Ecomondo - Press release n°3
26.07.2018
Professor Fabio Fava’s presentation focused on the North African area priorities and needs which will be discussed at Ecomondo 2018, the leading trade shows of green and circular economy in the Euro Mediterranean area, organized by Italian Exhibition Group at Rimini Expo Centre, from 6th to 9th November 2018. Professor Fabio Fava is the President of Ecomondo’s Scientific/Technical Committee.
MEDITERRANEAN PRIORITIES DISCUSSED AT ECOMOND0 2018
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in the Mediterranean area (MED) there are 3.5 billion hectares of degraded land that could be used to grow non-food local biomass for the biobased industry. MED forest vegetation may refer to many forms of forest and other wooded areas, from shrubland to high pine stands, including many other species and forms of vegetation. Such ecosystems have intrinsic economic value and generate various products but it is currently unexploited and subjected to various threats, such as natural hazards (including wildfires), poor soil and difficult climatic conditions, and external threats. Climate changes, the reduction of precipitation and increases of precipitation variability, are affecting remarkably the whole aboveground net primary production of the area, in particular the vegetation at arid and semi-arid sites (i.e., lower forage production) by putting under risk the long-term viability of the local biodiversity systems and of the agri-food and forestry production.
The MED sea is undergoing fast changes in response to both natural and anthropogenic pressures. Climatic changes influence its physical dynamics and hydrological structure, while nutrient and pollutant loads are flowing from growing urbanization, land and coastal activities. The increasing maritime traffic, that will continue to grow in any economic scenario presently foreseen, leads to both pollution and alien species invasion. Fishing stocks are in general overexploited. The natural heritage of the MED and its ecosystem services are at risk. On the other hand, the geo-political complexity of the area is adding further difficulties in the deployment of favorable frame conditions to a blue economy growth (e.g. in trans-border cooperation in sea-related activities, including planning.
The priorities and needs mentioned above will be discussed during the Ecomondo 2018 via a number of workshops and conferences, among other, the followings:
The effects of environmental changes in the Mediterranean area on the local fishery, aquaculture and aquatic biodiversity as well as on the seafood processing value chains and competitiveness will be discussed in the event below via a cross-topic dialogue sharing and discussing research, developments and cooperation opportunities in the area with the participation of Federpesca, The Italian Technology Cluster on Bluegrowth, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the EU Commission and of the BLUEMED Initiative.
In any case, Mediterranean area needs a more sustainable exploitation of fish stocks and aquaculture systems, through better management and conservation of fisheries, ecosystem-based approaches, and reducing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Some new technologies have allowed governments to collect more data on fish stocks as well as better monitor, evaluate and technically reduce the environmental impacts of fisheries and aquaculture practices and activities. Such technologies used in maritime fisheries and in aquaculture, both current and emerging, improving the sustainability of the whole value chains and the competitiveness of the sectors, will be presented at the conference below, which will see the participation of representative of the EU commission and of the BLUEMED initiative.
The major problems associated with the plastics in the Mediterranean sea and the possible alternatives and EU available policies on the subject will be discussed together with experts, policy makers and key representatives of industrial sectors, public institutions, the EU commission and the Parliament at the conference below.
The management and protection of the coasts, also in relation to the current climate changes, is a strategic issue for a country like Italy with about 7,500 km of coastline, both for the security of the internal territories, both for the conservation of habitats and coastal ecosystems, both for economic and social development mainly linked to coastal and maritime tourism and to the European strategy of "Blue Growth". Such a relevant Italian bluegrowth priority will be discussed, also with an EU Mediterranean view, and addressed via the event below.
Finally, water utilities in Italy and Mediterranean region are more and more facing similar challenges that need stronger collaborative strategies in R&D&I. Desalination, for example, is becoming of interest even in Italy and should be seriously considered as well as better water efficiency in water distribution. The seminar will outline the Mediterranean scenario, presenting innovative technologies applied in demo or full scale plants, then focus on the national context by analyzing needs and possible solutions to be addressed in the forthcoming future. Such priorities will be addressed in the following event.
