Summary

In order to obtain a coordinated development of the whole Mediterranean olive-growing sector is needed the direct involvement of the operators, the comparison among them and with the scientific institutions and the experience exchange in order to sustain the entrepreneurial development and the acquisition of the scientific innovations. For this reason the proposal foresees the creation of a BIOLMED permanent transnational network based on some consolidated experiences at local level (Biol Exhibitions) that will have a cross role compared with the project activities, representing a continuous moment of transnational comparison on product and processing innovations. The project aims to share and transfer good practices to improve the production chain quality and its environmental impact, as well as to create and to spread company integrated management systems on organic product quality (management of international certification and food security rules), for an administrative simplification that could favour its adoption, permitting the company access to the international markets. In order to develop local markets, ideal places to sell organic products, moreover the project foresees the sharing and the next realization of Group Purchasing Organisation and Farmers Markets models, favouring the purchasing directly from small local producers, with economical advantages for both consumers and producers, as well as the environmental impact reduction due to the transport of goods. It is a new market model that contributes also to create a context to exchange ideas and opinions, particularly on critical consumption and environmental safeguard. The whole project is particularly orientated to the sharing and transfer of project results, particularly contributing to the BIOL prizes organization at regional level but with an involvement of international partners and companies.

Geographic coverage

The project involves seven Mediterranean’s regions of four different countries located in the Mediterranean area, chosen for the experiences and the initiatives they have developed in behalf of organic olive oil growth. Specifically, regions that have cooperated to the realisation of exhibitions for the organic quality at regional level that aim to create a permanent network.
Specifically, they are regions with a strong olive-growing vocation that need to strengthen their entrepreneurial capacity, to acquire the currently available scientific innovation, to improve the product quality and finally to compare themselves with field operators and public institutions

Background and principles of the Biolmed project

Project has its origins in the creation of a network among subjects who for many years have been collaborating for the realisation of BIOL exhibitions on organic olive-growing: CiBi and Apulia Region for Biol Apulia; Biol Spain CAFAGE; DIO for Biol-Greece. The idea is to create only a transnational subject (ex. No profit association) structured at regional level (regional front offices). To be consider that the realisation of Biol prize foresees some preparatory activities such as the involvement of companies and the olive oil quality evaluation, in many different Mediterranean countries through the collaboration of associations and local institutions. Moreover, BIOLMED will capitalise the results of the following projects:

• PAB Interreg III Italy Albania for the editing of production chain quality manuals (IAMB, Apulia Region and CiBi).
• BIOLFISH – Interreg III Adriatic Cross Border for the quality improvement and the olive oil valorisation (Apulia Region, CiBi, ICEA).
• O.BIO – Interreg III Italy Greece for the improvement of olive oil quality and the market access strengthening (TEI, Apulia Region, MAIB).

Considering the knowledge about the Mediterranean organic olive sector

The project implements services and instruments to favour the development of organic farming at a territorial level, as an opportunity to improve the farm competitiveness and to improve the organic production chain quality. Substantially, there are two main criticalities. The first criticality concerns those processing procedures having high energy and water consumption and a strong impact on the product quality. The second criticality concerns the use of the most environmentally friendly pest control techniques being safe for both the agrosystem and the society.
The high number of quality system certifications has therefore led to a superabundance of inspections and types of necessary documents, with negative impacts on farm costs and on the efficiency of those certification systems set up by inspection bodies and public authorities.

Using the previous experiences

Biolmed Project will use the annually-organized BIOL exhibition plays a fundamental role. Its purpose has always been the promotion of the organic extra-virgin olive oil, the development of the organic farming culture and its world-wide diffusion. Besides BIOL, in Spain, Cafage and SEAE organize the Ecoliva exhibitions every single year. All project partners took part in the BIOL exhibition. MAIB, ICEA, and the Apulia Regional Government were involved in the drafting of quality manuals for the organic olive oil production chain, during the Interreg PAB II project (2008). This project allowed testing the least impacting pest control techniques. These methods will be experimented on the project pilot farms set up in the framework of the COBIO project (TEI, 2008), in order to improve the characteristics of final products and minimize the environmental impact.
For the development of local markets, it is important to mention the experiences of Group Purchasing Organizations and Farmers’ Markets that have been locally organized by CIBi since the year 2000. DIO, CIBi and ICEA are normally committed in certification activities and participate in projects for the improvement and simplification of procedures (Interreg RISVIBIO)

