Development Of Rural Territories Research Articles

Communication as a Strategic Asset of Sustainable Development Planning of Rural Territorial Systems

Successful application of the communicative approach focused on the involvement of local communities in the process of planning the sustainable development of rural territorial systems greatly increases the effectiveness of planning processes. Where state management policy guarantees the participation of local communities in the process of rural territorial systems development, creates conditions for their involvement in the dialogue with local authorities, the chances of successful implementation of sustainable development plans increase significantly. The article makes an attempt to substantiate the necessity of introducing the communicative approach into the management system of rural territorial systems, as it will allow transforming the system of regional planning in Russia and achieving real breakthrough results in the sphere of development of social-ecological-economic components of rural territorial systems.

Promising Directions of Economic Development of Rural Areas: The Case of the Republic of Crimea

Introduction. Rural areas represent significant strategic potential for the socio-economic development of the country. In recent years, the role of the state in planning territorial development has increased significantly. This is due to successful experience in designing territorial and sectoral development in difficult periods of macroeconomic and geopolitical crises, financing and monitoring infrastructure projects that are important for the economy and society. The subject of the study are rural areas localized in the space of one of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, which recently became part of the state – the Republic of Crimea. The purpose of the article is to substantiate promising directions for the economic development of rural areas of the Republic of Crimea based on the construction of a structural and sectoral profile. Materials and Methods. The research materials were the scientific results of leading scientists studying the problems of the economy of rural areas, structural and sectoral transformations on a regional and municipal levels. The information base of the study was made up of official statistical data of Rosstat and Crimea, official websites of governmental bodies of the Russian Federation, and archival materials. The research was conducted using content analysis of scientific literature, retrospective and structural analysis. Results. Structural and sectoral profiles of the economy of rural areas of the Republic of Crimea for 2017 and 2022 were developed, which allowed to prove the presence of processes of structural and sectoral changes, identify key factors and justify promising directions for further development. The authors prove that against the background of ongoing changes in the economic space of rural areas of Crimea, the dominance of agricultural production based on the use of unique natural factors, resources and conditions (climate, soil fertility, availability of centuries-old technologies for growing agricultural products, etc) remains. Discussion and Conclusion. The decrease in the share of agricultural production in the sectoral structure of the economy of rural territories (municipalities) of the Republic of Crimea is the most significant for the period 2017–2022, which is primarily due to the following factors: strengthening of transport, logistics and recreational and resort functions of the region, development of other types of material production. Analysis of the structural and sectoral profile proves the sustainability of the development of rural municipalities of the Republic of Crimea, due to the focus on the needs of both visitors and local population. It is advisable to use the research results in the development of strategies, plans, projects for the socio-economic development of rural territories, municipalities and regions.

Excellence in the management of local action groups: an empirical investigation of critical success factors

PurposeThis study aims to evaluate the extent to which the criteria of the EFQM Excellence Model and the relationships between them are relevant in the management of rural territory development. Verifying this relevance is crucial as a first step to determine how the adoption of an excellence model could enhance the results of the local action groups (LAGs) in managing their territories. If successful, the benefits for the management of territorial rural development in Spain could be highly significant.Design/methodology/approachField data were collected through a questionnaire distributed to the managers of 253 LAGs in Spain during the first quarter of 2021. Hypotheses were formulated to evaluate the significance of the EFQM model in the outcomes achieved by LAGs. The data were analysed using partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) and necessary conditions analysis (NCA).FindingsThis study validates all the formulated assumptions regarding the EFQM model, including the mediating role of process management in the impact of strategy and the technical team (people) on outcomes. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that the adoption of a model of excellence could increase the effectiveness of LAGs in managing the development of their territories.Research limitations/implicationsLike all research, this study has its limitations. For example, the data used responds to an indirect approach to the criteria of the EFQM model. Direct measurement of the criteria was not possible because there were no LAG evaluations with the EFQM model or any other model of excellence. Additionally, the LAG sample used does not equally reflect the reality of the different autonomous communities, which, together with the relatively small nature of the sample, does not allow comparisons of the autonomous communities. The age of the participants was not included in the analysis, so it was not possible to evaluate the effect that this variable could have on the results. There are LAGs in other EU countries as well. It would be interesting to see whether the results obtained in this study with Spanish LAGs are consistent with those in other countries. The study was conducted at the criterion level. It would be of interest to delve deeper into the subcriterion level in future work. Finally, this study was based on the EFQM 2013, while the most recent study was from 2020, which is a limitation. When the study was designed, there was not yet sufficient experience with the 2020 model. It will be interesting to see in future work the extent to which the results and conclusions obtained remain consistent with those of the 2020 model.Practical implicationsApproaches to tackling the problem of rural development have often relied on intuitive and practical trial-and-error methods in the implementation of public policies rather than on a solid and validated theoretical foundation. Therefore, verifying the relevance of the criteria and their interrelationships, intrinsic to models such as the EFQM 2013 model, in the context of managing rural territories, can greatly aid the management of these types of organisations.Social implicationsThe development of rural territories is a critical issue that remains unresolved in many countries. Failure to address this, or not doing so in a timely manner, has consequences for equity and migration to large urban centres. Enhancing the effectiveness of the LAGs can improve the living conditions of people in rural areas and contribute to the overall development of rural territories in Spain. This can simultaneously help mitigate the depopulation of rural areas.Originality/valueTraditional approaches to rural development have often relied on practical trial-and-error methods in implementing public policies. The decision to adopt an excellence management model for the development of rural territories hinges on the validity of criteria and their interrelationships, such as those intrinsic to the EFQM 2013 model, within the context of rural development.HighlightsThe EFQM model of excellence is applicable in managing the development of rural territories, although some relationships between criteria, such as the case of Partnership and Resources on Results, are affected by the context in which local action groups currently operate in Spain.This study applies PLS-SEM in the analysis of the relationships between criteria of the EFQM model in the context of managing the development of rural territories.

