The Coastal Communities Digital Marathon is a global event aimed at highlighting the vital importance of maritime communities around the world and will take place on November 21 on World Fisheries Day.
Conceived and organized by CIHEAM Bari, Coldiretti and the World Farmers Markets Coalition, this marathon will not only review best practices already implemented, but also offers a significant opportunity to make connections, stimulate the acquisition of new skills and knowledge, and promote practices and approaches that are ecologically sustainable and socially and economically beneficial.
Divided into three distinct blocks, based on different time zones, the marathon brings together 16 coastal communities, from the Asian continent, Europe, and Africa to the coasts of North and South America, with the aim of sharing stories, experiences and sustainable practices, outlining a rich mosaic of millennial traditions and innovations.
In the Asian block, which extends from Sri Lanka to Australia through Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, we will explore the economic and social significance of fishing, the impacts of the ecosystem approach to resource management, the diversification of the fisheries sector, and we will hear fishers’ opinions on marine protected areas.
In the Europe and Africa block, Morocco, Senegal, Italy, Tunisia, Turkey, Zanzibar and Kenya will present strategies adopted to cope with the impacts of climate change on fisheries, actions to manage the invasion of alien species, and share virtuous experiences of diversification and sustainable fishing in marine protected areas.
Finally, in the South and North American block, the marathon will complete this overview by highlighting sustainable practices underway in coastal communities across the Americas, ranging from climate action mitigation in Canada to marine resource enhancement in the U.S.
This marathon is not only an exploration of challenges and opportunities; it is also a strategic opportunity to learn from best practices, share knowledge, and find inspiration to define the sustainable future of coastal communities around the world.
The Advanced Course on Coastal Development and Climate Change, funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Directorate General for Globalization) and intended for officials from the Ministries of Environment, Agriculture, Tourism and Economic Development of Pacific Island States, such as the Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Timor-East, Tonga, and Tuvalu, started today in Tricase at the CIHEAM Bari premises.
In line with the European Union's Indo-Pacific Strategy, the training program will focus on environmental challenges caused by climate change, such as sea level rise, extreme weather events and marine pollution. The objective of the course is to prepare participants to address these threats by providing them with the skills needed to assess environmental impacts, develop adaptation strategies, and promote sustainable coastal development.
Through in-depth lectures, engaging interactive activities, technical visits, and meetings with local stakeholders, this training provides a crucial opportunity to develop innovative and sustainable solutions to the growing environmental challenges in Pacific islands.
CIHEAM Bari and PRIMA - Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area - with the support of the Italian Embassy in Egypt, coordinated the first operational meeting with representatives of key Egyptian ministries and authorities to advance the scaling-up of PRIMA R&I project results for the benefit of communities and businesses in critical sectors, such as sustainable food production and water efficiency.
The meeting, promoted in the framework of the initiative financed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and hosted at FAO premises in Cairo, was attended by representatives from several Egyptian ministries: Agriculture, Research and Higher Education, International Cooperation, Water Resources, Supply and Internal Trade.
The third edition of the Mediterranean Innovation Agrifood Week will kick off on 22 November, focusing on the need for a new mindset among the younger generations to drive change and innovation in the Mediterranean region.
During three days of events, more than 30 international experts and 22 business incubator managers from 12 countries (Albania, Algeria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Jordan, Greece, Kenya, Lebanon, Palestine, Uganda, Tunisia) will meet to identify strategies, models and tools that can help young people lead change in the Mediterranean.
By 2050, more than 50 per cent of the youth population in the Mediterranean region, namely 111 million young people out of a total population of around 200 million, will be living in North African countries. Although these young people are highly educated, they often do not match the skills required by the local and international production system, as evidenced by the ever-increasing unemployment rate, which currently stands at over 40%.
It is crucial to encourage young people to become agents of change, through a genuine change of mentality, in order to prevent them from seeing migration as their only option.
