Introducing the RUSTIK Viewer Handbook

Rural areas across Europe are undergoing profound social, economic, environmental and digital transitions. Yet, these changes are often hidden behind averages and national statistics, making it hard for policymakers, researchers and local actors to truly see what is happening on the ground. That is precisely the gap the RUSTIK Data Viewer and the new RUSTIK Viewer Handbook aim to fill.



What is the RUSTIK Data Viewer?


The RUSTIK Data Viewer is an online, interactive mapping platform that brings together a wide range of territorial indicators on rural Europe. It allows users to visualise and analyse:


    

  • Socioeconomic dynamics such as population change, depopulation, social inclusion, access to services, employment and education.
    • 

  • Environmental transition including climate risks (wildfires, droughts, heavy precipitation), land cover and land use, natural resources, protected areas and air quality.
    • 

  • Digital transition through indicators on connectivity and digital infrastructure.
    • 

  • Local experimentation with data from 14 RUSTIK Living Labs, where rural communities co-create knowledge and test new approaches.
    • 



The Viewer combines harmonised European datasets (e.g. from EU statistical and environmental agencies) with more granular local information, enabling comparisons between regions as well as deep dives into specific territories.




What does the Viewer Handbook offer?


The newly released RUSTIK Viewer Handbook is a practical companion designed to help users get the most out of the platform. It serves several purposes:


    

  • Onboarding new users: It explains the overall structure of the RUSTIK Data Viewer, its main components, and the types of indicators available.
    • 

  • Guided exploration: It walks through the different thematic areas (socioeconomic, environmental, digital and Living Labs) and shows how to navigate maps, layers and territorial units.
    • 

  • Interpretation support: It describes what each group of indicators tells us about rural transitions—for example, how to read demographic trends, what “service deserts” look like on a map, or how climate projections can inform local adaptation strategies.
    • 

  • Technical transparency: It details how the system is built (spatial database, map server, web viewer, security) and which reference datasets are integrated, helping users understand the robustness and limitations of the data they use.
    • 



Whether you are a local authority wanting to diagnose challenges in your territory, a researcher comparing regions, or an innovation actor working in a Living Lab, the handbook is designed as a bridge between complex data infrastructure and practical, real-world questions.




Why this matters for rural policy and practice


Rural territories face intertwined challenges: aging populations and outmigration, unequal access to services, exposure to climate risks, pressure on ecosystems, and gaps in digital connectivity. At the same time, they hold crucial assets for Europe’s future: food production, biodiversity, renewable energy and cultural heritage.


The RUSTIK Data Viewer helps make these realities visible by:


    

  • Revealing spatial inequalities that national averages can hide.
    • 

  • Allowing users to combine different dimensions (e.g. demographics, services and mobility) in the same analysis.
    • 

  • Supporting evidence-based decision-making, from strategic planning and funding applications to monitoring the impact of policies over time.
    • 



The Viewer Handbook turns this potential into something accessible: a clear, structured guide that shows where to start, which indicators to use for which questions, and how to interpret what appears on the map.




Who is the handbook for?


The guide is especially useful for:


    

  • Local and regional administrations working on rural development, cohesion policy, climate adaptation, or service planning.
    • 

  • Researchers and analysts interested in territorial data, sustainability transitions and rural inequalities.
    • 

  • Living Lab partners and practitioners who need to connect local insights with broader European trends.
    • 

  • Civil society organisations looking for robust, visual evidence to inform advocacy and community projects.
    • 



If you work with rural territories and need to ground your decisions in data, the combination of the RUSTIK Data Viewer and the Viewer Handbook is designed for you.


       
RUSTIK at the 10th EUGEO Congress: Exploring Rural Transitions in a Changing Europe
The RUSTIK project will contribute to the upcoming 10th EUGEO Congress, taking place from 8–11 September 2025 at the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna. Under the theme “Geographies of a Changing Europe”, the event will bring together geographers from across the continent to address Europe’s complex territorial and social transformations. 


