The Final Dissemaination Event of SinCE-AFC - organized by ANATOLIKI S.A. and the Regional Development Fund of Central Macedonia, on behalf of the Region of Central Macedonia - brought together visionaries, experts, and stakeholders from diverse regions to discuss and showcase innovative practices in the realm of circular economy in the agri-foog chain. The event aimed to foster knowledge exchange and collaborative efforts in promoting circularity within the agrifood industry. Distinguished speakers, key-note presenters, and policy influencers converge to explore circular economy services, innovation products based on circularity and discussion panesl on policy change evaluation by SinCE-AFC partner regions.
The event kicked off with an introduction of the ITERREG EUROPE PROGRAMME by Vincenzo Capocasale from JTS INTERREG EUROPE, followed by Vasiliki Papadopoulou from ANATOLIKI SA, who deliveed a presentation about SinCE-AFC project and it’s results. Stefani Spillare from the University of Bologna delivered a thought-provoking key-note address on the significance of circular agrifood chains in the global context, presented the e-book on circular economy realized within SinCE-AFC project and set the stage for the discussions ahead.
Session 1: Circular Economy Services
In this session, panelists presented their success stories in implementing circular economy services, each having a maximum of 8 minutes for their presentations:
Mara Angelidou & InCommon from the Region of Central Macedonia showcased the use of coffee waste for biofuel production.
Monica Magureanu & INCDCP-ICECHIM from the South Muntenia Region unveil "SECVENT," a sequential process for closing side flows in the bioeconomy.
Brenda Hegarty & Enviro Grind Ltd. from Donegal County shared insights on reprocessing household, agricultural, and commercial waste.
Marino Cavallo & Mercato Ritrovato from the Metropolitan City of Bologna presented "Mercato ritrovato," an innovative farmers' market concept.
Session 2: Innovation in Circular Products
This session focused on innovative products and their role in promoting circularity:
Judit Karácsonyi & Alföld Tej's Ltd. from Hajdu-Bihar County introduced a dairy factory utilizing the by-products of cheese production.
Marcin Just & SemCo Company from Wielkopolska Region highlighted their traditional, unrefined, cold-pressed oil production at SemCo company.
Ivayla Vasileva & "STRAW" LTD from Devnya Municipality presented "SLAMka," an eco-friendly wheat straw product.
Session 3: Exploring Policy Instruments and Action Plans
The symposium concluded with two sessions that delve into policy instruments and action plans for advancing circular practices:
The first session featured Kostas Michailidis from the Region of Central Macedonia, Brenda Hegarty from Donegal County Council, Marino Cavallo from the Metropolitan City of Bologna, and Marta Jachimowska from the Marshal Office of The Wielkopolska Region, each discussed their respective regional operational programs.
The second session included László Kiss from Hajdú-Bihar County Government, Monica Magureanu from South Muntenia Regional Development Agency, and Ivayla Vasileva from Devnya Municipality, presenting their region's development programs.
The Final Dissemination Event of SinCE-AFC served as a platform to inspire, collaborate, and strategize toward a sustainable agrifood industry. With progressive practices, innovative products, and well-defined policy frameworks, participants and attendees left the event empowered to create a positive impact on the environment and society, driving us closer to a circular and greener future.
