Pivotal in the European Economy \u2013 30% of global trade runs through its waters \u2013 the Mediterranean has all it takes to become the true protagonist of Southern Europe\u2019s bioeconomy, guaranteeing development and employment. But there is a need for a shared vision amongst the countries in that area and a stronger connection between its shores.<\/p>\n
A liquid continent. This is how Ferdinand Braudel, a famous French historian of the Annales School, defined the Mediterranean. A continent made of water surrounded by three different continents, heavily threatened by the effects of climate change. If there ever was and there still is a Mediterranean economy, then there is also a Mediterranean bioeconomy, strictly connected to its territory, able to build a new bridge between the North and South rims of the Mediterranean, characterized by a widespread and eco-friendly economic development.<\/p>\n
2016 is handing down to us a Southern Europe that is protagonist in this sector. Spain and Italy\u2019s governments have at last accepted the challenge issued by the European Union in 2012, when the \u201cInnovating for a sustainable growth: a bioeconomy for Europe\u201d challenge was presented, when the bioeconomy became part of their political agenda.<\/p>\n
The Spanish strategy in March and that of Italy in November were followed by those of France and Great Britain, both based on the agribusiness and green chemistry, which is already proving a driving force for growth and employment: from Montmel\u00f3 in Catalonia, where there is the plant for the production of bio-succinic acid by Succinity GmbH, a joint venture between BASF and Corbion, in Porto Torres in Sardinia where there is Matr\u00ecca\u2019s biorefinery, a joint venture between Versalis and Novamont, to Gela, Sicily, where the conversion to green chemistry of Gruppo Eni\u2019s refinery is underway.<\/p>\n
And the Mediterranean is the true great protagonist of Southern Europe\u2019s bioeconomy, a reservoir of still largely untapped renewable raw materials and at the same time direct beneficiary of the new biobased economy, which will allow a lower impact on its waters. The Mediterranean is also the location where one of the biggest migration phenomena of the last decades is taking place, a route towards freedom for millions of refugees. A place that often turns into the scene of tragic events.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Mediterranean Sea \u2013 as it reads on the \u2018The bioeconomy in Italy: a unique opportunity to connect economy and society and the environment\u201d strategy \u2013 is a basin with unique bio\/geophysical characteristics. It offers key contribution to the European economy, supporting 30% of the global trade by sea with over 450 port terminals, home to the world\u2019s second largest market for cruise liners, half of the EU\u2019s fishing fleet and a unique cultural and natural heritage. At the same time, the Mediterranean is also faced with important environmental challenges linked to climate change, the growing maritime traffic and pollution, overexploitation of fish resources, invasion of alien species, for instance. But local biodiversity and deep water resources, tourism, energy production from renewable resources, marine aquaculture represent important local opportunities for still unexplored blue growth and employment opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moreover, the Italian strategy, is a reminder of how the Bluemed initiative, started in 2014 on an initiative by the Union\u2019s Italian Presidency by involving the area\u2019s member States and Portugal managed to \u201cbenefit from having a common strategic policy of research and innovation. Soon, such initiative will be extended to the Southern rim, so that the whole area will be able to share the duties and opportunities of a sustainable and long-term economic growth in the Mediterranean. The bioeconomy could thus greatly contribute to regeneration, to sustainable economic development and political stability in the area, reducing also migration phenomena. For instance, through the creation of local investment projects with a high social infrastructural impact, as expressed in the Migration Compact document proposed by the Italian government\u201d (a contribution for a European strategy on immigration sent to Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Union, Editor\u2019s note).<\/p>\n
The drafting of the strategy represented also a key opportunity for Italy to strengthen its competitiveness and role in promoting sustainable growth in Europe and the Mediterranean basin. It is the result of an interministerial collaboration, involving the Ministry for the Economic Development, of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies, the Ministry for Education, of Universities and Research and the Ministry for the Environment and the Protection of Land and Sea. Besides the major national actors of the bioeconomy, including the Agency for Territorial Cohesion, the Conference of Regions and national technological clusters of green chemistry (Spring) and Agribusiness (Cl.an).<\/p>\n
