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AGRICULTURE

20 October 2021 @ 13:30 - 15:00

AGRICULTURE

Sustainable Agriculture in Small Islands.

Innovation and cooperation towards a new model of sustainable agriculture for islands

In cooperation with INSULEUR and Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias

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Abstract

Creating sustainable agriculture models is fundamental for small islands’ self-sufficiency, economy, and transmission of their natural heritage. In fact, islands face increasing needs to achieve food security/sovereignty, restore of a fair share of agriculture in their GDP, minimize the consumption of water, commercialize their high-quality, “made in the islands” agricultural products. These issues can only be tackled by exploiting synergies with the entire primary sector and by identifying the truly sustainable innovations.
The workshop showcases the annual work of the GTI Observatory Task Force “Sustainable Agriculture in Small Islands”, run in cooperation with INSULEUR and Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias and with the esteemed support of FAO. Lately, the Task Force has brought its focus on the synergies of agriculture with livestock and the entire primary sector, as well as on formulating recommendations on the most sustainable innovations and the most effective policies for islands. It is also working to include parameters for agriculture in the GTI Global Index, such as agricultural land size, evaluation, and effective agricultural uses.
The workshop will present snapshots of synergies with different sectors and technologies drawing on research findings and good practices, focusing on the most sustainable innovations for islands and exploring how renewables, waste management, circular economy, and capacity building can contribute to a sustainable model. Nature-based solutions, agrivoltaics, agritourism, residues reuse in connection with livestock, innovative irrigation and wastewater treatment techniques are all able to assist the conservation and development of island indigenous crops and create a circular, more efficient agricultural model. Then, policy recommendations will follow for island governments and international institutions on key themes of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the EU Farm to Fork Strategy, such as a pesticides reduction and soil management.

Draft Agenda

13.30 Introduction

Angelo Nogara – Senior Strategy Development Manager, GTI

13.35 Setting the scene

Georges Assonitis – INSULEUR Technical Committee
Gonzalo Piernavieja – Research & Innovation Director at Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias (ITC)

13.55 Policy recommendations for island governments and international institutions

Manuel Redondo – Managing Director COAG-Canarias

14.05 Synergies with different sectors & Good practices

Amani Alfarra – Water Resources Officer, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) / Prof. Ben Sonneveld – Senior Researcher and Professor at Amsterdam Centre for World Food Studies of the Vrije University of Amsterdam, Visiting professor at Abomey-Calavi University of Benin and the AI-Quds University of Jerusalem
- Fresh water management under pressure on Small Island Developing States

Prof. María del Pino Palacios Díaz – Professor at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
- Success case study Cape Verde: Last results of the ADAPTARES project (reused waste water in agriculture)

Prof. Theocharis Tsoutsos – Director of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Lab, CHIMPER Technical University of Crete.
- The COMPOSE Toolbox – Fostering sustainable models and innovation in islands and rural communities