It was with great pleasure that I accepted the invitation to attend and address the inaugural meeting of the LIFE AgrOassis project "Regenerative approaches to enhance resilience to climate change in desertification-prone agricultural regions of the European Union".
The project is coordinated by the Agricultural Research Institute and involves key partners from Cyprus and Greece. This is a project of particular importance since, following the unforeseen consequences of the coronavirus pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the importance of the agri-food sector has been highlighted, as well as the need to strengthen its resilience in order to ensure the continued food security of citizens.
Adaptation to climate change is one of the most important challenges that rural development is expected to face in the coming years.
Adaptation to climate change is one of the most important challenges that rural development is expected to face in the coming years. The changes in climate conditions that we are already experiencing and which are expected to intensify are primarily related to the availability of water resources, soil degradation and loss of biodiversity. The gradual decrease in average annual rainfall in Cyprus is expected to consequently reduce the availability of water for irrigation, while it is estimated that less and more intense winter rainfall, combined with very high summer temperatures, will lead to desertification, soil erosion and a reduction in soil fertility.
It is well known that our country, being at the heart of a region identified by scientists as a "hot spot" of climate change, has taken a very important initiative to address its effects at regional level. After four years of persistent efforts, this initiative has been a resounding success, as the action plan prepared for the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East region, through the hard work of more than 200 scientists, was adopted by the Summit of the leaders of the countries of the region on the margins of this year's United Nations Climate Change Conference COP27.
The LIFE AgrOassis project, whose kick-off meeting we are attending today, is fully aligned with Cyprus' National Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation and its Action Plan. It is also in full harmony with the objectives of the new Common Agricultural Policy 2023-27, in which actions to address climate change, protect the environment and conserve landscapes and biodiversity are central.
The project involves the implementation of management practices that are expected to contribute to the reduction of soil desertification and, more generally, to the sustainability of agricultural systems. These are practices that will reduce the environmental footprint of the production process and preserve biodiversity at all levels. Especially the incorporation of compost into soils, which is directly related to the solution of another major problem, that of the management of urban organic waste, is an issue with which the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment has been particularly concerned in recent years and which is now supported by an appropriate legislative framework.
Our Ministry attaches great importance to the successful completion of the project and looks forward to its results, since its implementation is expected to push Cyprus one step forward. The composition of the partnership of the project ensures its success, since apart from the Institute of Agricultural Research, the Department of Forests, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Environment, the Open University of Cyprus, the KES Research Centre, the LAONA Foundation, participate on behalf of Cyprus, the Union of Cypriot Farmers and the company Paradisiotis Ltd, while from Greece the University of Thessaly, the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania, the Municipal Organization for Socio-Cultural Development of Sitia and the Local Organization for the Improvement of Tavropou Karditsa are participating.
I welcome to today's opening meeting the representatives of all partners, especially those from Greece. I am confident that the active participation and harmonious cooperation of all will contribute not only to the completion of the project's work, but also to the constructive exploitation of its results for the benefit of the agricultural sector.
I wish you every success.
Thank you.
(ΕΠ/ΙΚ)
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