RUSTIK is taking part in the scientific programme with Session 106: The relevance of diverse information collection in research on transition of rural areas, scheduled for Wednesday, 10 September 2025 (09:00–10:30). The session is chaired by Prof. Ewa Korcelli-Olejniczak and Prof. Jerzy Bański, and features contributions from RUSTIK Living Labs in Austria, Slovenia, Serbia, and Poland. 


Session Focus: How We Know What We Know 


The aim of the session is to explore the role that different data collection methods—both quantitative and qualitative—play in shaping how knowledge is built around rural transitions. Rather than focusing solely on the findings of research, the session will spotlight the “how”: how data is gathered, how participatory methods are implemented, and how research processes influence both the outcomes and the territories themselves. 


Drawing on experiences from RUSTIK’s pilot regions, participants will discuss how data collection tools and methods affect participatory action research, and reflect on questions of transferability, universality, and replicability. The session invites a methodological dialogue on the tools and approaches that can meaningfully support the transitions of rural and peri-urban areas across Europe. 


Presentations from RUSTIK Partners 


    

  1.  Combining Data and Stakeholder Engagement to Support Rural Transitions
    
Living Lab: Nockregion-Oberkärnten, Austria
    
Karin Schroll, Daria Ernst, Ingrid Machold (Federal Institute of Agricultural Economics, Rural and Mountain Research)
    
A mixed-methods approach to mapping and understanding the role of small rural businesses, with a focus on spatial data and participatory validation through mapping workshops. 
    2. 

  2.  Supporting Social Entrepreneurship and Food Redistribution: A Modelling Approach
    
Living Lab: Osrednjeslovenska, Slovenia
    
Matic Soklič, Emil Erjavec, Ilona Rac (University of Ljubljana)
    
Development of a system dynamics model connecting food redistribution to social impact, combining logistics data with qualitative insights from a social cooperative. 
    3. 

  3.  A Living Lab Approach in Functional Rural Areas
    
Living Lab: Radomski Subregion, Poland
    
Marcin Mazur, Ewa Korcelli-Olejniczak (Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization PAS)
    
An exploration of methodological experimentation in a socially challenged region, highlighting the integration of bottom-up knowledge and formal data sources. 
    4. 

  4.  Developing an Inclusive Short Food Supply Chain to Meet Tourism Demand
    
Living Lab: Zaječar District, Serbia
    
Natalija Bogdanov, Saša Todorović (University of Belgrade – Faculty of Agriculture)
    
Use of surveys, social network analysis, and spatial mapping to connect local food producers with tourism demand, aiming to build resilient, short supply chains. 
    5. 



The session supports RUSTIK’s overarching goal to co-produce data-driven and context-sensitive knowledge that empowers rural communities and informs better policy-making. Participation in the EUGEO Congress offers a valuable opportunity to engage with the broader geographical research community on methods, practices, and the future of rural transitions in Europe. 


        
The role of data in driving transitions in rural areas | RUSTIK webinar
On 30 April, the RUSTIK project hosted an online event to explore the role of data in supporting rural transitions and shaping sustainable futures, gaining insight from the Horizon Europe RUSTIK project (Rural Sustainability Transitions through Integration of Knowledge for improved policy processes).


Rural areas provide ecosystem services, high-quality land-based products, cultural assets, and more. Nevertheless, they face increasing social and ecological challenges including demographic change, climate change, a digital divide, and limited economic diversification.


To navigate these complexities and support sustainable development, data plays a crucial role in guiding these territories toward transition pathways.  By advancing our understanding of different rural functions, characteristics and future scenarios for rural areas, data can help identify their potentials and challenges, enabling more informed place-based policies and targeted interventions.


This online conference brought together experts, project partners, and regional representatives to discuss key challenges such as data access, protection,  and integrating data in decision-making. Participants heard real-world experiences from pilot regions, engaged in hands-on workshops using the data viewer tool, and took part in meaningful discussions on the future of rural areas.


 


Missed the webinar? No worries! The recording is now live!


