Topics
European Parliament – Brussels
8 Feb 2023, 15:30-18:00 CET
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine continues to exacerbate the global food security and nutrition crisis, with high and volatile energy, food and fertilizer prices, restrictive trade policies, and supply chain disruptions. At the same time, the Mediterranean region is being affected by climate change to a greater extent than the global average.
Transitioning towards sustainable food systems and strengthening the resilience of Mediterranean agri-food systems to risks such as conflict, extreme weather events, economic shocks, and diseases is crucial for a longer-term response. This is a prerequisite for achieving food and nutrition security, protect the livelihoods of millions of people and preserve the unique social fabric and cultural heritage of the region.
The event aims to discuss these challenges faced by the Mediterranean region and agri-food systems in the current geopolitical context, propose solutions, and discuss opportunities for sustainable and resilient agri-food systems that will offer economic and social opportunities in the region. The event will be structured around two sessions: the first one will focus on “What the Future Holds for The Mediterranean Agri-Food Sector: Challenges and Opportunities”, and the second one related to the “Transitioning to a Sustainable Food System in the Mediterranean Region”.
PROGRAMME
15:30 – 16:45 WELCOME & INTRODUCTION
• Petros Kokkalis MEP, The Left (Greece)
15:40 – 16:30 What the Future holds for the Mediterranean Agri-Food Sector: challenges and opportunities
Moderation: MEP Eugenia RODRÍGUEZ PALOP MEP, The Left (Unidas Podemos – Spain)
• Kateryna Shor, Information Center “Green Dossier” (Ukraine) | Current situation in Ukrainian agri-food sector, including organic
• Mouïn Hamzé, Former Secretary General of the CNRS (Lebanon,) | Food security in times of multi-level crisis. Challenges for research and development regional programmes.
• Pierre Raffard, Geographer, Director of the MSc “International Relations and Agri-Food Governance” at ILERI-Bordeaux” (France) | Food Geopolitics in the Mediterranean: a regional crisis that foreshadows the global issues to come
• María Pia Sanchez Fernández Chair of”Ganaderas en red (Spain) |
17:00 – 18:15 Transitioning to a sustainable food system in the Mediterranean Region
Panel Moderation: MEP Petros Kokkalis, The Left (SYRIZA-Greece)
• Eduardo Cuoco – Director IFOAM Organics Europe, Organisation (Italy) |
• Salvatore Basile, President of IN.N.E.R. Co-President if GAOD and General Secretary of Cilento Bio-District, the Bio-Districts experience, (Italy) |. Bio-Districts experience
• Vasileios Bournas, President of Messinis Gaia, Social Cooperative Enterprise (SCE) (Greece)
• George Chondros, Head of SoliExpo Social Cooperative Enterprise (SCE) (Greece) |Fair Trade, a solution for small producers and Cooperatives
• Boban Ilic, general secretariat of SWG Rural Development (Skopje, North Macedonia), (Country) | Transitioning to a sustainable food system in the Mediterranean Region – view of the Wester Balkan