Cidereu

CIDEREU: European Citizens United by the Culture of Cider and the Apple

Project Summary

CIDEREU (Citizens united for Intangible heritage of apple and ciDEr cultuRe in Europe) is the result of a collaborative process that has been gradually consolidated over recent years among various European cities and regions that share a common heritage: the agricultural, social, and economic culture linked to apple growing and the production of its derivatives, especially cider.

What began as a series of exchanges, meetings, and relationships between territories with shared roots has evolved into a European project that brings together ten cities from six countries (Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic) in a cooperation network that promotes a more sustainable, inclusive, and participatory future.

Framed within the CERV Programme (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values), CIDEREU seeks to strengthen the cultural, social, and economic ties among European rural communities, encourage civic participation, promote gender equality, and highlight an intangible heritage that is both a living memory and a driver of sustainable development.

The declaration of Asturian Cider Culture as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2024 gave the project new visibility and reinforced its meaning: recognizing that this legacy does not belong to just one region, but is part of a shared European history that deserves to be celebrated, protected, and passed on to future generations.

Objectives

Preserve and enhance the intangible cultural heritage linked to apple growing and the production of cider and related products.
Promote civic participation and European dialogue, strengthening the connection between citizenship, heritage, and sustainability.
Advance gender equality by highlighting the role of women in the agricultural sector and rural traditions.
Encourage generational renewal by bringing agricultural and sustainable culture closer to younger generations.
Contribute to Europe’s ecological transition by promoting sustainable farming practices, circular economy, and the consumption of local products.

Main Target Groups

Farmers and local producers linked to apple growing and cider production, with special attention to women in the sector.
Young people and students in primary and secondary education, through workshops and educational activities that promote values of sustainability, equality, and participation.
Local authorities and policymakers, by encouraging the exchange of sustainable public policies and listening to rural communities.
The general public, who will be able to discover the cultural and symbolic richness of this shared heritage.

Why This Project

In a context of rural depopulation, an aging agricultural sector, and the loss of Europe’s intangible heritage, CIDEREU was created to revalue traditional agriculture as a source of identity, sustainability, and social cohesion. The culture of apples and cider—present since the time of Charlemagne—becomes here a bridge between generations, territories, and shared European values.

What Will Be Done

Over two years, CIDEREU will organize a series of international meetings, exhibitions, workshops, and educational activities in the participating cities.

Three major European events will be held (in Italy, the Czech Republic, and Spain) to exchange experiences and disseminate results.

There will be photographic exhibitions and workshops on the role of women in agriculture, as well as participatory workshops promoting the exchange of experiences between territories and collecting European recommendations aimed at fostering more sustainable, equitable, and participatory rural policies.

School programs will be developed to raise awareness among young people about the importance of rural heritage, equality, and sustainability.

Finally, the European Network of Apple and Cider Cities will be promoted and expanded, ensuring the project’s continuity and growth beyond its initial duration.

Work Packages

WP1 – Connecting Cultures: Starting Point

Coordination: Trames Onlus (Italy)

This first work package marks the start of the project. A major international meeting will be held in Italy, where all partner cities will present their history and connection with apples and cider.
Over several days, participants will share experiences on three main topics:

The role of cider culture in rural development.
How apples and cider can support agricultural sustainability in Europe.
The fundamental role of women in this tradition.

This event inaugurates the CIDEREU network and lays the foundation for future activities. It will also coincide with a local apple festival, allowing open participation by citizens, producers, and youth.

WP2 – Women, Culture and Sustainability

Coordination: Municipality of Carrazeda de Ansiães (Portugal)

This block aims to make visible the role of women in the rural world, especially in agriculture and cider production.
An international photography contest will be launched, open to participants from all partner countries.
The selected images will form part of a traveling European exhibition, which will visit all project cities and serve as a meeting point for discussions on equality, female entrepreneurship, and sustainability.

Each city will host workshops, conferences, and “World Cafés” where women themselves will share experiences and good practices.

WP3 – Local Knowledge: Citizens’ Workshops

Coordination: Zavod Jnana Bhakti Prada Trust (Slovenia)

This package focuses on practical training and knowledge exchange.
Each partner city will organize local workshops on four key topics:

Sustainable apple and cider production.
Use of local raw materials and product quality.
Rural tourism and territorial development.
Climate change adaptation and circular economy.

The workshops are mainly aimed at producers, rural associations, and men and women working in agriculture, but they are also open to interested citizens.
The approach is hands-on: sharing tips, solutions, innovations, and experiences among European regions.

WP4 – Sharing Results and Learnings

Coordination: Mikroregion Chelčicko-Lhenický (Czech Republic)

After the initial workshops and activities, it’s time to bring together what has been learned.
This package includes the second major international meeting, taking place during the traditional Fruit Festival of the Czech microregion.

There, the results of the photography contest and local workshops will be presented, and strategies will be discussed to strengthen the role of women and youth in sustainable agriculture.

The event will also be an opportunity to connect with other European regions and attract new members to the CIDEREU network of cities.

WP5 – Sowing the Future: Education for Youth

Coordination: Municipality of Nava (Spain)

One of the project’s most important pillars is education.
This package promotes participatory school workshops in different countries, adapted to three age groups:

6–10 years: games and creative activities about apples and nature.
11–14 years: debates on equality, sustainability, and healthy eating.
15–18 years: projects on rural innovation, sustainable tourism, and environmental policies.

The goal is to bring Europe’s agricultural culture closer to young people and help them feel part of a fairer and more sustainable rural future.
Materials created in classrooms (drawings, videos, models, ideas) will be shared among schools in the European network.

WP6 – Celebrating and Projecting the Future

Coordination: Fundación Asturies XXI / Gijón (Spain)

The final work package will close the cycle with a large concluding event in Gijón, held during the city’s annual cider festivities, which attract over 2,000 people each year.
During this meeting, the project’s overall results will be presented, and a joint declaration of good practices will be drafted for a more sustainable and inclusive Europe.