The event will be launched on 22 November at 10am with the inauguration of the new Mediterranean Innovation Hub, on CIHEAM Bari campus. The hub is part of the Creative@Hubs project (Holistic Networking of Creative Industries through Hubs, supported by the Interreg V-A Greece-Italy Cooperation Programme) and will host all the activities of the initiative. The inauguration ceremony will be attended by Maurizio Raeli, Director of CIHEAM Bari, Donato Pentassuglia, Regional Councillor for Agriculture, Gianluca Nardone, Director of the Department of Agriculture, Rural and Environmental Development of Puglia Region, Tina Ranieri, Interreg V-A Greece-Italy 2014-2020 Programme.
The first panel on day 1 will be dedicated to resilience of rural areas, while the second panel, organised in the framework of the FoodShift2030 project, will focus on food policies in the Mediterranean area, with a line-up of speakers including leading experts and young entrepreneurs.
On day 2 (23 November), Apulian companies will have the opportunity to meet other entrepreneurs, experts and strategic advisors during the Matching event, while young aspiring entrepreneurs will take part in the Pitch Competition, presenting their business ideas developed under the Creative@Hubs project. In addition, a workshop will bring together incubators, start-ups, executives and innovation practitioners from the Mediterranean region.
In the afternoon, two more panels will take place to exchange on digital transformation and new education models, with expert speakers and representatives of different organisations.
The Mediterranean Innovation Agrifood Week will be closed on 24 November (10 am), with the International Conference on the event's main theme: The future is young, changing mindset to deal with change, which will take place in in the Great Hall of CIHEAM Bari.
The Director of CIHEAM Bari, Maurizio Raeli, the Councillor for Economic Development of Puglia Region, Alessandro Delli Noci, the Secretary General of CIHEAM, Teodoro Miano, and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) will address the meeting.
Several expert speakers and representatives of leading Mediterranean organisations are due to participate, including Elisa Pettinati, AICS - Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, Cecilia Marocchino, Coordinator of Urban Food Systems and Laura De Matteis, Food Systems Expert, FAO, Diana Battaggia, Director of UNIDO ITPO Italy, Wladimiro Boccali, General Coordinator of Codeway Expo 2022, Raniero Chelli, UNIMED Project Manager, Martina De Sole, Director of ENoLL - European Network of Living Labs, Hedi Chouria, Food Officer, BusinessMed - Union of Mediterranean Business Confederations, Gianna Elisa Berlingerio, Director of Economic Development of Puglia Region.
The conference will be moderated by Giovanni Matera, RAI journalist. The conclusions will be drawn by Damiano Petruzzella of CIHEAM Bari.
C’è tempo fino al 24 novembre per inviare la propria candidatura alla Call4Application per i Laboratori di Open Innovation – Design Thinking realizzati all’interno del Progetto di Ricerca “Rigenerazione Sostenibile”, in collaborazione con Almacube (incubatore, acceleratore e hub innovativo dell’Università di Bologna e Confindustria Emilia Centro): una straordinaria opportunità indirizzata a innovatori, start-up, spin-off, aziende innovative, idee progettuali e gruppi di ricercatori che desiderano diventare parte integrante del movimento per la sostenibilità nel settore agricolo. Il programma mira a sviluppare soluzioni innovative per affrontare le sfide cruciali nel settore agricolo.
L'obiettivo del Progetto di Ricerca & Sviluppo "Rigenerazione Sostenibile dell'agricoltura nelle regioni afflitte da Xylella fastidiosa" è affrontare le problematiche che hanno scatenato una delle crisi fitosanitarie più gravi a livello globale, con conseguenze non solo per le imprese agricole ma anche per l'intera comunità.
L’impegno è quello di lavorare insieme con gli innovatori per sviluppare soluzioni che possano promuovere la sostenibilità nell'ambito agricolo e ambientale, anche attraverso l’utilizzo del Venture Clienting, un nuovo modello di cooperazione tra startup e aziende, alternativo al Venture Capital. La via più rapida per sviluppare soluzioni innovative non è più quella di acquistare equity di una startup, ma diventare clienti e usufruire direttamente del suo prodotto. L’azienda identifica, sperimenta e valida soluzioni innovative in modo rapido e poco rischioso, offrendo al contempo alla startup l’opportunità di applicare la propria tecnologia su scala industriale.