The bioeconomy offers a great opportunity for growth and employment in Europe, although the Mediterranean region is lagging behind compared to Northern Europe, despite the great potential in terms of availability of agricultural, forest and marine biological resources as well as rural and marginal land. This is the unequivocal message that emerged last November 9th during an event organized by Spring, the Italian Cluster of Italian green chemistry, by Biobased Industries Joint Undertaking, the European Commission and the Bologna University at Ecomondo 2016 in Rimini.<\/p>\n
As Philippe Mengal, BBI JU\u2019s executive director, more interconnection amongst Mediterranean countries is needed, as it happens in Northern Europe. From this point of view, Horizon 2020 and BBI JU offer important opportunities to support local initiatives of Research and Innovation, creating interconnections between sustainable agriculture, forestry, industries and growth of the sea economy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe thing is \u2013 adds Jose Manuel Gonzalez Vicente of the Centre for technological and industrial development, reporting to the Spanish ministry of the Economy, of the Industry and Competitiveness \u2013 that the bioeconomy is not yet adequately recognized as an opportunity in the Mediterranean.\u201d Fabio Fava, a professor of Industrial Biotechnolgies at the Bologna University and Italian representative for the bioeconomy in Horizon 2020 and in BBI JU, shares this point of view. He believes that \u201cthe potential for the bioindustry in the Mediterranean is huge, but more coordination amongst the countries of Southern Europe of the Union is needed, starting from the three biggest States: France, Italy and Spain.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the area \u2013 Fava highlights \u2013 there are 3.5 billion hectares of degraded and abandoned land which could be used to further rural development, a well established agribusiness and integrated biorefineries over the territory, which could be powered with abundant agricultural waste, fishing and aquaculture. A shared vision amongst the countries of the area is fundamental, though, in order to enhance and complete what has already been done by the BlueMed initiative devoted to the growth of the economy of the Mediterranean sea and the Prima programme (Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area) for agriculture, inland waters and the agribusiness, involving also the countries of the Southern rim, such as Morocco, Lebanon and Egypt.\u201d<\/p>\n
The economic signs in this area are encouraging. \u201cIf integration and collaboration within the Mediterranean countries will be promoted \u2013 guarantees Donato Iacovone, EY\u2019s CEO in Italy and managing partner of the Mediterranean area \u2013 over the next years the world map will enjoy the creation of a new emerging market.\u201d The BaroMed Report drawn up by EY expects a positive growth in the near future and investors seem to be interested in the region. \u201cThanks to not yet saturated market and to its resources, not only Europe and the United States, but also China and India consider the Mediterranean a very attractive area for investments.\u201d<\/p>\n
EY\u2019s research involved 156 executives from 20 countries around the world. They see the Mediterranean as the most attractive are of Europe (51%), of Africa (60%) and of Asia (52%). According to Iacovone, \u201cthanks to a strategic position compared to Europe, Africa and Asia and with a growing labour market and with the considerable resources it has, the region offers an excellent compromise between costs and growth. In the immediate future, more efficient infrastructure and more stability will help create more jobs both in the industry and other sectors.\u201d<\/p>\n
So, the bioeconomy can be the keystone to guaranteeing economic growth and new jobs, keeping the Mediterranean\u2019s wealth of biodiversity, which is one of the world\u2019s most important ecosystems. \u201cThe bioeconomy\u2019s prerequisite \u2013 reiterated Catia Bastioli, Novamont\u2019s CEO and President for Cluster Spring \u2013 is that soil, water and air must not be damaged because they represent the natural heritage on which the natural heritage is based. Destroying such resources means destroying the very economy. This is why we must focus on supply chains respecting the sustainability of the territory, able to supply sustainable biomass. The bioeconomy is to be intended as territorial regeneration, as efficient use of resources. Competing for food is not an option. There should be synergy. The bioeconomy represents a great opportunity to reconnect the economy with society and the promotion of diversity.\u201d<\/p>\n
As Bastioli herself stated at the inauguration of the Bottrighe di Adria\u2019s biorefinery, the first in the world for the production of butanediol from biomass, \u201cthe bioeconomy is democracy.\u201d For the Mediterranean this could not be a better opportunity.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bioeconomy in Italy: a unique opportunity to connect economy and society and the environment,\u201d tinyurl.com\/j7az3zs<\/a><\/p>\n Migration compact, tinyurl.com\/ho6whzl<\/p>\n