 


    


    




RUSTIK MIDTERM Draft Agenda


     
Implementing rural proofing in EU countries and beyond: review of instruments and experiences
Implementing rural proofing in EU countries and beyond: review of instruments and experiences
The collaborative efforts of RUSTIK partners, including Francesco Mantino, Barbara Forcina (CREA Council for Research in Agricultural economics), Heidi Vironen, Liliana Fonseca (EPRC University of Strathclyde), and Petri Kahila (UEF University of Eastern Finland, Karelian Institute), have culminated in a comprehensive review of rural proofing instruments and experiences across both European and non-European countries. The complete report is accessible here.


In their examination, the report highlights concrete case studies which materialised the rural proofing concept in the formulation of policies and programs since the beginning of the millennium. While some national jurisdictions have achieved modest success, the report concludes that neither any country nor the EU as a whole can be deemed fully successful in integrating an effective and enduring rural proofing model into their administrative systems up to the present moment. To bridge this gap, the authors formulate the data and methodology needs to be tested within rural stakeholders in RUSTIK Living Labs.


What is rural proofing? Definition and policy relevance


The authors cite Jane Atterton, from the Scotland’s Rural College, who states that “Rural proofing is a systematic process to review the likely impacts of policies, programmes and initiatives on rural areas because of their particular circumstances or needs (e.g., dispersed populations and poorer infrastructure networks). In short, it requires policymakers to ‘think rural’ when designing policy interventions to prevent negative outcomes for rural areas and communities. If it is determined that a policy may have different – negative – impacts in rural areas compared to urban areas, policies should be adjusted to eliminate them”.


This concept was first introduced by a UK governmental publication in 2001 and was then included at EU level in 2016 in the Cork 2.0  declaration. Since then, regular mentions of the rural proofing mechanism are made in OECD and EU institutions’ strategies, reports and tools (Committee of the Regions in 2022) Rural proofing is also a pilar of the European Commission Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas, the new EU flagship initiative for Europe’s rural areas to which RUSTIK contributes to bring to the local level.


Comparing rural proofing characteristics in different countries


In most countries, rural proofing is applied to policy impact on living conditions and well-being in rural areas: this implies taking into consideration a broad range of policies (from infrastructures, social services to environment and business development). This ensures a good margin of flexibility to screen out those policies not having a significant impact and concentrate the proof only on relevant policies. In some countries, rural proofing is activated when specific rural territories could be impacted by policies. The table on the next pages portrays this well and expands on the specific methodology and guidelines used in the different countries where a rural proofing mechanism has been experimented.


Rural proofing mechanisms and attempts in EU and non-EU countries








Country




Starting year




Thematic focus




Methodologies




Institutional responsibility




Application








Proofing on a broad range of policies








England 


2000
National: Policies having impact on Infrastructures, services, working and living conditions, environment, equality
Checklist; Decision Tree; Examples of possible assessment; Descriptive assessment of impacts; Annual rural proofing reports
National: DEFRA (Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) oversees rural proofing across the government; Rural Affairs Board provides strategic guidance; each government Department has nominated ‘rural proofing lead’
Mandatory (in principle) with patchy application






Northern Ireland


 2015-2017
All national policy proposals having an impact on the economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being of rural communities
Rural needs impact assessment: coherence of likely impact with social and economic needs of rural areas; annual monitoring reports
National: Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA)
Mandatory (in principle) with patchy application






Canada


1998-2013
National: Federal policies and programmes from the perspectives of remote and rural regions. Some provinces have published their own Rural Lens and guidelines.
Checklist; Rural Lens: process in 10 stages, including a template to fill, questions to answer and examples to follow. Guidelines for using it provided by the national level.
“Rural Secretariat” within the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food (founded in 1996)
Voluntary, no sanctions






New Zealand


2008
Policies having impact on infrastructure, health, education, business development and equity
Impact assessment checklist; process in 7 stages; Rural proofing guide;
Ministry for Primary Industries published the guide and checklist. The implementation lies with the authorities responsible for a specific policy.
Voluntary, no sanctions






Proofing on specific geographical/ thematic areas








Scotland


2020
Policies with specific and differentiated impacts on Islands Communities
Island Communities Impact assessment
Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate and its Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands
Mandatory (with justification for not doing it) only for policies having effects on Scottish Islands






Finland


2007
National: Policies having impact on municipal merging, rural livelihoods, expertise, housing and services, accessibility, attractiveness factors and community cohesion. Emphasis ono sparsely depopulated areas.
Checklist, with 6 thematic areas and flexible application
Rural Policy Council (MANE) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF)
Voluntary, no sanctions. Formalisation into legislation is being discussed in the Parliament.






