Towards farms with zero carbon-, waste- and water-footprint. Roadmap for sustainable management strategies for Balkan agricultural sector

Programme 2014 - 2020 INTERREG VB Balkan-Mediterranean

Date of latest update: 2021-12-15

Description

Description (EN):

Balkan agricultural sector faces strong challenges in terms of unsustainable resources management and GHGs emissions.Although some countries show positive development indicators,however the continuous economic crisis,the low level of participatory/initiatives undertaking by local/regional authorities and the lower capacity and educational level of Balkan farmers in comparison to other European farmers,inhibit the adoption of innovative approaches and conformation of Balkan agriculture to EU policies, mainly at farm/local level.The project conception shares deeply the willingness of the farmers to protect the environment but also their deep concern to develop their skills,modernize and increase the profitability of their enterprises by reaching EU and international markets.Hence,BalkanROAD will provide tools and policies for economic development,through the adoption of environment protective practices which is a strong motivation for farmers to adopt and implement project’s outcomes. BalkanROAD has two orientations, which will be combined and integrated into a Balkan Roadmap and are anticipated to open new trade horizons for Balkan agricultural products, boosting also local and national economies; namely: (1)to improve Balkan agricultural environment by developing strategies, methodologies and technologies for natural resources conservation (soil, water, air), reduction of GHGs, reduction of waste generation/disposal and increase recycling/reuse ratio in farm systems, (2)to develop a common Balkan Protocol for the production of eco-labeled agricultural products, by putting in force sustainable practices throughout the entire production line (i.e from the field to the market) so that the final products will have measurable, comparable and ultimately the lowest possible environmental footprint. A fully automated, robust but also flexible system (the ROAD tool) for recording, calculating and reporting the environmental footprint of the marketable products will be tested and demonstrated in 3 agricultural pilot enterprises in Greece, Bulgaria and FYROM.Stakeholders have a strong participatory role. A multidisciplinary group of 15 stakeholders from all 5 five participating countries, operating in agricultural sector will be involved in the project’s actions and cooperate in order to (1)identify problems, gaps and propose most appropriate solutions, (2)provide the consortium with data for the development of the Roadmap, and (3)identify the appropriate policies and governmental instruments for Roadmap adoption by national policies and implementation at local/regional/national level.To ensure sustainability of project’s outcomes, a broader stakeholders’ network has already been established, namely “ROAD for Balkan Agriculture”, who are ready to follow project’s outcomes, express their point of view during transnational dialogue events and diffuse data and information to the wider agricultural, market and societal networks, in which they belong.

Achievements (EN):

Through a strong participatory approach, BalkanROAD defined the specific problems of Balkan agribusinesses towards achieving sustainability and delivered a targeted transition Strategy for the next years. The project developed a web-GIS app for the calculation of SMEs’ environmental impact, allowing the creation of local value chains and the strengthening of their market position by producing and marketing low carbon-, water- and waste footprint products,traceable at all production stages. The project came at a time when significant changes are needed in the way businesses operate and harmonize with European legislation for GHG emissions reduction and for minimization of the environmental impact of processes and products. Changes that will become more intense in the coming years as we move towards the year 2030 (1st target for the reduction of 55% of GHGs compared to 1990) and then 2050 (EU decarbonization target). Therefore, companies will soon start searching for tools and services that will help them in this transition. BalkanROAD assists this transition now. Having available the necessary Guides and Tools for sustainable and innovative practices for all production stages, agribusinesses are now able to reorganize their framework of operation in a targeted and methodological way. They can now create local value chains and prove and communicate the environmental footprint of their products to the markets and directly to consumers. They can also experiment with the ROAD tool and decide their short- and long term strategy of changes for gradually improving their processes (e.g. replacement of fossil fuels with biofuels, use of renewable energy sources, water recycling, utilization of organic byproducts/wastes in soil for carbon sequestration, etc). BalkanROAD web site: https://balkanroad.eu BalkanROAD web GIS tool: https://roadtool.balkanroad.eu