Impact of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) on the Development of Rural Territories: Principal Component Analysis in SW Spain, Extremadura (2007–2020)

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is a European Union (EU) policy aimed at supporting farmers, guaranteeing food security, and promoting sustainable rural development, which has undergone numerous reforms to adapt to the needs of the agricultural sector and society in general. The main objective of this work is to statistically analyse CAP aid in southwest Spain, specifically in Extremadura, a region characterised by areas at risk of depopulation and deep rural areas, during the last two periods of European aid (2007–2013 and 2014–2020). In this study, by means of principal component analysis (PCA), agricultural, economic, and demographic variables were interrelated, together with geographic information systems (GIS), to evaluate their impact on the development of the regional agricultural sector. This methodology will help to identify areas with improvements in their territorial structures and can therefore serve as a basis for their application in other European territories. Through the analysis, we identified areas where the interrelation of the variables showed improvements in their demographic, social, and economic structures, with the municipalities of populations over 10,000 inhabitants in Extremadura being the ones that compose the territorial substructure A. Therefore, this work shows how European agricultural aid can disproportionately favour the most dynamic territories and leave the less developed regions at a disadvantage.

ОСОБЕННОСТИ И ПРИНЦИПЫ РАЗВИТИЯ СЕЛЬСКИХ АГЛОМЕРАЦИЙ

Agglomeration is a form of territorial space and is one of the tools for the sustainable development of rural territories, and their stable development provides the necessary conditions for the for-mation of the social sphere, infrastructure and the creation of additional jobs. One of the factors for the effective development of rural territories is rationally organized local government, one of the activities of which is the creation of rural agglomerations. The rural agglomeration is charac-terized by a high proportion of the population engaged in agriculture. Farmers, entrepreneurs, and specialists of various fields work here, who are engaged in the production and processing of manufactured products. The territory houses warehouses, processing and packaging plants. The rural agglomeration supplies agricultural products, raw materials and food to the trading net-works of cities, thereby playing an important role in the development of the country and increasing the economic well-being of rural territories.

Вопросы эффективности реализации Государственной программы комплексного развития сельских территорий

The article, based on materials from the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, analyzes trends in changes in the values of target indicators of the “State Program for the Comprehensive Development of Rural Territories of the Russian Federation” (GP KRST), shows shortcomings from the point of view of completeness of accounting in the indicators of certain important indicators of the effectiveness of rural development. Taking into account the legislative decisions of 2023 in intraregional territorial management, which consist in the formation of municipal districts, a territorial analysis of the emerging differentiation of levels and dynamics of the values of indicators (published by state statistics bodies) of the socio-economic development of the region was carried out, formulated proposals for measures aimed at eliminating imbalances and increasing the efficiency of implementation of the State Property Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Does collaborative governance mediate rural tourism to achieve sustainable territory development? Evidence of stakeholders' perceptions in Colombia

