New project connects Tyrolean agriculture and tourism: TUI Field to Fork Austria launches

Bringing agriculture and tourism closer together

The "TUI Field to Fork Austria" project was launched by the TUI Care Foundation in partnership with Futouris and BIO AUSTRIA, with support from the State of Tyrol and the Institute for Tourism Sustainability. Over the next two years, the program will support farms in the Tyrolean Lower Inn Valley and the Innsbruck region in implementing management methods defined as regenerative within the program. These methods include improving soil health, promoting soil life, and protecting against erosion. The goal is to increase biodiversity on farms and enhance their resilience to weather-related stresses. Progress will be tracked throughout the program.

Agriculture in Tyrol faces particular challenges. Approximately 80 percent of agricultural land is located in mountainous regions, where steep terrain increases production costs and makes farming more labor-intensive. Climate change, with its increasingly frequent extreme weather events, adds further pressure. At the same time, small-scale farms and generational change are impacting their long-term viability. At the same time, these businesses preserve the landscapes, biodiversity and regional food culture, which also benefits tourism in the region.

Regenerative agriculture and regional food

The program offers intensive training and expert support to approximately 25 grassland and arable farms in implementing regenerative methods that improve soil health, promote soil life, and protect against erosion. A further group of farmers and food producers will be reached through training and information sessions. In total, around 145 people from the agricultural and food production sectors are expected to participate in the program.

In addition, at least eight hotels and restaurants will receive support in integrating regeneratively produced food into their purchasing and dining offerings. Furthermore, 200 professionals from the tourism and hospitality sectors will be involved in the program, including hotel managers, chefs, purchasing teams, and restaurant staff. New partnerships between farms, wholesalers, and tourism companies are intended to help establish more reliable regional supply chains and create additional sales opportunities for regionally produced food.

The program also brings regenerative agriculture directly into the tourist experience, extending beyond restaurant menus. Farmers, chefs, tourism organizations, and other local partners are jointly developing offerings such as farm visits, farm-to-table experiences, tastings, and cooking workshops. These are designed to give holidaymakers the opportunity to discover where their food comes from and learn how healthy soils, biodiversity, and agricultural traditions contribute to the landscapes they experience during their holidays.

International partnerships

The State of Tyrol is providing additional financial support for the two-year project through its agriculture, tourism, and regional development programs, as part of its Tyrolean sustainability and climate strategy. The collaboration pursues the shared goal of strengthening regional value creation and linking environmental protection, resilient agriculture, and tourism.

Making experiences usable for other regions

The two-year project will start on September 1, 2026, and run until August 31, 2028. The experiences gained in the project region will then be made available to other Austrian regions. Practical guidelines, events, and further knowledge transfer measures are planned.