Website: https://balkanroad.eu/

Expected Results (EN):

BalkanROAD will deliver outputs in line with the Programme’s output indicators. More specifically: • Environment friendly technologies to be implemented throughout the entire production line of a farm (i.e. cultivation, irrigation, fertilization, plugging, pest management, harvesting, post harvesting, processing, packaging, energy and fuels consumption, waste management, manpower management). • Jointly developed protocol, Roadmap and strategies for their implementation and adoption in Balkan countries. • A series of other outputs (studies, educational and dissemination material, events, trainings) . Considering that the outputs will be delivered at a validated and ready-to-implement form and that will be developed by taking into account countries’ particularities, targets and action plans, it is anticipated that the adoption level will be high. Therefore, the project clearly contributes to the results indicator of the Programme,meaning to increase level of adaptation to resources efficiency and climate change resilience measures in alignment with EU policy. It is anticipated that during the last year of the project, when outpus have been disseminated and the results will be obvious and concrete, and through the transferability and communication strategy of the project, professionals around the Balkan region will express their interest in implementing the outputs, since without doubt, labeled products is a strong motivation for this. The immediate results of the project are in line with the Result Indicator of the Pogramme and the S.O.2.2. since,due to the innovative and smart output (i.e. environment friendly and labeled products, which is a very strong motivation for the farm enterprises to adopt project’s outputs),it is believed that the level of adaptation of the measures proposed by the project from the Balkan agri-sector will be very high.

Expected Outputs (EN):

BalkanROAD will deliver ready-to-use outputs that will be developed through transnational cooperation, strategies and tools jointly developed by the consortium and the target stakeholders and audience, satisfying the Output Indicators of S.O. 2.2: • A common Balkan Protocol, namely “Balkan protocol for sustainable farms and production of labeled products with low environmental footprint” with practices, methodologies, technologies, procedures and instructions for reducing and recording waste/water/carbon footprint of the Balkan agricultural products that may lead to farms certification. The protocol will be in line with the EU and national legislation, the new CAP and the 2050 targets for GHGs reduction. • A web-based application tool, namely ROAD, to assist protocol integration into farms production lines and procedures. Farms will be provided with a powerful, robust, flexible to be adjusted in any farm type, and fully automated tool that allows monitoring, measurement and calculation of water-, waste and carbon footprint in all steps of the production line (from field to the market). ROAD will be available for free in all partners’ languages. • A ready-to-implement “Roadmap for sustainable Balkan farms” and governmental instruments in terms of reduction of waste/water/carbon footprint of the Balkan agricultural sector that will enhance development and implementation of local/regional plans. A wide dialogue scheme is foreseen for the development of the Roadmap with the active involvement of the target stakeholders. • Strategies and tools for Roadmap implementation at the Balkan Peninsula. This will be a detailed report, developed through transnational dialogue and considering the unique features, strengths and weaknesses of all participating countries. • Several studies to assess outputs’ technical and economical viability (GAP analysis, LCA, SWOT, CBA). • Educational material for academia and training organizations (focused also on young farmers, women and people with disabilities).

Thematic information

Sustainable management of natural resources Agriculture and fisheries and forestry

Specific Objective: Sustainable territories: fostering transnational cooperation for resource efficiency and climate change resilience

Thematic Objective: (06) preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency by:

Investment Priority: (06f) promoting innovative technologies to improve environmental protection and resource efficiency in the waste sector, water sector and with regard to soil, or to reduce air pollution

Partners (7)

Lead Partner: Μπενάκειο Φυτοπαθολογικό Ινστιτούτο

Address: 8 Stef. Delta str. 14561, Kifisia, 14561 Kifisia, Greece

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.bpi.gr

Total budget: EUR 272 274.05

ERDF budget: EUR 231 432.94

IPA2 budget: EUR 40 841.11

Όμιλος Μεταλυκειακής Εκπαίδευσης και Κατάρτισης Αμερικάνικης Γεωργικής Σχολής

Name: Όμιλος Μεταλυκειακής Εκπαίδευσης και Κατάρτισης Αμερικάνικης Γεωργικής Σχολής

