Presentation from Dr Dora Chimonidou, Director of the Agricultural Research Institute of Cyprus during the EIT Stakeholders Conferece, organized during the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of E.U.

2. Food4Future: Sustainable Supply Chain
from Resources to Consumers
Dora Chimonidou
Director of Agricultural Research Institute of
Cyprus

3. Food4Future – Challenges
Challenges:
oIncreasing world population
oEnergy security (linked to scarcity of fossil fuel and bioenergy development)
oAdaptation and mitigation of climate change
oConsumers demand of affordable, diversified, high quality & convenient food
products responding to their tastes & needs
oConcerns regarding food safety, environmental protection, fair trading practices
& animal welfare
Horizon 2020:
"The challenge is to secure supplies of safe and high quality food and bio-based products
and to ensure sustainable management of biological resources, contributing to both rural
and coastal development and to competitiveness of the European biobased industries,
while preserving terrestrial and marine eco-systems, reducing fossil-dependency, mitigating
and adapting to climate change and promoting zero-waste."

4. Food4Future – Facts & Figures
Facts:
oThe EU food and drink industry is the largest manufacturing sector in Europe
with a turnover of €965 billion in 2009
oQuestions of food safety and security have a bearing on nearly all sectors of
economy and society
oOver the last decade, Europe's share of the global market has declined from
25% to 21% in the face of competition from emerging economies (BRIC)
oEuropean food research was estimated as 0.37% of gross output in 2009
compared to 1.01% in Japan
oThe Food Sector is made up of 99% SMEs, producing ~50% of total turnover,
however the research performers are the universities and public research
institutes
oEU Governmental & public institutions with important role in food policy are
mostly not linked to policy research

5. Food4Future KIC – Issues & Needs
Food Research – Issues & Needs
o New Developments in Agricultural research mainly occur at the borderlines of
different disciplines, interdisciplinary research is needed
o Gaps between all stakeholders (public research, private breeding companies,
farmers, consumers)
o Gaps between research and innovation, local and European networks
o Greater involvement of farmers, resource users and consumers in the
research efforts for both, the setting of research priorities and for the
application of research
SCAR Report on Agri-Food Research – Issues & Needs
o Financing is a major obstacle to sharing research infrastructures, specifically
the lack of funding & difficulty of sharing costs
o Competition between countries & potential conflict of interest between
coordination at a European level and national strategies
o Lack of networking and coordination

6. Food4Future KIC – Added Value
Knowledge & Innovation Communities (KICs) Added Value for
Research:
o Holistic Approach:
o Bridge the gaps between Stakeholders
o Promote interdisciplinary research
o Provide access and sharing of infrastructures
o Enhance networking and coordination (gap of National, Regional & European)
o Mobilize investment and long-term commitment through the involvement of
Business Sector (99% SMEs)
o Knowledge Triangle:
o Bring together critical mass of excellent research, innovation, education
and training stakeholders along the whole chain

7. Agricultural Research Priorities in Cyprus
- Plant health and Crop Production -Integrated Crop Production (ICP) and
Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Rational use of inputs (fertilizers, pesticides,
water etc.) - "Using less produce more“
- Health and welfare of animals / production and safety of animal products
- Saving and Rational Use/Management of Water Resources-Evaluation of
crops with low water requirements and resistance to dry climates and use of
recycle water for irrigation
- Agricultural systems and implementation of new technologies- Molecular
genetics and plant breeding - Postharvest management of agricultural
products
- Renewable energy, Protection of natural resources, Energy
conservation, Adaptation of crops to climate change, Protection of the
environment and Biodiversity
- Agricultural Economics and Rural Development- Reducing production cost,
increasing overall system performance and efficient use of inputs «produce
more-pollute less»

8. Integrated Crop Production (ICP) and Integrated Pest Management
(IPM)
Low input production systems
Macrolophus caliginosus
(Hemiptera: Miridae)
Determination of irrigation needs Optimised use of water & nutrients
Production of healthy propagated material
Formation of new crop rotation systems Conservation of local varieties
Biodiversity
Use of endemic
species from Cyprus
flora in commercial
Floriculture

9. Creation of New Varieties of
cereals and legumes adapted
to Cyprus conditions
Training Centre
Creation of a Bio economy: Use of biomass
core of ship and for energy production and
goats of high growing algae for biodiesel
genetic production
standards
Reduction of Post-harvest losses
Training Centre: Training of the Extension officers of the Department of
Agriculture and growers - transfer knowledge-
“Building bridge between science and application”

10. Thank you for your attention!
Questions and Suggestions?