AbstractRural tourism as a diversification strategy might contribute to the sustainability of rural territories in developing countries. However, studies of the forms of how stakeholders relates are required to understand the configuration characteristics of the formal and informal dynamics present at a regional level. This paper explains the mediating role of collaborative governance between rural tourism and sustainable territory development in rural areas through quantitative research using structural equation modeling. The scales were validated by surveying members of civil society, the state, and the productive sector in Colombia. The results confirmed the reliability and validity of the measurement models. Additionally, they validated the dimensions proposed to determine the mediating role of collaborative governance between rural tourism and sustainable territory development. Finally, this document could contributes to a regional consensus on the role of collaborative governance in developing rural tourism actions that significantly promotes the sustainable development of rural territories.

Methodological aspects of management of sustainable development of agricultural industrial and rural territories: measurement, planning, forecast

The article deals with the change in the “paradigm” of the agricultural economy that occurred and was recorded in the “Concept for the Development of Rural Territories of the Russian Federation” in 2010 (developed in the “Strategy for Sustainable Development of Rural Areas of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2030”, 2015 [1]), but is not widely recognized (according to T. Kuhn’s theory of scientific revolutions), which is reflected in the increasing complexity of the systems studied by scientific economists -agrarians: agriculture (mechanistic model and independent controllable variables) — agro-industrial complex (intelligent observable system, the possibility of implementing management and quality control) — rural areas (“multi-intelligent observing systems” — social model, interdependent variables). Therefore, today it is impossible to reduce all agroeconomic research to “maximizing profit per worker or per unit of area”. Based on the need to apply a systematic approach, in conditions of challenges and sanctions, the need to expand the capabilities of traditional cost assessments based on the use of indicators (natural and relative assessments) of the quality of management decision-making is substantiated. When developing methods of analysis and management (agriculture, agro-industrial complex, rural areas), it should be taken into account that the systems approach updated in the work has also undergone three transformations over 80 years: operations research (optimization of agricultural production) or cybernetics 1.0; cybernetics 2.0 and open systems (quality management); cyber-physical systems in agriculture and agro-industrial complex.

Peasant Displacement and Food Sustainability: The Colombian Case

Social migration affects the development of rural territories in multiple ways, as it poses a threat to food security and hinders the achievement of sustainable development objectives. The purpose of this research is to represent peasant migration and measure its impact on food security, since it creates conditions that alter people’s access to healthy food. Our research question is: What variables can be used to measure the impact of peasant migration on food security? A three-stage model is implemented, which includes (i) the acquisition of knowledge, (ii) the representation of knowledge, and (iii) decision-making. These stages are the basis of the methodology developed by the ARCOSES research group (Méndez A. System Dynamics and Social Problems. Bogotá: Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas, 2012). The model developed to represent peasant migration and its impact on food security has five components. The model representation was applied in 58 typical rural municipalities, observing a potential loss of 30,580,000 tons of food, which amounts to 5% of the national production. Likewise, it was observed that 70% of migrating farmers are part of the economically active population. Colombian governorships should strive towards a greater and more comprehensive development of rural municipalities in order to avoid massive displacement to urban regions, which affects the availability of rural labor, causes poor agricultural production levels and compromises food sustainability. To ensure peasants’ full access to food and their well-being, an assertive intervention should be carried out by the Colombian State.

Implementation of circular economy principles to promote the development of rural areas

The relevance of the study lies in identifying and explaining the impact of implementing circular economy technologies on the development of rural areas within the framework of the state strategy for regional development in Ukraine, thereby contributing to ensuring the socio-economic stability of communities and the overall security of the country. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of utilising circular economy opportunities on the development of rural territories. The abstract-logical method was employed to substantiate the research methodology and formulate theoretical conclusions. The analytical and comparative methods was utilised to organise researchers' scientific approaches to theoretical aspects of circular economy development, refine the methodological basis, and substantiate the applicability of circular economy principles in rural development. The research utilised a graphical method to illustrate the findings and an abstract-logical approach to draw conclusions and recommendations. The study was divided into three main stages. The literature on the contemporary definition of "circular economy" was examined, and the driving forces and barriers to systemic circular economy in rural areas were analysed. The study investigated how European Union countries apply strategies to address environmental and economic issues through the lens of circular economy. The analysis of the experience in implementing circular economy practices in EU countries revealed a clear trend towards more sustainable resource utilisation and reduced environmental impact. The implementation of the "Farm to Fork" strategy under the European Green Deal is a crucial step towards ensuring sustainable resource use and implementing environmentally friendly practices in agriculture and the food industry. An assessment of the impact of implementing circular economy on the socio-economic development of rural areas was conducted, indicating that the development of circular models can be key to optimising resource utilisation, creating new employment opportunities, improving production efficiency, and increasing the profitability of agricultural enterprises. The implementation of circular methods in agriculture can reduce resource costs and provide more stable conditions for development. The results can be beneficial for government bodies, local administrations, agricultural enterprises, and cooperatives in Ukraine striving to achieve sustainable development of rural territories through the implementation of circular approaches in the economy.

