On July 12th, 2022, South Muntenia Regional Development Agency , project partner in Since-AFC, organized the National Dissemination Event of the SinCE-AFC project. The meeting took place at the headquarters of the “Alexandru Odobescu” County Library in Călărasi, over 80 stakeholders from local authorities, experts in the field of circular economy, business environment, research entities and important strategists in the field of innovation attended the event.
During the event, information was presented about: The SinCE-AFC project, its activities and results; South-Muntenia Regional Operational Programe 2021-2027; Recommendations for improving policies in the agri-food sector; Action plan - analysis of the main actions; The initiatives carried out by the Fundulea Agricultural Research Center Cluster Association; Entrepreneurial Challenges in the Circular Economy as well as the Dissemination of good practices that were introduced during sixth seminar and study visit that took place on 11-12 May 2022, in Debrecen, Hungary.
In the opening of the event, the President of the Călărași County Council, Vasile Iliuță stated: “This project aims at the development of the circular economy. In Bărăgan region, we need such projects that represent the solution for combating pollution, demographic decline, exploitation of neighboring localities, supporting agroecology and decarbonization. In Călărași, few companies have managed to integrate plant and livestock production on the shelves of large chain stores. This project aims to attract European funds and comes as a solution for creating new businesses "
The general director of South Muntenia region, Mr Liviu Gabriel Mușat, declared: “The initiative to disseminate the results of the SinCE-AFC project, financed by the Interreg Europe Program, in Bărăgan, was not accidental. The South - Muntenia development region has a very pronounced agricultural character, almost 60% of the citizens of the region live or work in rural areas. We wholeheartedly want to strengthen this branch of the economy more and more. We want the products made with so much effort in our region to be processed in our area, to have the entire agrifood value chain, and this can only be done with a competitive food industry, an industry that allows us to enter in competition with producers from other countries of the world. The SinCE-AFC project is based on a concept used more and more often lately, that of circular economy. Thus, we try to process everything that can be processed and to remove as little residue as possible in nature. Obviously, in the current global context, this approach is more than welcome, more than necessary. We hope that in our region we will have more and more examples of such projects ".
Within the debate session, it were discussed new technologies in agrifood sector, funding schemes for innovation and Circular Economy and training for specialists in agrifood sector. In addition, Mr Cornel BERTEA HANGANU, expert in circular economy and combating food waste - responsible for implementing SDG12, in 2030 Agenda, national coordinator of the implementation of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development of Romania 2030, from the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, has introduced the new National Strategy for Sustainable Development of Romania 2030. Mr HANGANU mentioned that the SinCE-AFC project is in line with the strategy and the Ministry supports the activities and is willing to support future projects in circular economy area.
