Views from the south

And how is the financial downturn affecting small-scale agriculture in less wealthy countries? Read some views from LEISA's regional partners

Bankers need not apply

Nice little piece on the Agricultural Biodiversity Weblog on how some people are reacting positively to the current economic downturn by thinking more locally and sustainably about production.

Rural entrepreneurship

The RUPRI Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship have designed their site 'as a roadmap for those of you who are interested in learning more about entrepreneurship as a rural economic development strategy'. Information and resources to describe each step of the way along the road are available at the click of your mouse.

The Center also publishes Energizing Entrepreneurs: Charting a Course for Rural Communities and has companion online resources available here.

There is even a link to rural entrepreneurship in Northern Ireland on their old website, see breaking news.

For information on rural and social entrepreneurship, and assistance, in Northern Ireland check Invest Northern Ireland and SABP.

'Examples of regional innovation projects'

Talking about that ecological footprint there might some sustainable solutions and lessons here. The European Union Regional Policy publication Examples of Regional Policy Innovation contains summaries of case studies of good practice from the regional programmes of innovative actions, 2000-2006.

'The case studies present the objectives and activities of the various projects,
the strategic context, the innovative aspects, partnership, obstacles in terms
of design or implementation, results and impacts.'

Detailed coverage of the various case studies, such as Food logistics: providing local food through individual transport and distribution systems can be found on the InfoRegio website.

Thanks to the Economic Development Resources blog for the information.

Making every step count

A Welsh scholar has evaluated the economic impacts of walking in the Welsh countryside with some interesting findings.