The Kick-off Meeting of the SUSTAIN-2: A Sustainability Model for Tourism (F&B) project was successfully held on 26–27 February 2026 in Xanthi, Greece, hosted by the Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH), the lead partner of the project.
The meeting brought together representatives of all project partners to officially launch the project, establish a common implementation framework and coordinate the activities planned for the first implementation period.
Partners from Greece, Türkiye, Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine participated in the two-day meeting, including Democritus University of Thrace (Lead Partner), Municipality of Kavala, Kentaş, Municipality of Chisinau, Municipality of Tsarevo and the Association of Business Support Centers of Ukraine.
The programme included partner presentations introducing their organisations and local contexts, discussions on project management and implementation procedures, collaborative workshops and planning sessions focusing on the project's first work packages. Participants also exchanged knowledge on local food and beverage ecosystems and explored opportunities for cross-border cooperation.
Launched on 15 December 2025 with a duration of 24 months, SUSTAIN-2 aims to foster the transition of food and beverage businesses towards more sustainable and resilient business models throughout the Black Sea Basin. The project promotes the adoption of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles while supporting the sector through innovative, AI-assisted sustainability tools.
Throughout the project, partners will work together to assess local needs, engage key stakeholders and develop practical solutions that encourage sustainable production and consumption practices in the tourism food and beverage sector. The project also seeks to strengthen regional cooperation by creating a shared methodology that can be transferred and replicated across participating destinations.
The Kick-off Meeting marked the beginning of a collaborative journey that will contribute to building a more sustainable, innovative and competitive tourism ecosystem across the Black Sea Basin.
