Project Acronym - GARDEN

Partners Overview: 

1. University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture
2. FABLIM, The Mediterranean Food Territories Lab
3. CapEnergies
4. Ribera Consortium
5. FSTa - Economy and Sustainability
6. University Polytechnic of Marche
7. University of Donja Gorica
8. CENTRE FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES AND SAVING
9. Organisation for Local Development HERAKLION Single Member S.A.
10. Bulgarian Association for Transfer of Technology and Innovation ​​

The project aims to make more ecological logistics for food supply and the management of bio-waste, packaging, and used containers in Mediterranean cities, in order to reduce their impact on citizens and the global climate system. To do this, 6 pilot demonstrators will be set up in Spain, France, Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria, which will support experiments for the ecological transition.

Modeling and sizing work on suitable infrastructures, based on renewable energy (eg: charging stations with photovoltaic panels) and bio-fuels should make it possible to showcase the feasibility of carbon-free alternative solutions. In addition, to consider the transition in a long-term approach, the consortium will address the economic, organizational, and technological issues associated with the imperative of energy transition.

Through a multi-actor consultation in a living lab approach within the demonstrators on the pilot territories, the consortium will identify levers to make viable and secure the entire supply chain from producer to consumer by effectively connecting the different operators involved.

The results of these experiments will demonstrate the possibility to formulate recommendations for decision-makers to transform the city (urban development, provision of infrastructures) in order to face the challenges of tomorrow. The project consortium includes 10 beneficiary partners and 9 associated partners, public or private, skilled in logistics in territorial food systems, design of carbon-free logistics solutions, and support for public energy transition policies.

Role of PP10 Bulgarian Association for Transfer of Technology and Innovation – BATTI

BATTI will provide its expertise in innovation and the circular economy to support partners in implementing sustainable practices and circular economy solutions along the food supply chain.

Начало на формуляра

BATTI's role encompasses supporting the investments and animation of the Dolni Chiflik pilot site in Bulgaria. Additionally, BATTI provides support to the main partners of key Area 1 by defining energy system guidelines and technology solutions to be tested in the pilot sites, thereby promoting smart energy production and use. Furthermore, BATTI extends its support to the main partners of key Area 2 by offering methodological support for the animation of the living labs and integrating economic, organizational, and digital issues into discussions on the decarbonization of food logistics.

The total budget for the project amounts to €2,891,330.00, of which €2,313,064.00 financed by the Interreg Euro-MED Programme. This funding plays a crucial role in supporting cross-border cooperation, innovation, and sustainable development within the project’s scope.

 

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What We Achieved through GARDEN

The GARDEN - Greener AgRo-fooD logistics in the mEditerraneaN project aims to transform agri-food logistics across the Mediterranean region through more sustainable, efficient and low-carbon solutions.

The project approaches logistics not simply as transportation from point A to point B, but as a broader system encompassing food deliveries, biowaste and packaging management, the use of renewable energy, urban planning and the involvement of local communities.

GARDEN focuses on four main areas: energy transition, climate change adaptation, sustainable urban development and public policy support. The project tests practical solutions in real-life environments across six pilot territories in Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Bulgaria.

GARDEN: Green Logistics in Real-Life Environments

One of the most important features of the project is that its solutions go beyond analyses and strategies.

The six pilot sites serve as living laboratories, where solutions for more sustainable food logistics, renewable energy use, electric mobility, waste management and improved local services are tested, adapted and validated.

The pilots demonstrate how different local conditions require different solutions – ranging from electric vehicles and charging infrastructure to route optimisation, sustainable management of food flows and better coordination between public and private stakeholders.

Official GARDEN Project Video

The project has produced a presentation video introducing the project partners, pilot territories and the people behind GARDEN.

The video highlights the diversity of local contexts and the different approaches to greener and more efficient food logistics across the Mediterranean region.

Watch the official GARDEN project video:

 

Six Pilot Territories across the Mediterranean

GARDEN implements pilot activities in:

• Carcaixent, Spain

• Dolni Chiflik, Bulgaria
• Heraklion, Greece
• Saint-Maximin-La-Sainte-Baume, France
• Montpellier, France
• Senigallia, Italy

The interactive GARDEN Pilot Solutions Map allows visitors to explore the individual pilot sites, implemented solutions, videos and technical descriptions. It is one of the project's most useful visual resources, bringing together practical results in one place.

Explore the GARDEN Pilot Solutions Map

The Dolni Chiflik Pilot: Sustainable Logistics for Social Services

For BATTI, the most important practical component of the project is the pilot implemented in the Municipality of Dolni Chiflik, Bulgaria.

The official GARDEN website presents the pilot as a solution for more reliable and sustainable food deliveries to vulnerable residents through a more efficient logistics system and the use of cleaner transport. Its main objective is to support social services such as the "Hot Lunch" programme and improve access to food for people who depend on public assistance.

This pilot is particularly interesting because it demonstrates that green logistics can have a direct social impact.

In Dolni Chiflik, more sustainable transport is not only about reducing emissions. It is also about better route organisation, more reliable service delivery, improved coverage of local settlements and more efficient use of resources.

The Bulgarian pilot provides a valuable example of how environmental solutions can be integrated into real municipal social services, rather than being limited to private logistics operations or large urban transport systems.

The official project website also highlights the expected social benefits, including improved food security, better quality of life for vulnerable groups, reduced carbon emissions and stronger local support.

Explore the Dolni Chiflik Pilot

From Project Concept to Everyday Public Service

The Dolni Chiflik pilot demonstrates that sustainable mobility can be a powerful tool for improving social services. When logistics are better organised, the benefits extend beyond environmental improvements – services become more reliable, predictable and accessible to the people who depend on them every day.

This is precisely what makes the Bulgarian pilot particularly valuable: it brings together green transformation, public services and real human needs.

Short Documentary Film: A Closer Look at the Dolni Chiflik Pilot

Short Documentary: Sustainable Logistics in Action

The film presents the real-life implementation of the pilot activity in Dolni Chiflik, the daily organisation of social services and the role of more sustainable logistics in delivering food to local residents.

Through footage from the actual pilot environment, the film shows how project solutions are transformed into practical services – from transport operations and delivery routes to the people who rely on this support.

It adds a human dimension to GARDEN, demonstrating that behind the technical solutions are real communities, essential services and a genuine need for better organisation.

Watch the short documentary film:

 

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GARDEN and the Decarbonisation of Agri-Food Logistics

One of the project's strongest areas of focus is reducing the carbon footprint of agri-food logistics.

Within the project, various solutions have been presented, including electric vehicles, smart charging infrastructure, the retrofitting of vehicles and agricultural machinery, as well as other approaches to lower-emission transport.

This demonstrates that GARDEN does not treat decarbonisation as an abstract objective, but as a combination of technology, infrastructure, economic feasibility and organisational solutions.

GARDEN: From Pilot Solutions to Sustainable Local Communities

GARDEN demonstrates how greener logistics can be integrated into real local systems – food markets, social services, urban mobility and agri-food supply chains.

The project goes beyond theoretical models. Solutions are tested under real-life conditions, discussed with local stakeholders and evaluated according to their practical applicability.

For BATTI, the Dolni Chiflik pilot is a particularly strong example of how sustainable logistics can simultaneously reduce environmental impact and improve the quality of social services.