Work Packages

The activities of the BERAS Implementation project are organised in five work packages (WP):

WP1 Management & Administration

Lead: Södertörn University, SE

Contact: Artur Granstedt or Vesa-Matti Loiske

The management handles the day-to-day issues of the project, facilitates coordination of the project partners, convenes meetings and has the main responsibility for the progress of the project.

WP2 Communication & Information

Lead: University of Helsinki, Department of Agricultural Sciences, Finland

Contact Communication Manager: Sampsa Heinonen

Targeted communication throughout the project shall ensure wider visibility of project activities and achieved results. Furthermore communication will help the project to achieve its goals and will ensure transparency.

Conferences organized by the project:

• Opening conference in Helsinki 1-2 December 2010.

• Conference in Järna 24-27 May 2011 on BERAS Implementation Centres/Sustainable Food Societies (BIC/SFS)

• Conference in Copenhagen 26-27 October 2011 on Diet for a Clean Baltic, Common Agricultural Policy

• Mid-Term Conference in Riga 21-23 March 2012 on Investments and Marketing.

• Final conference in Gdansk will present the evaluation of the project and the Guidelines resulting from the project experiences.

WP3 Conversion of farms & Practical guidelines

Lead: Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, Germany

Contact: Karin Stein-Bachinger

The aim is to develop practical guidelines for conversion to ecological recycling agriculture and local sustainable food societies. Creating links between practical guidelines for farmers and the involvement of markets has the purpose of achieve the goal of the project and sustain a successful conversion to ERA after project time. The market implies direct involvement of the consumer, supporting ecological food products. The authorities also have a positive influence by setting ambitious targets for consumption of ecological food products. Concrete actions to enhance entrepreneurship may unlock financial resources.

WP4 Environmental, Economic & Sociological Assessments and Scenarios

Lead: MTT Agrifood Research, Finland

Contact: Pentti Seuri

Evaluate the environmental, economic and social impacts of conversion to ecological recycling agriculture within the project. Based on those evaluations develop recommendations to implement measures.
Review and comment on EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Lead: Södertörns University of Sweden.

Contact: Per Wramner.

WP5 BERAS Implementation Centres (BIC) and Networks

Lead: Polish Ecological Club, Poland

Contact: Maria Staniszewska

Establish prototype farms and societies following the BERAS principle of sustainable agriculture and regional based food systems – BERAS Implementation Centres (BIC). During the project period at least one BIC should be established in all BSR countries. BERAS Implementation Centres are called Sustainable Food Societies. 

BERAS mobile unit

Lead: Baltic Foundation HPI , Lithuania

Contact: Jolanta Paulaitiene

 In order to facilitate the establishment of BIC and promote the further implementation of BERAS the project is establishing a BERAS mobile unit with portable interactive exhibitions and BERAS software package ref. WP3 for the purpose of visiting eutrophication relevant farmland areas in all BSR countries.