The final event of the AGROTUR+ Karst Local Products and Tourism project, held on 2 December 2025 at the Kosovelov dom in Sežana, brought together winegrowers, researchers, tourism professionals and representatives of the local community. The event highlighted the key challenges of Karst viticulture, emerging trends in gastronomic and wine tourism, and the results of long-standing cross-border cooperation in the Karst region.
The AGROTUR+ project builds on the achievements of the Agrotur and Agrotur II projects under the Interreg Italy–Slovenia Programme, further strengthening the development of sustainable tourism, the promotion of Karst products, and the integration of agricultural and cultural heritage in the cross-border Karst. A distinctive feature of the current project is also the inclusion of art as an additional pillar for interpreting Karst identity.
The event was marked by two thematic panel discussions that opened debates on key AGROTUR+ topics and were moderated by Sašo Dravinec.
Cross-border cooperation for better management of contemporary challenges in Karst viticulture
In the first panel, experts highlighted the impacts of climate change on viticulture and the importance of cooperation between researchers, winegrowers and winemakers, which in recent years has significantly contributed to the improvement of Teran wine quality.
The discussion included Marjan Colja (Vinakras), Giovanni Bigot (Perleuve), Prof. Lorena Butinar (University of Nova Gorica), Prof. Sabina Passamonti (University of Trieste), Dr. Dejan Bavčar (Agricultural Institute of Slovenia) and Nika Gregorič (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food).
▶ Panel 1 recording:
SI: https://youtu.be/fWGiMX0NDxc
IT: https://youtu.be/3hUKVrqIT7g
The Cross-border Karst as a boutique of gastronomic and tourism experiences
The second panel focused on the development of boutique tourism, in which Teran, Karst prosciutto and other local products play a central role. Special emphasis was placed on the digital Teran museum in Štanjel and the still underexplored potential of cider.
The discussion featured Martin Šabec (ORA Krasa in Brkinov), Aleš Pernarčič (GAL Carso – LAS Kras), Gian Angelo Bellati (CESCOT Veneto), Prof. Marjeta Čandek Potokar (Agricultural Institute of Slovenia), Boštjan Pečar (Pečar farm) and Assoc. Prof. Manca Vinazza (University of Ljubljana).
▶ Panel 2 recording:
SI: https://youtu.be/_fOBJ1WvxwI
IT: https://youtu.be/QasfTKRBDGg
The event concluded with a tasting of local products, offering participants a direct experience of Karst flavours. The FOOD LAB was organised in cooperation with the Borderless Okus project, funded by the European Union through the Small Project Fund GO!2025 under the Interreg VI-A Italy–Slovenia 2021–2027 Programme, managed by the EGTC GO.
The concluding message emphasised that the Karst is not only an area of outstanding natural and cultural heritage, but also a space where cross-border cooperation is a living practice and a foundation for future development.
