Agrofood Clusters & Regional Development
A vital economical sector for Greek Greek industry is one of the composed of 23 sectors
and the most important of them is the food and drink
sector
The largest manufacturing sector in Greece,
representing about 21% of Greek manufacturing industry
includes more than 1,300 enterprises an creates 70,000
jobs.
The agro-food industry is thus central to the wider,
economic development of Europe as it develops over the
next decades
The Greek Agrofood industry
Agriculture in the Greece
Contribution of food industry and food sectors to total Greek Economy
Agriculture in the Greece
Imports of Greek Agriculture Industry
Exports of Greek Agriculture Industry
Sustainable agriculture is a productive, competitive and efficient way to produce safe agricultural products, while at the same time protecting and improving the natural environment and
social/economic conditions of local communities
Challenges for Sustainable agriculture
o Abundant food insecurity (FAO, 2006)o Demand for food will increase (Evans, 2009, and others)o Unsustainable use of natural production factors such as soil,
biological diversity and water (Pimentel et al., 1995; FAO, 2003)o 60 % of ecosystem services are degraded (Millennium
Ecosystem Assessment, 2005)o Intensive agriculture is depends on high energy but could be
energy self-reliant and could mitigate GHG emission considerably (Smith et al., 2007)
o Agriculture is insufficiently prepared to cope with unpredictability and adaptation to climate change (Lobell et al., 2008)
Challenges for sustainable agriculture
Depletion of resourcesCropland area
Water
Energy
~70% of the Earth’s surface is water ~3% of the Earth’s water is fresh water ~70% of fresh water consumption is for
agriculture By 2025, half the population may face water
shortages…
The era of ‘easy’ (and cheap) energy is over…Instead, we now live in the era of Extreme Energy
Projected impacts from climate change in different EU regions
The way forward: ”increased productivity of agri- culture in a sustainable manner”
From focus on increased
productivity alone
To holistic integration of Natural Ressource Management with food
and nutritional security
Smart Agriculture Production
• Water, soil, Energy
• Labour, know how
• Healthy and safe food
• Traditional• functional
• Climate change
• Water shortage
• Pest & Diseases
• Heat &
• CAP• Directives• Prices• Global GAP
Legislation & Market Nature
ResourcesConsumer choices
Regional Innovation Agro-Food clusters
What is a cluster: a cluster includes firms and other knowledge-producing agents in a geographically concentrated area with inter-linkages among them.
An Agro-Food cluster: A group of farms and/or allied food and agricultural enterprises, individuals, organizations, and agencies who work together on shared interests and toward a common goal.
ConsumersOrganizatio
nsProduce
rsFarmersInput
Manufacturers Input
Suppliers
Retailers
Distributors
Agriculture in the Region of Lower Saxony
Agro-Food Cluster as Regional Economic Dynamic
Agro Food Cluster embeds:
Resources
Capabilities
Competencies
The Competitiveness of industry depends on innovation and knowledge transfer
What the end users want
What is viable in the marketplace
What is possible with technology
INNOVATION
The Agro4Growth project aims to develop a regional innovation agro food cluster in the Region of Thessaly, Greece
The cluster will focus on the Food & Beverage sector, one of the most dynamic and rapid growing sectors in Thessaly manufacturing
The Agro4Growth participants will join their forces and utilise clustering and networking principles for the development and marketing of Thessaly Innovative and Functional Foods with a particular emphasis on Olive oil, Vegetables, Dairy Products & Wines.
The cluster will be developed around cross-cutting enabling technologies (e.g. ICTs, biotechnology, robotics) and emerging industries in the agro food sector and it will be mainly based in a practice-based innovation model
A case study: Innovation Regional Agro-Food Cluster in Thessaly for Growth and Rural Development - Agro4Growth
Contact us:
Centre for Research and Technology– Hellas (CERTH)Institute for Research and Technology-Thessaly (IRETETH)
Web site: www.cereteth.gr, www.fooditerranean.com
E-mail address: [email protected]@[email protected]@gmail.com
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