ОСОБЕННОСТИ СТРАТЕГИЧЕСКОГО ПЛАНИРОВАНИЯ УСТОЙЧИВОГО РАЗВИТИЯ СЕЛЬСКИХ ТЕРРИТОРИАЛЬНЫХ СИСТЕМ

Based on the analysis of existing studies of foreign and domestic scientists concerning strategic planning, the article attempts to substantiate the necessity of changing the approach to strategic planning of rural territorial systems development. It is offered to lay in a basis of the given process a principle of collective participation with attraction to working out of the purposes of stable development of local community which role in the conditions of transition to strategy of stable development gets the increasing importance. 
 Considering the interests of the local community and its involvement in the process of working out the strategy of development of the territorial system of which it is a part, will allow them to determine their future and to solve those problems which are the most significant for the certain territory.

TERRITORIAL APPROACHES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF RURAL AREA

Territorial approaches are of crucial importance for the sustainable development and management of rural areas. The trend towards consolidating all stakeholders into a comprehensive understanding to enhance the territory's sustainability, and the idea of finding optimal solutions in the pursuit of opportunities for balanced territorial development, is a task with diverse answers depending on the resource potential and activity of local communities. The rural territories in Bulgaria have untapped potential, both in the use and protection of the available resources and their social economic development, as well as in the generation of additional income. Their sustainable development would contribute to achieving a balance between economic, social and environmental growth, as well as significantly improve the quality of life of the local population. The aim of the present study is to identify the integrated territorial approach for sustainable management and development of rural territories in the Republic of Bulgaria. Main groups of activities for achieving balanced territorial development are identified as factors for sustainable development of rural areas. The opinion is defended that an important condition for the integrated approach is for all participants in the process to be interested and successfully combine specific measures suitable for the integration and development of the territory. The implementation of appropriate tools and correct approaches for sustainable rural territory development requires careful analysis and selection of effective measures, depending on the specific characteristics of the location and the initiative of the local community. Although agricultural activity occupies a significant portion of the business in most of these areas, it is imperative to have an adequate policy for the development of additional activities that ensure economic prosperity and a higher standard of living for the local population and their employment. Therefore, in order to achieve three-dimensional sustainability (economic, ecological, social), it is more than necessary to have better interaction and coordination among all participants in the process and a holistic approach to the development and management of each specific territory, in accordance with its specific needs, opportunities, and optimal solutions. Each community can contribute to achieving the goals of sustainable development by 2030, and not only in a narrow scope, but also by contributing to the global challenges that modern society as a whole is facing. The choice of a model for increasing sustainability in the specific territory should be aimed at optimal utilization of regional resources, diversification in the functional use of the territory, optimal diversification of production and economic activities, environmentally friendly business practices and above all at effective interaction between institutions, local administration, business and local communities. Keywords: territorial approaches, rural areas, sustainable development and management JEL code – О13, О18, R13

СТРАТЕГІЧНІ НАПРЯМИ СІЛЬСЬКОГО РОЗВИТКУ В УМОВАХ СТАНОВЛЕННЯ «AGRICULTURE 5.0»

