Food4Future: Sustainable Supply Chain from Resources to Consumers

Dora ChimonidouDirector of Agricultural Research Institute of

Cyprus

Food4Future – ChallengesChallenges:

oIncreasing world population

oEnergy security (linked to scarcity of fossil fuel and bioenergy development)

oAdaptation and mitigation of climate change

oConsumers demand of affordable, diversified, high quality & convenient food products responding to their tastes & needs

oConcerns regarding food safety, environmental protection, fair trading practices & animal welfare

Horizon 2020: "The challenge is to secure supplies of safe and high quality food and bio-based products and to ensure sustainable management of biological resources, contributing to both rural and coastal development and to competitiveness of the European biobased industries, while preserving terrestrial and marine eco-systems, reducing fossil-dependency, mitigating and adapting to climate change and promoting zero-waste."

Food4Future – Facts & FiguresFacts:oThe EU food and drink industry is the largest manufacturing sector in Europe with a turnover of €965 billion in 2009

oQuestions of food safety and security have a bearing on nearly all sectors of economy and society

oOver the last decade, Europe's share of the global market has declined from 25% to 21% in the face of competition from emerging economies (BRIC)

oEuropean food research was estimated as 0.37% of gross output in 2009 compared to 1.01% in Japan

oThe Food Sector is made up of 99% SMEs, producing ~50% of total turnover, however the research performers are the universities and public research institutes 

oEU Governmental & public institutions with important role in food policy are mostly not linked to policy research

Food4Future KIC – Issues & NeedsFood Research – Issues & Needs o New Developments in Agricultural research mainly occur at the borderlines of

different disciplines, interdisciplinary research is neededo Gaps between all stakeholders (public research, private breeding companies,

farmers, consumers)o Gaps between research and innovation, local and European networkso Greater involvement of farmers, resource users and consumers in the

research efforts for both, the setting of research priorities and for the application of research

SCAR Report on Agri-Food Research – Issues & Needso Financing is a major obstacle to sharing research infrastructures, specifically

the lack of funding & difficulty of sharing costso Competition between countries & potential conflict of interest between

coordination at a European level and national strategies o Lack of networking and coordination

Food4Future KIC – Added Value

Knowledge & Innovation Communities (KICs) Added Value for Research:

o Holistic Approach: o Bridge the gaps between Stakeholderso Promote interdisciplinary research

o Provide access and sharing of infrastructures

o Enhance networking and coordination (gap of National, Regional & European)

o Mobilize investment and long-term commitment through the involvement of Business Sector (99% SMEs)

o Knowledge Triangle:

o Bring together critical mass of excellent research, innovation, education and training stakeholders along the whole chain

Agricultural Research Priorities in Cyprus

- Plant health and Crop Production -Integrated Crop Production (ICP) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Rational use of inputs (fertilizers, pesticides, water etc.) - "Using less produce more“- Health and welfare of animals / production and safety of animal products- Saving and Rational Use/Management of Water Resources-Evaluation of

crops with low water requirements and resistance to dry climates and use of recycle water for irrigation

- Agricultural systems and implementation of new technologies- Molecular genetics and plant breeding - Postharvest management of agricultural products- Renewable energy, Protection of natural resources, Energy conservation, Adaptation of crops to climate change, Protection of the environment and Biodiversity- Agricultural Economics and Rural Development- Reducing production cost, increasing overall system performance and efficient use of inputs «produce more-pollute less»

Optimised use of water & nutrients

Formation of new crop rotation systems

Low input production systems

Production of healthy propagated material

Macrolophus caliginosus (Hemiptera: Miridae)

Determination of irrigation needs

Conservation of local varieties

Biodiversity

Use of endemic species from Cyprus flora in commercial Floriculture

Integrated Crop Production (ICP) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Training Centre: Training of the Extension officers of the Department of Agriculture and growers - transfer knowledge-

“Building bridge between science and application”

Creation of a core of ship and

goats of high genetic

standards

Creation of New Varieties of cereals and legumes adapted to Cyprus conditions

Bio economy: Use of biomass for energy production and growing algae for biodiesel

production

Reduction of Post-harvest losses

Training Centre

Thank you for your attention!

Questions and Suggestions?