As part of our ongoing efforts to stay connected with local stakeholders, the Douro SocioEco Living Lab, hosted by UTAD under the AgroServ project, held a showcase during the Douro TGV Turismo, Gastronomia e Vinho event in Vila Real. The exhibition took place in the historic Palácio do Governo, providing an open and welcoming space for dialogue around sustainability, enotourism, and regional transformation.
This initiative offered a unique example of how Living Labs can expand their outreach by embedding their activities within established local events. Our presence during the Douro TGV allowed us to engage both with stakeholders we had personally invited and with attendees already participating in the tourism and wine-focused event. Many of these spontaneous visitors shared valuable perspectives aligned with the themes we are exploring in our Living Lab, especially regarding agroecological practices and the future of wine tourism in the Douro region.
What made this approach effective was the synergy between our goals and the event’s audience. Rather than organizing a separate event that competes for attention, we inserted ourselves into an existing and highly relevant space. While the activity was not a formal participatory or co-creation session, as we usually host in our Living Lab, the informal and organic exchanges that occurred throughout the day fostered relationship-building, surfaced key concerns, and reaffirmed the relevance of our ongoing research and services.
This model may offer a valuable strategy for other Living Labs across AgroServ in their outreach efforts. By meeting stakeholders where they already are, whether at fairs, festivals, or professional gatherings, Living Labs can increase visibility, gather feedback, and build trust, all with minimal logistical barriers. These types of engagements are an important complement to more structured participatory methods, helping Living Labs stay grounded in real-world concerns and foster ongoing dialogue.
