Innovative agriculture in the context of Bulgarian rural areas (Rhodops area) Prof. Atanas Atanassov AgroBioInstitute

Bulgarian agriculture: current problems   Bulgarian agriculture consists almost exclusively of small farms   Decrease in the pest & disease control: due to the difficult economical situation Bulgarian farmers do not use (modern) herbicides and pesticides- yield decrease   Global Warming Effect: hotter summers and more severe winters; decrease in the annual rainfalls - yield decrease   Agricultural products with decreased/ questionable/ uncontrolled nutritional value

Rodops region – model for a rural region in Bulgaria

Rhodops region – short “CV”  Relatively densely populated area  High unemployment level  Mountainous municipalities and uphill regions  Small-sized plots of arable land, low-fertility land  Traditional crops: potato, tobacco – hard market realization  New tendencies: organic farming, mushrooms, herbs  Subsistence livestock breeding  Pastures and meadows – not maintained properly

Rhodops region – main industries for sustainable development  Agriculture  Food industry  Tourism  SMEs

Rhodops– measures for development of agriculture  Alternative crops production: High market demands, lower initial costs – herbs, essential oils crops, fruit species, technical crops (flax -> biofuels!), ray High market demands, lower initial costs – herbs, essential oils crops, fruit species, technical crops (flax -> biofuels!), ray  Alternative livestock breeding: Buffalos, goats, rabbits Buffalos, goats, rabbits  Organizing commodity agricultural production: Healthy food stuffs, gourmet products, high quality and environmentally friendly production Healthy food stuffs, gourmet products, high quality and environmentally friendly production Clusters of producers, processors, scientists (optimization of cultivars, breeds and technologies) and financial structures Clusters of producers, processors, scientists (optimization of cultivars, breeds and technologies) and financial structures Training and demonstration sites Training and demonstration sites

Rhodops– measures for development of food industry  Enhancing the viability of SMEs: Finalization of privatization Finalization of privatization Favorable business environment Favorable business environment Cooperation – processors & producers; Bulgarian & European industry Cooperation – processors & producers; Bulgarian & European industry  Encouraging high technology and innovative production: linking science & business & state authorities in high- tech areas linking science & business & state authorities in high- tech areas Improving legal & fiscal environment Improving legal & fiscal environment  Encouraging export orientation: Standardization & harmonization with EU Standardization & harmonization with EU

Rhodops– measures for development of tourism  Tourist product development: Enlarging product variety: rural, eco (national parks), adventure, cultural (history, folklore), balneology, etc. Enlarging product variety: rural, eco (national parks), adventure, cultural (history, folklore), balneology, etc. Marketing and promotion strategies Marketing and promotion strategies  Human resources development and training: Improving quality & variety of services Improving quality & variety of services Promoting greater awareness among local people Promoting greater awareness among local people  Information management and Institutional development: information to support all tourist activities information to support all tourist activities Organizational framework to link all stakeholders – locally, nationally, internationally Organizational framework to link all stakeholders – locally, nationally, internationally

Rhodops– measures for development of SMEs  Encouraging start-up and SMEs development: In agriculture, food production, tourism, services for community In agriculture, food production, tourism, services for community  Strengthening national network of support organizations – regional agencies for economic development & business centers legislative & administrative simplifications legislative & administrative simplifications information, consultation and education activities information, consultation and education activities facilitation access to financial sources facilitation access to financial sources

Development of rural regions – need of holistic view REGION Natural resources Farming alternatives (market driven) Linking industries* for public goods Clustering industries * & science Human resources development Innovation culture, Multifunctionaluty** awareness Network of support – local, national Legislative & strategic measures *- agriculture, food production, tourism ** - diversification of value created by agricultural activities

Foresight – tool for getting a holistic view  Gathering and mobilizing stakeholders  Definition of goals and terms ( e.g.“what is sustainable development for certain region ”)  Accumulating of knowledge on the issue  Approaching consensus among actors  Building awareness and commitment among the stakeholders and the society  Engagement of political actors ( regionally, nationally)

Agro-related research & innovation for rural regions  New quality of R&D activities – demand-driven, tailor-made for the rural regions: High-tech parks High-tech parks Genomic center Genomic center  New types of links between science and other stakeholders – consortia, clusters, information “bridges”  New innovation culture: Entrepreneurial (scientists) Entrepreneurial (scientists) Knowledge-based (society) Knowledge-based (society)

Ideas and visions…  Trans-national foresight (in general…): To identify priorities, to gather stakeholders To identify priorities, to gather stakeholders To build strategies, networks To build strategies, networks  …and concrete: How agro-related R&I contributes to sustainable development of rural areas (nationally, trans-nationally) How agro-related R&I contributes to sustainable development of rural areas (nationally, trans-nationally) Transnational links of rural areas – on what base: innovations, exchange of best practices, common strategies Transnational links of rural areas – on what base: innovations, exchange of best practices, common strategies Other ideas … Other ideas …