Sharing technical activities between the partners

The implementation method consists of an operational plan (results, cost and resources planning) proposed by the partner responsible for the activity to the PM, then communicated to other partners and made effective. The transnational and local sharing of each relevant activity is made possible through the organization of meetings.
The Lead Partner MAIB competence is on organic farming. Results: improvement of the knowledge on the organic production chain and the network strengthening. Human resources: agronomists, economists, IT experts.
The Regione Puglia competence: cooperation. Results: improving the organic regional policies. ICEA is competence: international experience on the organic certification systems. Expected result: simplification of the certification procedures.
CIBI competence is connected to the experience acquired in the marketing sector. Expected results: development of GPOs and FMs, know-how transfer to farms. Competence: certification and market development in Apulia. Expected results: service improvement for farms at local level.
CAFAGE has organic agriculture advisory and training expertise and a wealth of experience acquired in the organic production method. Expected results: quality manuals improvement.
SEAE has experiences in the organic farming promotion and network management. Expected results: development of the Biolmed Network; raising public awareness.
DIO’s acquired experience in the certification of organic products. Expected results: know-how transfer to farms.
TEI is a research institute specialized in organic agriculture. Expected results: carrying out and orientating research in this sector.
MGARR participates in the activities acquired experience in the protection of Mediterranean natural resources. Expected results: knowledge and local policies improvement.

Bringing innovative aspects to the Mediterranean organic olive oil

The project outputs are meant to encourage the implementation of regional development policies for quality agriculture in the framework of which organic farming plays a role of utmost importance. Dealing with the entire production chain is the real innovation, by improving the quality of products and of the production process and by intervening on the local market and on the management of the certification procedures. The purpose is to boost the organic farms’ competitiveness by contributing to the socio-economic and environmental sustainability of the territory.

Project Coherence of the Biolmed project

…with Mediterranean programmes

The project encourages the development of organic farming because its actions target on improving the soil fertility for future generations ensures the increase in employment chances for young people and the respect of equal opportunities. Over the last few years, the increasing consumption of organic products at international level has boosted the direct farm sales.
The project also contributes to the promotion of the territorial cohesion, since it aims at implementing the sustainable territorial development of partner countries, through a strict collaboration with involved stakeholders that enhances the exchange of experiences acquired at local level, by improving the farms competitiveness

…with the orientations of the Axis and specific objectives of the project

The aim is to reinforce the internal cohesion of European countries located in the Med area promoting the growth (Goteborg strategy, 2001), the competitiveness and the employment (new Lisboan strategy). In particular, the reinforcement of a strategic cooperation between economic development stakeholders and public authorities will be possible thanks to the formal institutions of the BIOLMED transnational permanent network that will allow promoting the entrepreneurship, the innovation and the economy knowledge.
The same network will promote BIOL Exhibitions that represent an international moment of direct comparison with the operators, comparison among them and with the scientific and administrative institutions and the experience exchange aimed at the reinforcement of the entrepreneurial capacity and the scientific innovation acquisition. Totally, the project aims to improve the access to the market of the organic olive products.

…with the European, national policies and other EU programmes

The project is consistent with the Community Strategic Guidelines (CSG) for the 2007-2013 periods. The activities will be addressed to the creation or strengthening of services and facilities for the development of organic farming in order to reinforce the convergence between environment protection and economic growth.
To complain with the objective of increasing the regional governments' attractiveness for investments and entrepreneurial activities, the project wants to strengthen services in the local authorities and to favour the transfer of innovations to both the production process (all along the production chain) and the local market (GPOs & FMs), by making the farms’ activities easier and creating conditions for new investments and establishment of new farms in the territory. The Permanent Transnational Network will encourage an endless dialogue between the Regions of partner countries and the local decision-makers, with the effect of gearing local policies to the farms’ needs and boosting their growth.
The project promotes innovation and knowledge in favour of economic growth through the transfer of new technical-scientific skills and the opening of Regional Front Offices in each country. It also encourages the creation of new and better employment opportunities, since it targets on increasing the number of investments on human resources via a constant transfer of technical scientific skills to young people and the support to the establishment of new farms (organic farming is in constant growth thanks to the increase in the market demand), by facilitating the use of new technologies and the access to information.
The project results to be consistent with the National Strategic Reference Frameworks (NSRN) of partner counties and in tune with their specific socio-economic priorities by promoting cooperation initiatives between different territorial systems and performing innovative actions in different regions. Furthermore, the national strategies intend to improve the market competitiveness, mainly to develop local markets by actions based on innovation, research, entrepreneurship and technology.

