“Ovidius” University of Constanța hosted the workshop “Green Deal in Dobrogea: From Farm to Table,” an event dedicated to fostering dialogue between students and professionals from agriculture, gastronomy, and tourism. The event was organized by Europe Direct Dobrogea together with the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences – Agriculture within “Ovidius” University of Constanța, in partnership with Flavours of Dobrogea.
The event took place in the context of Dobrogea’s candidacy for the 2029 European Region of Gastronomy title—an initiative aimed not only at obtaining a distinction, but at building a sustainable regional ecosystem based on collaboration, short supply chains, and local economic development.
A Dialogue About the Future of the Region
The workshop brought together over 60 faculty students, who took part in an interactive working format alongside invited guests actively involved in the field.
Anca Coandă – Europe Direct Dobrogea
The representative of Europe Direct Dobrogea spoke about the role of the Europe Direct network in informing and engaging the local community on European topics, with a focus on the Green Deal and the opportunities that European policies offer regions in their transition toward sustainability.
Florin Bidașcă – Moșia Generalului
A local producer involved in vegetable farming and permaculture, with a focus on biodiversity, rare seeds, and agricultural practices adapted to Dobrogea’s climate realities.
Mirela Mogîlă – La Mirela în Ogradă – Punct Gastronomic Local (Saligny)
A model of rural entrepreneurship built around one’s own household and the principle “we eat what we cook and we cook what we grow,” demonstrating the strength of short supply chains and the local economy.
Văru Cosmin-Mihai – La Colibe, Corbu – cătun arhaic românesc
The founder of the La Colibe project, an authentic and responsible tourism initiative built around nature, local identity, and experiences that highlight the region’s cultural heritage.
Dana Bartlett – Travel Haus
Active in experiential tourism and in the development of destinations with an authentic identity, Dana Bartlett highlighted the connection between local experiences and regional development, as well as how a territory can become a relevant destination at the European level. In this context, tourism is not merely promotion, but a driver of economic development, generating income for communities, supporting local producers, and contributing to job creation.
Teodora Moraru & Carmen Ispas – UNPR-RSE & Flavours of Dobrogea
The initiators of the Flavours of Dobrogea project and coordinators of the “Dobrogea – Candidate for the 2029 European Region of Gastronomy” initiative presented the project’s strategic directions and explained how sustainability, collaboration among local stakeholders, and the integration of the European dimension formed the foundation of this candidacy.
From Idea to Action: A Practical Workshop for Students
In addition to the dialogue with the invited speakers, the event included an interactive workshop entitled “Building Dobrogea 2030 – From Farm to Future,” in which students were challenged to imagine what had taken place between 2026 and 2029 for Dobrogea to become a European example of a sustainable gastronomic region. The exercise combined creativity with realism, integrating local resources, real challenges (such as drought or access to funding), and European opportunities.
The 2029 Candidacy: A Development Tool, Not Just a Title
Through this event, the organizers set out—and succeeded—in demonstrating that the title of European Region of Gastronomy 2029 is not merely a symbolic recognition, but a mechanism for regional development. The European Region of Gastronomy title, awarded by IGCAT – International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism, recognizes regions that leverage their gastronomic and cultural heritage to generate sustainable development, social cohesion, and economic growth.
“Green Deal in Dobrogea: From Farm to Table” is a concrete step toward building a connected, sustainable, and competitive region at the European level.