Australia


2003
Regional services
Checklist; Regional Impact Assessment Statement (RIAS) Standardized guidelines as a template
Department of Primary Industries and Regions of the Government of South Australia (PIRSA)
Mandatory, for any legislation affecting regional services






USA


2018
National for drug addiction in rural areas
Rural Community Action Guide with best practices; Federal Rural Resource Guide with key challenges; Rural Community Toolbox website with all federal fundings and tools to build healthy drug-free rural communities
The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) of the White House develops Federal drug policy and coordinate its implementation across the Federal Government.
Political rather than a legislative commitment, and it is not mandatory.








Lessons learned for RUSTIK experiments


To conclude, rural proofing is strongly focused on policy assessment, whether spatially focused policies or not. This implies the definition of an appropriate list of questions to be explored and, in parallel, specific data concerning potential policy effects upon the concerned Living Labs of the project. For this, the deliverable lists the questions forming the basis for a place-based analysis depending on the types of policies considered. Moreover, the authors explore the necessary conditions for a successful data collection leading to robust evidence-based territorial policies and applying rural proofing mechanisms. All these elements will be practically explored in coordination with the RUSTIK Living labs from the end of 2024 onwards.


          
RUSTIK Living Lab in Austria Spotlighted in the ‘Living Labs in Rural Areas: How To?’ Webinar
Living labs
In the picturesque landscapes of Carinthia, Austria, the Nockregion-Oberkärnten faces a set of challenges that demand innovative solutions for sustainable development. Daria Ernst, representing the Federal Institute of Agricultural Economics, Rural and Mountain Research (BAB), took center stage at the “Living Labs in rural areas: HOW TO? Knowledge Transfer Accelerator” organized by the Granular project and the European Association for Innovation in Local Development (AEIDL). 


The Living Lab Pilot Region, nestled in Carinthia, spans 1,324 km², encompassing 17 municipalities with a population of 52,500. The region grapples with significant issues, including an imbalanced job structure, deficits in job supply, high commuter rates, out-migration of young people and women, and an aging population. 


Daria Ernst adeptly introduced two pivotal topics for the Living Lab challenge, considered and deliberated with the Project Review Panel and the Focus Group, aligning with the regional strategy: 


Initially, they contemplated channelling efforts into the implementation of a Quality of Life (QoL) Index tailored specifically to Nockregion-Oberkärnten. This innovative tool aspired to gauge progress and territorial development, offering nuanced insights into diverse facets of the region’s wellbeing. However, this proposal encountered several critical issues: 


    

  • Challenge of Comparability: Addressing the intricate task of ensuring the QoL Index’s comparability with other regions. 
    • 

  • Living Lab Approach Hurdles: Tackling challenges associated with the applicability of the Living Lab approach. 
    • 

  • Data Gaps and Capacity Constraints: Identifying and surmounting crucial data gaps and capacity constraints. 
    • 



Subsequently, an alternative path emerged as the focal point of this Living Lab endeavor – the establishment of a Network of Small Rural Businesses (SRB), an area overlooked in previous projects. Discussions revealed an absence of representation for SRBs in regional strategies, emphasizing the need to address this gap. The rationale and objectives for this initiative include:  


    

  • Data Gap Pinpointing: Systematically identifying and addressing data gaps while mapping the current regional state. 
    • 

  • Comprehensive Understanding: Cultivating a profound understanding of the challenges confronted by entrepreneurs and business owners. 
    • 

  • Justifying the Necessity: Utilizing meticulously collected data to substantiate the imperative of instituting a regional network/platform for SRBs. 
    • 

  • Central Hub Functionality: Picturing the envisioned platform as a pivotal central hub adept at addressing challenges and providing indispensable support. 
    • 

  • Innovation Pathway: Charting a course that paves the way for innovative projects in unwavering support of SRBs. 
    • 



Daria Ernst’s presentation not only showcased a thoughtful consideration of challenges but also illuminated a strategic roadmap for transformative action, promising impactful contributions to the socio-economic fabric of Nockregion-Oberkärnten. As these Living Lab initiatives progress, they hold the potential to redefine the narrative of rural development, furnishing invaluable insights and solutions applicable to analogous regions globally. 