Information, publicity and assessment of the project

The optimisation process of the reached results in the MED area (capitalisation) will take place through the consolidation of BIOLMED transnational permanent network. Besides, MAIB, member of CIHEAM intergovernmental network, will ensure a wide spread also in the Mediterranean basin through Moan network (24 countries).
BIOL network will have the possibility to enlarge thanks to the contacts that will be created with the constitution of regional front offices, favouring meeting chances among field operators and scientific and public institutions.
The front offices will offer innovative software that, besides to be an enterprise and certification body’s support, could be used by the public authorities and it will represent a referent model for the efficiency evaluation of the certification and control systems on organic farming.
The result of the capitalisation strategy foresees the direct involvement of stakeholders and decision makers during all projects through meetings and focus groups. Last moment will be represented by Biol exhibitions that could be representing a datum point before and after the end of the project.

Communication plan of the project

Information and advertisement actions, as described in the communication plan, aim to improve the notoriety and transparency of the project content and outcome expected by users, and to raise awareness of people living in the involved territories, in collaboration with local and national authorities and stakeholders, in favour of the implementation of actions and results obtained. This communication plan is addressed to the following recipients: vocational organizations and producer associations, economic and social parties among which there are professional associations, associations and consortia of economic operators, scientific institutions, single and associated SMEs, single and associated farms, companies and consortia, non-profit organizations, environmental associations, public authorities, local administrations, public bodies, main-mass media working in the eligible area.
The project actions and content will be widely advertised. In order to inform on the intervention implementation and the achieved results, different specific actions will be performed. As far as exhibitions are concerned, in order to raise awareness of direct beneficiaries and of the public opinion, the most suitable informative materials will be prepared to guarantee the visibility of performed actions. MAIB, as Lead Partner, will appoint a “Communication Manager” to perform planned actions. At the end of each semester, to understand the effectiveness and application of the communication plan, the Communication Manager must produce a specific analysis on information and advertisement actions performed

Provisions to ensure the continuity of the project

The BIOL exhibition will have the chance to further expand through the project and will continue to be supported by project partners. The BIOLMED Network will carry on its specific activities on the organic olive oil via the institutional MOAN network. The Biolmed Regional Front Offices will continue working thanks to the availability of internal financial resources. Quality manuals for the organic olive oil production chain might be further implemented in the future. The simplification of farm certification procedures will be an instrument to be implemented for both regional authorities and inspection bodies, and will therefore be present in the ordinary expenses list of the public administration. Experiences acquired by GPOs and FMs are a benefit for farms that make the initiative self-sustainable. As consequence, we expect the increase in the number of organic farms, the rise in profitability, the growth of local consumptions, the reduction of the environmental impact and the improvement of services by local authorities 

Background and principles of the Biolmed project

Project has its origins in the creation of a network among subjects who for many years have been collaborating for the realisation of BIOL exhibitions on organic olive-growing: CiBi and Apulia Region for Biol Apulia; Biol Spain CAFAGE; DIO for Biol-Greece. The idea is to create only a transnational subject (ex. No profit association) structured at regional level (regional front offices). To be consider that the realisation of Biol prize foresees some preparatory activities such as the involvement of companies and the olive oil quality evaluation, in many different Mediterranean countries through the collaboration of associations and local institutions. Moreover, BIOLMED will capitalise the results of the following projects:

• PAB Interreg III Italy Albania for the editing of production chain quality manuals (IAMB, Apulia Region and CiBi).
• BIOLFISH – Interreg III Adriatic Cross Border for the quality improvement and the olive oil valorisation (Apulia Region, CiBi, ICEA).
• O.BIO – Interreg III Italy Greece for the improvement of olive oil quality and the market access strengthening (TEI, Apulia Region, MAIB).