The statistics have examined the problems of forming strategic directions of agricultural development in the minds of the formation of “Agriculture 4.0” and its transformation in “Agriculture 5.0” It is stated that when formulating strategic directions for the development of agricultural enterprises, it is important to highlight the specifics of agricultural production, noting that supply chains in the agricultural state are the flow of products, knowing and information and the involved parties (producers and producers) at the skin stage of production processes, marketing and production. The emphasis is placed on the fact that when forming strategic directions, the development of agro-business is necessary to ensure the influx of agricultural production into the country and the development of rural territories. It is clear that in the agricultural economy of Ukraine there are problems arising from the emergence of differences in size, economic efficiency, innovative readiness and capabilities of economical entities tiv, which will require importance on the national level of strategic directions of agricultural development for the promotion of the current state and the “Agriculture 5.0”. The emphasis is placed on the lack of directness of “Agriculture 4.0” (“Industry 4.0”) in addressing environmental and social problems in the context of the implementation of the goals of the current development. Obviously, the particularities of the agricultural business in Ukraine have been brought to the attention of the need to implement a strategy for the development of farming states as the basis for food security and a rural-saving model of state rule. Meta-research – focusing on strategic directions in the development of farming dominions in the context of the security of minds and the formation of “Agriculture 5.0”. Based on the conducted survey, it was explained that the problem for small agricultural business entities is the lack of knowledge among management and government officials about the directions of innovative strategic development and the presence of a consistent level of digital maturity. The emphasis is placed on the fact that small agricultural enterprises do not have a long-term strategy, which is not suitable for long-term investments, and, consequently, the formation of innovative investment potential lu is problematic for them. It has been proven that promising strategic directions include the development of farmer states in combination with healthcare services, the formation and implementation of a digital strategy and the development of cooperation.

УПРАВЛЕНИЕ РАЗВИТИЕМ СЕЛЬСКОГО ТУРИЗМА КАК ФАКТОР ПОВЫШЕНИЯ УРОВНЯ ЖИЗНИ МЕСТНОГО НАСЕЛЕНИЯ

The importance of rural tourism as one of the effective methods of integrated rural development, contributing to the organization of new jobs in non-agricultural activities is considered. A detailed mathematical and statistical analysis of a number of indicators was carried out to identify patterns in the socio-economic development of the Federation subjects rural territories under the influence of the rural tourism indicators growth.

Food security of sustainable development of rural territories

Food security of sustainable development of rural territories

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL TERRITORIES

Background . This article is focused on specifics of sustainable development of rural territories as a milestone on the way to harmonious regional development. Notably, dynamics and realities of rural territories challenge sustainable development and require some ways to maintain it. There is evident asymmetry between sustainable development of rural and urban territories, and the government has to take measures to ensure equal access to resources and opportunities for those territories to unleash their potential. Methods . In the preparation of the research, both general methods, including methods of abstraction, logic, synthesis and analysis (in particular, causal analysis), extrapolation, and special methods and approaches were used. Thus, a chronological (historical) approach is used when analyzing trends in the development of rural areas compared to urban areas; a complex of methods belonging to a wide range of systems theory (when analyzing correlations between environments of different levels, connections, resources, dynamic open systems, analysis of homeostats of the specified systems); activity approach – when characterizing the reasons for the mobility of the rural and urban population; modeling – when making forecasts of the development of territories. Results . The social aspect of sustainable development of rural territories endeavors to strengthen the ties between public authorities and community stakeholders in order to find the integral solutions consistent with dynamics of the relevant regions and capable of taking the challenges. The environmental aspect outlines the land use conflict arising out of the economic activities in the relevant areas of interest. The economic aspect has to be seek economic equality and equal access to jobs for rural and urban population, as well as improve the quality of life for the villagers. Conclusions . The article identifies the new factors that have to be studied in the development models, for example, the ever-growing ties between city and village life, the economic activity changes emerging in the rural areas due to transfer from the traditional agriculture to secondary production and services. It has been proven that village and city relationship is a deciding factor governing sustainable regional development, because spatial differences between cities and suburban areas are growing, and therefore it is necessary to study regional development to analyze interlinkage between rural and urban territories

Opportunities for the development of a borderland rural territory: A case study of the Hlučín region

The study evaluates the regional development potential of a specific rural micro-region with regard to its qualitative aspect. It aims to set a general strategy for further development. The method is a geographical analysis using the migration balance as an indicator of the region’s attractiveness for housing. Main strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats were identified. Generally accessible statistical data was used. The proposed strategy is to support the development of the human capital. In addition to the generally valid recommendations for the development of rural areas, it is always necessary to take into account the peculiarities of the geographical location, path dependency, natural, economic and social potential, the state of the environment, cultural factors or other specifics. The regional and local decision-making levels play an important role in this process.

