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MEDITERRANEAN RESCP POST RIO+20 Supporting the adoption of Sustainable Consumption and
Production (SCP) and Resource Efficiency (RE) models in the Mediterranean Region
Funding Agency UfM Period: (2009-2013)
Partners Egypt ; Jordan; Montenegro; Morocco; Tunisia; Turkey
Objectives and results of the action
In a two-pronged approach the project aims to: Provide access to financing for companies adopting Sustainable
Consumption and Production (SCP) / Resource Efficiency (RE) models in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia.
Stimulate the development of green industries and entrepreneurship in the Western Balkans and Turkey
through the implementation of technical assistance and pilot projects.
In Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia: Market assessment of resource efficiency opportunities. Policy dialogue
activities, training and capacity building seminars to raise awareness on SCP and RE opportunities. Design and
implementation of new financial instruments for companies adopting SCP/RE models as well as technical
assistance packages to support these instruments.
In Turkey, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro: Implementation of demonstration projects for
companies investing in cleaner & more resource efficient (water, energy, raw materials and waste
minimization) manufacturing based on the MEDTEST methodology.
Provision of training and advisory services to green entrepreneurs. Provision of capacity building programmes
on SCP/RE to civil society organisations, business and consumer associations, universities, etc. Provision of
information on lessons learnt, best practices and strategies for replication, as well as on ways to ensure long-
term sustainability of SCP/ RE demo initiatives
RESULTS: Increased number of industries and stakeholders applying SCP/RE principles in their activities; At
least 30 demo projects successfully implemented and 100 new local initiatives identified as business
opportunities; At least 10 new green businesses created and in operation by the end of the project; access to
financing granted to the best 4 new green businesses; and grassroots innovations joint ventures established.
A web-based regional platform established and linked with other regional and international initiatives to
provide integrated
information to stakeholders
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Land use and soil quality
Status of Mediterranean soil resources
Soil is the earth’s fragile skin that anchors all life on Earth. Consisting of countless species that create
a dynamic and complex ecosystem, it represents one of the most precious resources to humans.
Soil degradation is the decline in soil quality caused by its improper use for agricultural, pastoral,
industrial or urban purposes. Half of the topsoil on the planet has been lost in the last 150 years.
Soil degradation is considered a serious global environmental problem which can be exacerbated
by the impact of climate change. Soil degradation involves physical loss and the reduction in quality
of topsoil associated with nutrient decline and contamination. In physical loss, the two main soil
degradation processes are soil erosion by water or wind. In the second category are chemical,
physical, and biological degradation. The chemical degradation mainly consists of soil pollution and
acidification and its consequences as mobilization of harmful elements/compounds, salinization
and/or sodification, unfavourable changes in the nutrient regime, and decrease of natural buffering
capacity. Physical deterioration comprises surface sealing or crusting of top soil, soil compaction,
Sustainable agri-food systems and rural development in the Mediterranean Partner Countries
Sustainmed
Funding Agency FP7 EC Period:
Partners has brought together during three years recognised researchers working in six research institutions
of four Southern EU Member countries (France, Greece, Spain, Italy) , one partner from Turkey originally four
partners from Mediterranean Partner countries Tunis, Egypt, and Syria, the latter having dropped out because
of political events in that country. In addition, two teams from Northern EU countries have been mobilized
because of their specific and well recognized competencies on value chain analysis (Kent Business School) and
sustainable agriculture and forestry (PTT Finland).
Objectives and results of the action
he overall objective of the SUSTAINMED project has been to examine and assess the impacts of EU and national
agricultural, rural, environmental and trade policies in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean region, namely
in so-called Mediterranean Partner Countries (MPCs) as well as in Turkey. The impacts to be analysed were
very diverse, including socio-economic structural changes, employment and migrations trends, income
distribution and poverty alleviation, resource management, trade liberalisation, as well as commercial
relations with major trading partners (in particular the EU) and competitiveness in international markets. The
rationale for such a wide research agenda was the realization that trade liberalization alone, which has been
the linchpin of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation for decades, will not be sufficient to promote sustainable
development
in the Mediterranean region
Results
and Impacts
The potential impact of this SUSTAINMED project could be very significant, not so much because of the
originality of the scientific insights gained but because of the topicality, relevance, and urgency of the policy
lessons learnt. Admittedly, many of these lessons had been formulated before in one form or another. But it
is their robustness which is striking. The main merit of our project may be the contribution to this robustness
of the conclusions. In summary, rural poverty remains a major problem which can and must be tackled more
effectively through a re-examination of the intellectual foundations of past policies; sustainability issues are
serious, worrisome for the long term and not adequately addressed by existing public policies so far, because
the social and environmental dimensions are not given sufficient attention; trade liberalization alone will not
be sufficient to promote sustainable development in Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries and the
European Neighbourhood policy must give much more attention to the core issues of long term rural
development than it has done so far.