Considering the knowledge about the Mediterranean organic olive sector

The project implements services and instruments to favour the development of organic farming at a territorial level, as an opportunity to improve the farm competitiveness and to improve the organic production chain quality. Substantially, there are two main criticalities. The first criticality concerns those processing procedures having high energy and water consumption and a strong impact on the product quality. The second criticality concerns the use of the most environmentally friendly pest control techniques being safe for both the agrosystem and the society.
The high number of quality system certifications has therefore led to a superabundance of inspections and types of necessary documents, with negative impacts on farm costs and on the efficiency of those certification systems set up by inspection bodies and public authorities.

Using the previous experiences

Biolmed Project will use the annually-organized BIOL exhibition plays a fundamental role. Its purpose has always been the promotion of the organic extra-virgin olive oil, the development of the organic farming culture and its world-wide diffusion. Besides BIOL, in Spain, Cafage and SEAE organize the Ecoliva exhibitions every single year. All project partners took part in the BIOL exhibition. MAIB, ICEA, and the Apulia Regional Government were involved in the drafting of quality manuals for the organic olive oil production chain, during the Interreg PAB II project (2008). This project allowed testing the least impacting pest control techniques. These methods will be experimented on the project pilot farms set up in the framework of the COBIO project (TEI, 2008), in order to improve the characteristics of final products and minimize the environmental impact.
For the development of local markets, it is important to mention the experiences of Group Purchasing Organizations and Farmers’ Markets that have been locally organized by CIBi since the year 2000. DIO, CIBi and ICEA are normally committed in certification activities and participate in projects for the improvement and simplification of procedures (Interreg RISVIBIO)

Sharing technical activities between the partners

The implementation method consists of an operational plan (results, cost and resources planning) proposed by the partner responsible for the activity to the PM, then communicated to other partners and made effective. The transnational and local sharing of each relevant activity is made possible through the organization of meetings.
The Lead Partner MAIB competence is on organic farming. Results: improvement of the knowledge on the organic production chain and the network strengthening. Human resources: agronomists, economists, IT experts.
The Regione Puglia competence: cooperation. Results: improving the organic regional policies. ICEA is competence: international experience on the organic certification systems. Expected result: simplification of the certification procedures.
CIBI competence is connected to the experience acquired in the marketing sector. Expected results: development of GPOs and FMs, know-how transfer to farms. Competence: certification and market development in Apulia. Expected results: service improvement for farms at local level.
CAFAGE has organic agriculture advisory and training expertise and a wealth of experience acquired in the organic production method. Expected results: quality manuals improvement.
SEAE has experiences in the organic farming promotion and network management. Expected results: development of the Biolmed Network; raising public awareness.
DIO’s acquired experience in the certification of organic products. Expected results: know-how transfer to farms.
TEI is a research institute specialized in organic agriculture. Expected results: carrying out and orientating research in this sector.
MGARR participates in the activities acquired experience in the protection of Mediterranean natural resources. Expected results: knowledge and local policies improvement.

Bringing innovative aspects to the Mediterranean organic olive oil

The project outputs are meant to encourage the implementation of regional development policies for quality agriculture in the framework of which organic farming plays a role of utmost importance. Dealing with the entire production chain is the real innovation, by improving the quality of products and of the production process and by intervening on the local market and on the management of the certification procedures. The purpose is to boost the organic farms’ competitiveness by contributing to the socio-economic and environmental sustainability of the territory.

Project Coherence of the Biolmed project

…with Mediterranean programmes

The project encourages the development of organic farming because its actions target on improving the soil fertility for future generations ensures the increase in employment chances for young people and the respect of equal opportunities. Over the last few years, the increasing consumption of organic products at international level has boosted the direct farm sales.
The project also contributes to the promotion of the territorial cohesion, since it aims at implementing the sustainable territorial development of partner countries, through a strict collaboration with involved stakeholders that enhances the exchange of experiences acquired at local level, by improving the farms competitiveness

…with the orientations of the Axis and specific objectives of the project

The aim is to reinforce the internal cohesion of European countries located in the Med area promoting the growth (Goteborg strategy, 2001), the competitiveness and the employment (new Lisboan strategy). In particular, the reinforcement of a strategic cooperation between economic development stakeholders and public authorities will be possible thanks to the formal institutions of the BIOLMED transnational permanent network that will allow promoting the entrepreneurship, the innovation and the economy knowledge.
The same network will promote BIOL Exhibitions that represent an international moment of direct comparison with the operators, comparison among them and with the scientific and administrative institutions and the experience exchange aimed at the reinforcement of the entrepreneurial capacity and the scientific innovation acquisition. Totally, the project aims to improve the access to the market of the organic olive products.