I candidati che saranno selezionati avranno l'opportunità di rispondere alle Innovation Challenge proposte dalle aziende della open innovation community costruita nel corso del Progetto “Rigenerazione Sostenibile” del CIHEAM Bari, contribuendo così a risolvere problemi critici e a promuovere la sostenibilità nel settore agricolo. Nello specifico, le cinque sfide riguarderanno nuovi approcci o tecnologie per sviluppare imballaggi sostenibili utilizzando sottoprodotti agricoli e ittici; per la valutazione e qualificazione di prodotti vegetali; per il monitoraggio delle coltivazioni - e.g. IoT, droni, sistemi di imaging; per ottimizzare l’uso di risorse idriche ed energetiche in agricoltura; per l’utilizzo di tutte le risorse della pianta di olivo (olive, foglie e corteccia ecc.).
Il processo di selezione comprende una fase di scouting, accelerazione sul campo e co-design in collaborazione con il nostro partner di innovazione, Almacube.
I 5 innovation partner più promettenti avranno l’opportunità di realizzare il proprio progetto attraverso una Proof Of Concept con una o più aziende selezionate. In seguito, potranno stabilire un contratto di collaborazione per portare avanti le loro soluzioni innovative.
Per ulteriori informazioni e per presentare la candidatura: https://openinnovation.rigenerazionesostenibile.iamb.it/
Il Progetto di Ricerca & Sviluppo “Rigenerazione Sostenibile dell'agricoltura nei territori colpiti da Xylella fastidiosa” coordinato dal Distretto Agroalimentare di qualità Jonico Salentino (DAJS), è realizzato da Università del Salento, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Politecnico di Bari, Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante del CNR, CIHEAM Bari e Centro di Studi per i Cambiamenti Climatici. I laboratori di Open Innovation sono realizzati dal CIHEAM Bari nell’ambito della Task 5.3 - Open Innovation - Sviluppo di una Infrastruttura Sociale dell’Innovazione.
La Città Metropolitana di Bari, in linea con l'Agenda 2030 delle Nazioni Unite e il Patto di Milano, ha presentato i risultati del progetto AgriCultura, lo scorso 30 ottobre nell’Aula Magna del CIHEAM Bari.
Questo importante evento rappresenta un passo significativo nella promozione di politiche alimentari sostenibili e nell'inclusione sociale all'interno dell'Area Metropolitana di Bari. Il progetto AgriCultura, con capofila la Città Metropolitana di Bari e partner il Teatro Pubblico Pugliese e il CIHEAM Bari, si è focalizzato su diverse iniziative mirate a migliorare la qualità del cibo, ridurre la povertà alimentare e promuovere la creazione di comunità sostenibili e inclusive.
I lavori sono stati aperti da Maurizio Raeli, direttore del CIHEAM Bari, Sante Levante, direttore del Teatro Pubblico Pugliese, Pierfrancesco Atzori, viceprefetto, Responsabile Area Segreteria Tecnico Operativa Gestione Programmi comunitari del Ministero dell'Interno.
Coastal communities from all corners of the world are the lifeblood of an extraordinary cultural and environmental ecosystem. They are an essential pillar for food security, economic development, and cultural preservation on a global scale.
Fishing, which has been the most important source of livelihood for these communities for centuries, now faces a number of obstacles, including overfishing, environmental degradation, and climate change. These challenges threaten not only the sustainability of fisheries resources but endanger the entire collective social and economic fabric.
Good fishing practices, therefore, play a crucial role in addressing these threats and encourage us not to ignore how responsible management of fisheries resources, reduction of environmental impacts, and adoption of sustainable fishing techniques are essential tools for ensuring a lasting future and a better quality of life for coastal communities.
CIHEAM Bari, Coldiretti and the World Farmers Markets Coalition, united in this common goal, are launching for November 21, 2023, World Fisheries Day, the first edition of the "Worldwide Coastal Communities Digital Marathon" a virtual event encouraging dialogue and exchange of knowledge and best practices among coastal communities, fishers, industry experts, policy makers and supporters of sustainable fisheries.
Presentations, question-and-answer sessions, and interactive networking opportunities will animate the event and provide an opportunity to share experiences, explore best practices, and collaborate for a sustainable future for coastal communities worldwide.
Participation in the event is open to anyone interested in the challenges and opportunities facing coastal communities and the fishing industry.