Address: Marinou Antypa 54, P.O.Box 23, 55102, Thessaloniki, 55102 Thessaloniki, Greece

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.afs.edu.gr

Total budget: EUR 167 212.00

ERDF budget: EUR 142 130.20

IPA2 budget: EUR 25 081.80

Федерација на производители на органски производи на Македонија

Name: Федерација на производители на органски производи на Македонија

Address: Mladinska No.146, StrumicaStrumica, North Macedonia

Legal status: public

Total budget: EUR 187 856.50

ERDF budget: EUR 159 678.03

IPA2 budget: EUR 28 178.48

ΑΝΟΙΚΤΟ ΠΑΝΕΠΙΣΤΗΜΙΟ ΚΥΠΡΟΥ

Name: ΑΝΟΙΚΤΟ ΠΑΝΕΠΙΣΤΗΜΙΟ ΚΥΠΡΟΥ

Address: 33 Yianni Kranidioti Avenue, Nicosia 2220, 2220 Nicosia, Cyprus

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.ouc.ac.cy

Total budget: EUR 219 048.83

ERDF budget: EUR 186 191.51

IPA2 budget: EUR 32 857.32

Universiteti Bujqesor i Tiranes, Departamenti I AgroMjedisit dhe Ekologjise, Shqiperi

Name: Universiteti Bujqesor i Tiranes, Departamenti I AgroMjedisit dhe Ekologjise, Shqiperi

Address: Universiteti Bujqesor I Tiranes, Fakulteti I Bujqesise dhe Mjedisit, Koder, Kamez, TiraneTirana, Albania

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.ubt.edu.al.

Total budget: EUR 86 010.00

ERDF budget: EUR 73 108.50

IPA2 budget: EUR 12 901.50

АСОЦИАЦИЯ НА АГРОЕКОЛОГИЧНИТЕ ЗЕМЕДЕЛСКИ ПРОИЗВОДИТЕЛИ

Name: АСОЦИАЦИЯ НА АГРОЕКОЛОГИЧНИТЕ ЗЕМЕДЕЛСКИ ПРОИЗВОДИТЕЛИ

Address: 4 Saborna Street, entr. V, floor 2, app. 4, 1000 Sofia, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.agroecology.bg

Total budget: EUR 206 644.00

ERDF budget: EUR 175 647.40

IPA2 budget: EUR 30 996.60

Ινστιτούτο Μεσογειακών Σπουδών-ΙΤΕ

Name: Ινστιτούτο Μεσογειακών Σπουδών-ΙΤΕ

Address: Melissinou & Nik. Foka 130, 74100 Rethymno, Crete, 74100 Rethymno, Greece

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.ims.forth.gr

Total budget: EUR 145 677.77

ERDF budget: EUR 123 826.10

IPA2 budget: EUR 21 851.67

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

American Farm School Post Secondary Educational and Training Association

Towards farms with zero carbon-, waste- and water-footprint. Roadmap for sustainable management strategies for Balkan agricultural sector

Partners and Projects info

Macedonian Organic Producers Federation

Towards farms with zero carbon-, waste- and water-footprint. Roadmap for sustainable management strategies for Balkan agricultural sector

Partners and Projects info

ΑΝΟΙΚΤΟ ΠΑΝΕΠΙΣΤΗΜΙΟ ΚΥΠΡΟΥ

Towards farms with zero carbon-, waste- and water-footprint. Roadmap for sustainable management strategies for Balkan agricultural sector

Partners and Projects info

Agricultural University of Tirana

Towards farms with zero carbon-, waste- and water-footprint. Roadmap for sustainable management strategies for Balkan agricultural sector

Partners and Projects info

Benaki Phytopathological Institute

Towards farms with zero carbon-, waste- and water-footprint. Roadmap for sustainable management strategies for Balkan agricultural sector