Development of rural areas in the context of implementation of agricultural policy

The socio-economic development of rural areas of Kazakhstan is largely determined by the magnitude and degree of use of potential, effectiveness of which largely depends on optimal combination of its constituent elements involved in economic turnover. The main directions of modern social policy are to improve the quality of life and modernize the national economy to ensure the required level of income for the rural population. The goal is to develop methodological provisions for a holistic assessment of the state and prospects for increasing the internal reserves of rural areas. Methods – comparative and system analysis, statistical-economic, logical generalization. Results – it is noted that target indicators are key indicators: level of agro-industrial production per capita, employment, average monthly wages of rural residents, the size of capital investments, consumer prices, environmental well-being. The authors focus on the importance of improving engineering and logistics infrastructure, expanding the capabilities of border rural settlements, uniting small farms and organizing agricultural cooperatives, allowing farmers to reduce costs for fertilizers, fuels and lubricants, feed, increase the volume of production through the sharing of land, agricultural machinery, stable sales of goods. Conclusions - the Concept for the Development of Rural Territories of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2023-2027 provides for a number of measures to involve villagers in local self-government, provide state support, spread agritourism, stimulate exports, ensure environmental safety and, in general, aimed at the systemic restructuring of the Kazakh village, where a significant number of rural population with high opportunities for sustainable growth. Such organizational and managerial approaches help solve the demographic situation and investment attractiveness of rural areas.

Entrepreneurial activity in rural areas: opportunities for stimulation

Entrepreneurial activity in rural settlements is the basis for sustainable development of rural areas. Supporting agricultural producers and ensuring food security, the importance of forming a unified complex for production and processing of agricultural products and diversifying the rural economy determine the relevance of the chosen topic. The goal is to show the potential of rural entrepreneurship as a mechanism for the stability of rural areas of the republic. Methods – scientific generalization, classification, systemic and comparative analysis, abstract-logical. Results – the following were noted as key effects. Organizing a business in rural areas has a number of advantages: increasing the level of employment by creating new jobs, increasing cost recovery, increasing the profitability of agribusiness, quickly responding to demand in accordance with market conditions and changes in market behavior of consumers. In villages, there is an opportunity to open facilities of small economic entities for growing crops for the processing complex, in the fields of agro-, eco-, ethno–tourism, and the sectors of craft professions and service provision. In the Concept for the Development of Rural Territories of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2023-2027, special attention is paid to the issues of entrepreneurial initiative of rural residents. An analysis of production indicators of peasant (private) farms, legal entities, and individual entrepreneurs engaged in agriculture was carried out. Summarizing the study, the authors conclude that small business in rural areas will help overcome labor market problems, preserve the rural way of life, culture, social and environmental control of the territory, technological and institutional modernization based on a comprehensive, balanced and targeted implementation of the interests of the rural population and the state.

Enhancing territorial development based on biocultural identity. A capacity building approach

The adoption of new territorial approaches based on biocultural identity is increasingly valued for the activation and enhancement of processes of inclusive and sustainable rural development. These processes are often hindered by the presence of conflicts, rather than collective action and collaboration among stakeholders, at different institutional levels. This negatively affects the preservation and sustainable valorization of local biocultural heritage towards a synergic integration and balanced satisfaction of the interests at stake.Consequently, capacity building is increasingly taken into consideration by both researchers and policy makers to respond to an emerging need of territorial dynamization, requiring the mobilization of local actors, as well as enhanced decision-making and action-taking powers.Our paper aims to provide a systemic comprehension and enhancement of territorial development paths based on biocultural identity and to foster their enhancement through the adoption of a capacity building approach. A novel holistic conceptual model is designed and operationalized supporting the analysis of the key processes of biocultural heritage valorization for rural territorial development.A participatory action-research (PAR) approach was developed in eight territories, in both Europe and Latin America, illustrative of biocultural heritage valorization dynamics. The latter represented case studies and worked as laboratories for the model application. The paper presents the case of the Garfagnana territory, an inner mountain area of the Tuscany Region (Italy), which stands out for its capacity to comprehensively illustrate the applicability of the conceptual model and its expected results as a typical case study.The findings prove the model to be supportive in the identification of the virtuous aspects, criticalities, and needs for improvement that characterize processes of biocultural heritage valorization for rural territorial development, the detection of related dynamization needs, and a shared demand for capacity building, which made it possible to highlight and describe a new interdisciplinary profile of territorial enhancer (TE).The results support the adaption of education and training to align with territorial specificities and the valorization of the local diversity of resources and knowledge. As an outcome, we expect to foster processes of both educational transformation and social innovation through empowerment, thus generating concrete change in rural territories and communities, aiming at a long-lasting impact on social wellbeing, sustainability, and cohesion.