GREASE Project: Sustainable Cultivation Models for the Greco Grape Variety
The GREASE project is developing sustainable management models for the Greco grape variety, funded by the 2020–2022 Rural Development Programme, with the aim of optimising the balance between plant growth and production and increasing profitability and environmental sustainability. Rural Hack helps to disseminate the results to local wine-producing businesses.
The project integrates traditional ethnobotany and a Foodsystem 5.0 vision in Cilento, transforming the collection and study of wild herbs into experiential training to enhance local biodiversity and strengthen the connection between community, landscape, and ecological transition.
The project analyses the role of female leadership in the wine sector as a driver of sustainability and innovation, equipping businesses with advanced tools such as AI-powered monitoring to optimise their environmental impact and build a network of women-led businesses at the forefront of the digital and ecological transition.
The project establishes a permanent workshop in Palo del Colle to map and strengthen the tarallo supply chain, bringing together producers, local residents and innovators through workshops and co-design, with the aim of promoting local grains and traditional craftsmanship as a driver of sustainable economic development.
The project establishes a “Pact for Living” to transform inland areas — such as Cilento — into hubs of social and technological innovation, encouraging policies that help young people to stay in or return to the area through the co-design of social and digital infrastructure.
The project promotes a new narrative around Campania’s rural heritage, creating models of territorial development based on caring for the land, promoting local biodiversity and regenerative agriculture, with the aim of generating economic, social and cultural value for rural communities.
The project develops applied research on emerging trends and digital transformation in agri-food supply chains, producing studies and reports that translate complex data into accessible guidelines to guide public policies and corporate strategies towards sustainability.
Irpinia and Sannio – Promoting the Wine Industry and Digital Development
The project supports wine-producing businesses in Irpinia and Sannio — accounting for over 65 per cent of Campania’s wine production — in integrating traditional production with digital innovation, boosting their presence on digital channels and strengthening the positioning of indigenous grape varieties on global markets.
The project positions Rural Hack as a catalyst for the digital transition in rural areas, democratising access to technological innovation for small-scale producers and younger generations through summer schools, smart agriculture workshops and international networking, with the aim of developing circular economy models that strengthen the identity and competitiveness of local communities.