…with the European, national policies and other EU programmes

The project is consistent with the Community Strategic Guidelines (CSG) for the 2007-2013 periods. The activities will be addressed to the creation or strengthening of services and facilities for the development of organic farming in order to reinforce the convergence between environment protection and economic growth.
To complain with the objective of increasing the regional governments' attractiveness for investments and entrepreneurial activities, the project wants to strengthen services in the local authorities and to favour the transfer of innovations to both the production process (all along the production chain) and the local market (GPOs & FMs), by making the farms’ activities easier and creating conditions for new investments and establishment of new farms in the territory. The Permanent Transnational Network will encourage an endless dialogue between the Regions of partner countries and the local decision-makers, with the effect of gearing local policies to the farms’ needs and boosting their growth.
The project promotes innovation and knowledge in favour of economic growth through the transfer of new technical-scientific skills and the opening of Regional Front Offices in each country. It also encourages the creation of new and better employment opportunities, since it targets on increasing the number of investments on human resources via a constant transfer of technical scientific skills to young people and the support to the establishment of new farms (organic farming is in constant growth thanks to the increase in the market demand), by facilitating the use of new technologies and the access to information.
The project results to be consistent with the National Strategic Reference Frameworks (NSRN) of partner counties and in tune with their specific socio-economic priorities by promoting cooperation initiatives between different territorial systems and performing innovative actions in different regions. Furthermore, the national strategies intend to improve the market competitiveness, mainly to develop local markets by actions based on innovation, research, entrepreneurship and technology.

Information, publicity and assessment of the project

The optimisation process of the reached results in the MED area (capitalisation) will take place through the consolidation of BIOLMED transnational permanent network. Besides, MAIB, member of CIHEAM intergovernmental network, will ensure a wide spread also in the Mediterranean basin through Moan network (24 countries).
BIOL network will have the possibility to enlarge thanks to the contacts that will be created with the constitution of regional front offices, favouring meeting chances among field operators and scientific and public institutions.
The front offices will offer innovative software that, besides to be an enterprise and certification body’s support, could be used by the public authorities and it will represent a referent model for the efficiency evaluation of the certification and control systems on organic farming.
The result of the capitalisation strategy foresees the direct involvement of stakeholders and decision makers during all projects through meetings and focus groups. Last moment will be represented by Biol exhibitions that could be representing a datum point before and after the end of the project.

Communication plan of the project

Information and advertisement actions, as described in the communication plan, aim to improve the notoriety and transparency of the project content and outcome expected by users, and to raise awareness of people living in the involved territories, in collaboration with local and national authorities and stakeholders, in favour of the implementation of actions and results obtained. This communication plan is addressed to the following recipients: vocational organizations and producer associations, economic and social parties among which there are professional associations, associations and consortia of economic operators, scientific institutions, single and associated SMEs, single and associated farms, companies and consortia, non-profit organizations, environmental associations, public authorities, local administrations, public bodies, main-mass media working in the eligible area.
The project actions and content will be widely advertised. In order to inform on the intervention implementation and the achieved results, different specific actions will be performed. As far as exhibitions are concerned, in order to raise awareness of direct beneficiaries and of the public opinion, the most suitable informative materials will be prepared to guarantee the visibility of performed actions. MAIB, as Lead Partner, will appoint a “Communication Manager” to perform planned actions. At the end of each semester, to understand the effectiveness and application of the communication plan, the Communication Manager must produce a specific analysis on information and advertisement actions performed

Provisions to ensure the continuity of the project

The BIOL exhibition will have the chance to further expand through the project and will continue to be supported by project partners. The BIOLMED Network will carry on its specific activities on the organic olive oil via the institutional MOAN network. The Biolmed Regional Front Offices will continue working thanks to the availability of internal financial resources. Quality manuals for the organic olive oil production chain might be further implemented in the future. The simplification of farm certification procedures will be an instrument to be implemented for both regional authorities and inspection bodies, and will therefore be present in the ordinary expenses list of the public administration. Experiences acquired by GPOs and FMs are a benefit for farms that make the initiative self-sustainable. As consequence, we expect the increase in the number of organic farms, the rise in profitability, the growth of local consumptions, the reduction of the environmental impact and the improvement of services by local authorities