Interacting with EU Projects 


Participation in this webinar provided a valuable opportunity to engage with various projects focused on rural development. Presentations from GRANULAR, SHERPA, ROBUST, and insights beyond European projects were shared, fostering a collaborative exchange of ideas and strategies. The interaction emphasized the pivotal role of Living Labs in shaping effective policies for rural advancement. As the discussions unfold, the shared experiences promise to enhance the collective knowledge pool and drive impactful initiatives in the realm of rural development. 


        
RUSTIK participates at Euromontana’s Annual Conference: Navigating Transitions in Mountain Areas 
In a resounding affirmation of its dedication to tackling the challenges and seizing opportunities in rural areas, the RUSTIK project actively participated in Euromontana’s Annual Conference—an integral component of the European Year of Skills. The conference, titled “Skills for Mountains in Transitions,” served as a convergence point for influential stakeholders, researchers, and practitioners, providing a dynamic forum to delve into the intricate transitions impacting mountain economies and labor markets. 


Francesco Mantino, Architect of Rural Transitions: 


Francesco Mantino, a prominent figure in conceptualizing rural transitions for policy-making, represented the RUSTIK project at a pivotal session. As the Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economy Analysis and a partner in the RUSTIK project, Mantino contributed valuable insights during the conference. He spearheaded discussions on the challenges and opportunities for skills and employment in mountain areas, sharing the stage with distinguished speakers. 


Mantino’s session, titled “Setting the scene: challenges, opportunities and approaches for employment and skills for mountain in transitions,” saw him collaborating with Guillaume Corradino, the Director of Euromontana. The duo laid the groundwork for understanding the intricate landscape of mountain transitions, discussing both challenges and innovative approaches. 


Additionally, Mantino shared the stage with Kirsty Blackstock, from the James Hutton Institute and partner of the MOVING project. Their discussion delved into “Skills for the future of mountain value chains,” shedding light on the evolving nature of skills needed in these regions. 


Rural Proofing for Mountain Areas: 


Beyond the conference sessions, Mantino actively participated in the General Assembly, engaging in a parallel session on rural proofing. Drawing from RUSTIK’s deliverables, he presented case studies from Finland and the UK, offering a nuanced perspective on the application of rural proofing in mountain areas. The discussions proved to be a melting pot of experiences, allowing participants to identify challenges and needs for effective rural proofing implementation. 


Euromontana’s Vision and Conference Focus 


Against the backdrop of declining populations, loss of attractiveness, climate change impacts, and the imperative green transition, Euromontana’s conference aimed to spotlight the challenges and solutions for employment and skills in mountain areas. The overarching goal was to explore sector-specific difficulties and opportunities while brainstorming innovative solutions to attract talent to these regions. 


In the spirit of collaboration, Euromontana provided a platform for representatives of the European Commission, researchers, and practitioners to share their expertise, shaping policy and practical solutions for talent attraction in transitioning mountain areas. 


RUSTIK
RUSTIK
RUSTIK


        
“Exploring the rural-urban continuum”
Exploring the rural-urban continuum: how to define Functional Rural Areas in the context of rural transitions?


Introduction to RUSTIK’s Deliverable D1.1 “Methodological Framework to Define Functional Rural Areas and rural transitions”


The RUSTIK project published its first deliverable, “Exploring the rural-urban continuum”. This methodological framework, developed by the Council for Research in agricultural economics (CREA), Italy, and the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI), UK, aims to define Functional Rural Areas and propose a new approach to their classification.


Why is there a need for a new classification of Rural areas?


To make rural areas ready to adapt to changes it is important to understand how different drivers and trends impact rural areas, and how they respond to change. Hence the need to develop a conceptual framework that explains rural areas’ capacity to respond to the socio-economic/demographic, environmental/climate and digital aspects.  It is important to develop a place-based path and scale up successes at a local level, with appropriate facilitation from national, regional, and local governments.


