Slow Food in North Macedonia The partners will establish a baby snail production unit, a snail farm and contract 35 outgrowers in snail farming in different locations in Macedonia. Outgrowers will be trained to breed and harvest meat snails for demanding European markets. A snail feed production unit and a logistics and distribution centre will be established.The project aims at initially producing 296 tons of meat snails a year to be marketed in a 300,000 tons European market. The project expects to create 33 additional jobs (23 FTE) at the central farm and 245 jobs (96 FTE) at outgrower farms.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)The joint venture will adhere to the same conditions that are now applied in Agrolink these will be laid down in a CRS policy with the following elements:•	Social and labour conditions- Labour standards include: official labour contracts, good and safe working conditions, working hours according to local law maximum 48 hours a week, overtime no more than twelve hours a week and paid at premium rate, remuneration at least 278% of minimum wage, national and religious holidays observed.- Social security package and retirement benefits by registration at Macedonian Social Security Office.- Assistance in obtaining bank loans.- Encouragement of employee participation (e.g. membership of unions).- At least 15% of employees will be handicapped and enjoy special labour conditions as described under partners above.- Encourage female employment with 60% female employment and equal rights and opportunities.- Encouragement of formation of an Association of snail (out)growers.- Insist on integrity and avoid any corruption.- Local recruitment of workers by preference.•	Production conditions, environment and animal welfare- Control by Macedonian Food and Veterinary Office.- No use of pesticides.- Recycling of use materials (grass , pallets).- Environmental training for employees and outgrowers.- Snails not exposed to unjustifiable pain, suffering or physical injury according to Law on Animal Protection and Welfare.- Adherence to EU import conditions.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsThe project will create a total of 119 FTE of which at five higher level. At the central company there will be 23 FTE and 96 FTE are among outgrowers.Two years after completion of the PSI project, it is expected that the company will employ 33 FTE of which seven at higher level. According to the proposal the expected employment with outgrowers would be at 233 FTE. This figure is based on additional participation of 50 outgrowers and thus a total of 85 participating outgrowers. A more realistic follow-up participation of 35 additional outgrowers would lead to a total of about 200 FTE.Partners will adhere to an explicit CSR policy with the elements outlined above. There is no official minimum wage in Macedonia. Information obtained during verification showed that farm workers’ wages are at minimum € 100-150/month.Wages of joint venture employees will therefore be at least 170% and of outgrower employees at least 130% of this wage level.•	Innovation / Transfer of knowledgeEmployees and outgrowers will receive specific and practical technical training on all aspects of snail production which is new to Macedonia. In addition employees and outgrowers will receive training on Health and hygiene and environmental awareness in general and related to the snail production. Higher level staff will also receive training in management, marketing and ITC skills where applicable. The total number of persons trained far exceeds the number of FTE since many outgrowers and their part-time workers will be included in the training programme.•	Chain effectsIn addition to the outgrowers (and their employees), an estimated 12 different suppliers are expected to benefit from the project. This includes suppliers of hardware investments since grass in cages, wooden pallets, nets and packing crates will need replacement on a regular basis. Snail food ingredients will be sourced locally and transport companies will benefit.•	EnvironmentThe project will have a positive effect on the environment. An important contribution will be the expected reduction of collection of snails from the wild. The production will be environmentally friendly with re-use of used pallets, composting of grass etc.The ecological risk of escaping snails has been considered. Wikipedia reports that Helix Aspera snails are indigenous in the surrounding countries and therefore may be expected to be common in Macedonia as well.•	Position of womenIn the joint venture twenty out of 33 employees (60%) will be female. At higher level one of the marketing managers will be female. An expected 175 persons or 86% of outgrower staff will be female. The joint venture will have an equal rights policy for female employees. To develop a production and marketing chain for meat snail in Macedonia with a capacity of about 300 tons per year, aiming at exports to Italian/European markets.