The VISION4FOOD project continues its series of Food Innovation Platform (FIP) Warm-up Events across Europe, with the latest session held in Castilla y León, Spain, on 5 March 2026.

Organised by the regional government of Castilla y León and hosted in Valladolid, the event gathered 25 stakeholders from public authorities, industry and SMEs, academia, civil society, and farmer organisations. The session was moderated by ITACYL and aimed to initiate dialogue and collaboration around regional food system challenges.

During the event, participants identified a key challenge: the disconnect between producers and consumers, which limits the recognition and appreciation of local products. This led to several guiding questions, including how to better reach consumers, improve communication, and strengthen education around local food consumption.

In the co-design phase, stakeholders worked on the FIP Blueprint Canvas, highlighting the need to enhance the value of local products. Discussions emphasised that value should not only focus on the product itself, but also on farmers, production systems, and rural environments. The active involvement of civil society was noted as a particularly positive outcome.

The feedback received further reinforced that communicating the importance of agriculture to society remains a central challenge. Participants proposed solutions such as improving early education on food systems and creating platforms to connect consumers with local markets.

The event concluded with strong stakeholder engagement and interest in future collaboration. As a next step, participants will be invited to prioritise ideas through a follow-up survey, helping to shape the development of the regional Food Innovation Platform.