of how water management can enhance both productivity and sustainability.

Further along the tour, the group visited Brandoni Farm, where modern technologies are applied to optimize water use and introduce smart farming solutions. The visits to CIV Nursery and Vivai Battistini provided valuable insights into advanced plant breeding and propagation methods, highlighting Italy’s leadership in developing climate-adaptive varieties for the future of agriculture.

The final day featured a visit to UNIVPM’s experimental farm in Agugliano and the Moroder Winery, where participants explored how academic research and traditional winemaking can merge to promote sustainable production practices. The program concluded at Rinci, an enterprise specializing in sea fennel transformation, illustrating how circular economy principles and the use of local wild species can create biodiversity-friendly and marketable products.

Through structured peer-learning sessions, participants shared good practices from the Eastern Partnership countries, discussed challenges in adapting EU Green Deal principles, and identified opportunities for replicating successful models in their national contexts.