INTERREG III B CADSES PROJECT BOOK - Infocooperare

SIMOCASetting up and Implementation of sustainable and multifunctionalrural development Model based on Organic and CompetitiveAgriculturewww.simoca.orgProject DescriptionResults and EffectsConsumers are increasingly demanding organicagricultural products. This creates a new marketfor agricultural products which are produced in anenvironmentally-friendly way. Also the Communitypolicy (EC Reg. 1257/97) promotes productionmethods compatible with the increasing needs ofprotection and improvement of the environment,natural resources, the soil and genetic diversity, aswell as with the need to safeguard natural spacesand landscapes for sustainable agricultural development.Different studies prove that organicfarming requires more labour input and triggersprocesses of diversification for economic activities(such as tourism, services, processing of agriculturalproducts, etc.) that are enhanced by theimage of being „natural“ which is inherent to theorganic farming concept.The main problem SIMOCA has addressed, whichcan also be considered a new approach, is the lackof a sustainable rural development strategy thatcan integrate socio-economic, agricultural, culturaland environmental aspects.Through the creation of a harmonic and beneficialtransnational co-operation the SIMOCA projecthas attained important results:i Building up of a common transnational knowledgebase and communication networking system,i Implementation of a sustainable transnationalrural development strategy based on increasingmultifunctional and organic farming,i Creation of six competence centres in organicagriculture and sustainable rural development,i Creation of a Polycentric Documentation Centre,i Elaboration and demonstration of best practicemodels in multifunctional and organic agriculturein selected areas reduced environmentalpollution (soil, water, air, food) and increasedbiodiversity,i Elaboration of a study on infrastructure and socio-economicneeds in sensitive rural areas,i Creation of two networks: one for administrativeinstitutions and another for scientific institutions.EU Regions/Member StatesNon EU Member StatesLead PartnerProject Partner0 200 kmLead PartnerC.I.H.E.A.M.-Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of BariVia Ceglie 970010 Valenzano (BA)ITALYSPATIAL DEVELOPMENTMEASURE 1.3The project has not only tackled all these aspects,but it has also confronted several additional problems,such as:i Weak competitiveness and environmentalfriendlinessof agriculture,i Depopulation and sub-urbanisation problems,i Loss of cultural heritage,i Poor diversification of economic activities andweakness in international relationships,i Shortcomings in infrastructures.DurationStart ....................................................... 01/2003End ......................................................... 03/2006Budget (EUR)Total Budget ....................................2,228,900.00thereof ERDF ...................................1,233,062.50Contact PersonDr. Maurizio RaeliTel +39 080 4606284Fax +39 080 4606206E-Mail raeli@iamb.itProject PartnersCroatiaEKO Liburnia, RijekaGreeceC.I.H.E.A.M. - Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania,ChaniaItalyRegione Puglia, BariSVIM (Sviluppo Marche), AnconaRegione Marche, AnconaAgenzia Regionale Servizi di Sviluppo Agricolo Abruzzo(ARSSA), AvezzanoUniversità Degli Studi di Bari, BariPolandWarsaw Agriculture University, WarsawSlovakiaSlovak Academy of Sciences, BratislavaSIMOCA explores models for rural development basedon organic and competitive agricultureINTERREG III B CADSES / PROJECT BOOK59