The Bulgarian Farmers Union is bringing together farmers, officials and researchers for a three-day forum in Sofia from September 28 to 30, the union says. The forum, called "Farmers and Markets – Competitive Through Sustainability," will focus on direct sales, own brands and getting farms online.

The forum opens on September 28 at 9:30 am in the hall of the Central Cooperative Union at 99 Georgi S. Rakovski Street. This first session looks at what the internet can do for farmers and food producers: how to turn a good product into a recognized brand, how to reach more buyers online, which social networks to use, and whether a farm needs its own website or online shop.

On September 29 at 10:00 am, at the InterContinental Sofia hotel, the second session turns to local and regional markets, selling without middlemen, short supply chains, and giving Bulgarian farm products a stronger presence.

The third session runs on September 30 at 9:30 am, back at the Central Cooperative Union building, on the 14th floor. It will look at how the ideas behind the New European Bauhaus can be brought into farming and rural life. Organizers want to know how the concept can lead to real change on farms and in rural communities, rather than stay just an EU idea on paper. They say it rests on three pillars: sustainability, good design, and inclusion.

Organizers say producers need to get closer to consumers through strong local brands and modern ways of presenting and marketing their products. They argue that staying competitive means not just producing more, but adding more value.

The forum will bring together representatives from the agriculture ministry, parliament's committee on agriculture, food and forests, and the National Association of Municipalities in Bulgaria, along with agricultural universities, research institutes, industry groups, producers and processors. The goal is dialogue, sharing know-how, and showing practical solutions for Bulgarian farming.

The forum will be moderated by Georgi Stoyanov, chairman of the Bulgarian Farmers Union.