By enhancing our understanding of the diverse functionalities, unique characteristics, and possible future scenarios of rural areas, the RUSTIK project will be able to provide more effective strategies, initiatives, and policies that promote sustainable transitions in rural areas.


What are rural functional areas? A five-step approach.


Differences exist in defining the term “functional” for rural areas, with shifting criteria and less emphasis on agriculture. The term has varied meanings based on disciplinary and institutional contexts, with a historical urban bias. Efforts are being made to address this bias and recognize the important societal functions provided by rural areas.


There are several approaches to define functional rural areas. Studying functional relations in the case of rural areas implies focusing on the role that the countryside can play in production, consumption and ecosystem functions, not only for nearby urban areas but also for the broader society and in relation to national and international markets, institutions and business actors. It also implies using mixed approaches based on information available at the most granular level or municipal units.


Based on these assumptions, to define functional rural areas, a five-step classification can be made (Fig 1)




 


 


The new classification system will be tested in fourteen Pilot Regions. This process will ensure that the classification is robust and develop an advanced understanding of the Pilot Regions’ characteristics, functionalities and capacities in participating in the next steps of the RUSTIK project.


Diversity of rural areas and their capacity to face transitions


The transitions happening in rural areas are influenced by various drivers and trends, including socio-economic/demographic, environmental/climate, and digital factors. These transitions have the potential to impact the response capacities, territorial capital, and social capital of each rural area. Understanding these drivers and trends is crucial for effective policy development and implementation.


Europe is grappling with an aging population, which is expected to worsen in the coming decades. This leads to disparities between regions, amplified by variations in labour markets, access to services and infrastructure, market power distribution, and the digital divide.


Addressing environmental and climate challenges requires collaborative efforts that go beyond national borders. Policies like the Common Agricultural Policies, Green Deal, and Biodiversity Strategies are crucial in combating these issues. While EU-level targets are important, tangible actions and physical changes must be implemented at the local and regional levels.


The digital transition has the potential to exacerbate existing inequalities and create new divisions, particularly in rural areas. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the discrepancies between urban and rural regions, especially in terms of digital access. It is essential for rural communities to develop basic and professional digital skills to participate in the future job market and society. Economic factors, demographics, and limited connectivity further contribute to the digital skills gap.


To effectively respond to these transitions in rural areas, policies need to be tailored to specific needs and places. The delivery of policies is also crucial for their successful implementation. Several steps can be taken to enhance the capacity of rural areas to respond:


    

  • Identify transition needs: Conduct a thorough analysis to understand the challenges and needs associated with the transition, considering social, economic, and environmental factors.
    • 

  • Develop an enabling policy environment: Create policies that empower local actors and communities to make choices aligned with desired outcomes. Provide necessary resources, information, and support for effective decision-making and implementation.
    • 

  • Promote the emergence of new institutions and groups: Encourage the formation of local organizations, networks, and collaborations to address challenges associated with the transition.
    • 

  • Enhance policy delivery: Ensure clear communication, accessible information, and efficient mechanisms for policy implementation. Involve local stakeholders to increase ownership and involvement.
    • 

  • Integrate macro-economic context and policy system: Recognize how macro-drivers and trends at the international level can create risks and opportunities at different territorial levels. Align policies with broader macro-economic goals and incorporate measures to mitigate risks and harness opportunities.
    • 

  • Targeted policies for transition challenges: Develop specific policies to facilitate and enable transition possibilities and pathways, including regulations, incentives, advice/information campaigns, and other supportive measures.
    • 

  • Focus on sensitive territories: Pay special attention to territories with limited resources or accessibility issues. Design policies that cater to their unique needs, implementing localized systems of incentives and support mechanisms to encourage participation and resilience.
    • 



By adopting this comprehensive approach to policy development and delivery, the capacity to respond to transitions can be enhanced, leading to smoother and more effective transitions in social, economic, and environmental domains.


For further information, you can access the full report at https://rustik-he.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/RUSTIK_D-1-1_Methodological_Framework_31.03.23.pdf