Partners and Projects info

Association of Agri-Environmental Farmers

Towards farms with zero carbon-, waste- and water-footprint. Roadmap for sustainable management strategies for Balkan agricultural sector

Partners and Projects info

Institute for Mediterranean Studies-FORTH

Towards farms with zero carbon-, waste- and water-footprint. Roadmap for sustainable management strategies for Balkan agricultural sector

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Towards farms with zero carbon-, waste- and water-footprint. Roadmap for sustainable management strategies for Balkan agricultural sector

Project acronym: BalkanROAD

Project start date: 2017-08-09

Project end date: 2020-09-04

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 284 723.15

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 092 014.68

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 859 228.15.
IPA/IPA II/IPA III: Amount, EUR 232 786.53.

Documents

Documents on this project are listed below, and organised by category. Please note field "Data source", attached to each document. Keep.eu users are free to use these documents as long as they mention the data source and keep.eu.

Videos / films

BalkanROAD REGIOSTAR 2021

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://balkanroad.eu/

Publication date: 2022-07-27

Document date: 2021-10-01

Languages: en

BalkanRoad Project

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://balkanroad.eu/

Publication date: 2022-07-27

Document date: 2019-12-31

Languages: en

Cyprus Workshop 2019

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://balkanroad.eu/

Publication date: 2022-07-27

Document date: 2019-04-19

Languages: en, el

Reports

OPENEARTH CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS - ABSTRACTS

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://balkanroad.eu/

Publication date: 2022-07-27

Document date: 2020-02-12

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Towards farms with zero carbon-, waste- and water-footprint. Roadmap for sustainable management strategies for Balkan agricultural sector - Report for the LCA (Greek Pilot Area)

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: http://www.interreg-balkanmed.eu/approved-project/12/

Publication date: 2022-07-27

Document date: 2018-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

"Towards farms with zero carbon-, waste- and water-footprint. Roadmap for sustainable management strategies for Balkan agricultural sector - Report for the GAP Analysis (data for Cyprus)"

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: http://www.interreg-balkanmed.eu/approved-project/12/

Publication date: 2022-07-27

Document date: 2018-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

"Towards farms with zero carbon-, waste- and water-footprint. Roadmap for sustainable management strategies for Balkan agricultural sector - Analysis (LCA) for the 3 pilot areas"

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: http://www.interreg-balkanmed.eu/approved-project/12/

Publication date: 2022-07-27

Document date: 2018-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Towards farms with zero carbon-, waste- and water-footprint. Roadmap for sustainable management strategies for Balkan agricultural sector - GAP Analysis for Bulgaria

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: http://www.interreg-balkanmed.eu/approved-project/12/

Publication date: 2022-07-27

Document date: 2018-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Towards farms with zero carbon-, waste- and water-footprint. Roadmap for sustainable management strategies for Balkan agricultural sector - Report for the LCA (Palikura Pilot Area)

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: http://www.interreg-balkanmed.eu/approved-project/12/

Publication date: 2022-07-27

Document date: 2018-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

"Towards farms with zero carbon-, waste- and water-footprint. Roadmap for sustainable management strategies for Balkan agricultural sector - GAP Analysis for Balkan region"

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: http://www.interreg-balkanmed.eu/approved-project/12/

Publication date: 2022-07-27

Document date: 2018-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Presentations

Interreg Balkan-Mediterranean BalkanRoad ROAD Tool The web-based GIS application for the estimation of Carbon Footprint

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Presentation

Data source: https://balkanroad.eu/

Publication date: 2022-07-27

Document date: 2020-02-12

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2014 - 2020 INTERREG VB Balkan-Mediterranean

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2022-12-09

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

44 / 44 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

282 / 282 (100%)

Notes on the data

Information provided by the Programme. Achievements were retrieved by Interact from the Programme website (http://www.interreg-balkanmed.eu/), or a website directly linked from it, on 2021-09-20.

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Towards farms with zero carbon-, waste- and water-footprint. Roadmap for sustainable management strategies for Balkan agricultural sector

Description

Thematic information

Partners (7)

Partners map

Summary

Documents

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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