Innovative agriculture in the Innovative agriculture in the context of Bulgarian rural context of Bulgarian rural

areas areas (Rhodops area) (Rhodops area)

Prof. Atanas AtanassovProf. Atanas Atanassov

AgroBioInstituteAgroBioInstitute

Bulgarian agriculture: current problemsBulgarian 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 Rodops region – model for a rural region in BulgariaBulgaria

Rhodops region – short “CV”Rhodops region – short “CV”

Relatively densely populated areaRelatively densely populated area High unemployment levelHigh unemployment level Mountainous municipalities and uphill regionsMountainous municipalities and uphill regions Small-sized plots of arable land, low-fertility landSmall-sized plots of arable land, low-fertility land Traditional crops: potato, tobacco – Traditional crops: potato, tobacco – hard market hard market

realizationrealization New tendencies: organic farming, mushrooms, New tendencies: organic farming, mushrooms,

herbsherbs Subsistence livestock breedingSubsistence livestock breeding Pastures and meadows – Pastures and meadows – not maintained not maintained

properlyproperly

Rhodops region – main industries Rhodops region – main industries for sustainable developmentfor sustainable development

AgricultureAgriculture

Food industryFood industry

TourismTourism

SMEsSMEs

Rhodops– measures for development Rhodops– measures for development of agricultureof agriculture

Alternative crops production:Alternative crops production: High market demands, lower initial costs – herbs, High market demands, lower initial costs – herbs,

essential oils crops, fruit species, technical crops (flax -> essential oils crops, fruit species, technical crops (flax -> biofuels!), raybiofuels!), ray

Alternative livestock breeding:Alternative livestock breeding: Buffalos, goats, rabbitsBuffalos, goats, rabbits

Organizing commodity agricultural production:Organizing commodity agricultural production: Healthy food stuffs, gourmet products, high quality and Healthy food stuffs, gourmet products, high quality and

environmentally friendly productionenvironmentally friendly production Clusters of producers, processors, scientists Clusters of producers, processors, scientists

((optimization of cultivars, breeds and technologiesoptimization of cultivars, breeds and technologies) and ) and financial structuresfinancial structures

Training and demonstration sitesTraining and demonstration sites

Rhodops– measures for development Rhodops– measures for development of food industryof food industry

Enhancing the viability of SMEs:Enhancing the viability of SMEs: Finalization of privatization Finalization of privatization Favorable business environmentFavorable business environment Cooperation – processors & producers; Bulgarian & Cooperation – processors & producers; Bulgarian &

European industryEuropean industry

Encouraging high technology and innovative Encouraging high technology and innovative production: production:

linking science & business & state authorities in high-linking science & business & state authorities in high-tech areastech areas

Improving legal & fiscal environmentImproving legal & fiscal environment

Encouraging export orientation:Encouraging export orientation: Standardization & harmonization with EUStandardization & harmonization with EU

Rhodops– measures for development Rhodops– measures for development of tourismof tourism

Tourist product development:Tourist product development: Enlarging product variety: rural, eco (national parks), Enlarging product variety: rural, eco (national parks),

adventure, cultural (history, folklore), balneology, etc.adventure, cultural (history, folklore), balneology, etc. Marketing and promotion strategiesMarketing and promotion strategies

Human resources development and training:Human resources development and training: Improving quality & variety of servicesImproving quality & variety of services Promoting greater awareness among local peoplePromoting greater awareness among local people

Information management and Institutional Information management and Institutional development:development:

information to support all tourist activitiesinformation to support all tourist activities Organizational framework to link all stakeholders – Organizational framework to link all stakeholders –

locally, nationally, internationallylocally, nationally, internationally

Rhodops– measures for development Rhodops– measures for development of SMEsof SMEs

Encouraging start-up and SMEs development:Encouraging start-up and SMEs development: In agriculture, food production, tourism, services for In agriculture, food production, tourism, services for

communitycommunity

Strengthening national network of support Strengthening national network of support organizations – regional agencies for economic organizations – regional agencies for economic development & business centersdevelopment & business centers

legislative & administrative simplificationslegislative & administrative simplifications information, consultation and education activitiesinformation, consultation and education activities facilitation access to financial sourcesfacilitation access to financial sources

Development of rural regions – Development of rural regions – need of holistic viewneed of holistic view

Legislative & strategic measures

Network of support – local, national

Innovation culture, Multifunctionaluty**

awareness

Human resources

development

Clustering industries* &

science

Linking industries* for public goods

Farming alternatives

(market driven)

Natural resources

REGION

•*- agriculture, food production, tourism

•** - diversification of value created by agricultural activities

Foresight – tool for getting a holistic Foresight – tool for getting a holistic viewview

Gathering and mobilizing stakeholdersGathering and mobilizing stakeholders

Definition of goals and termsDefinition of goals and terms ( (e.g.“what is e.g.“what is sustainable development for certain regionsustainable development for certain region”)”)

Accumulating of knowledge on the issueAccumulating of knowledge on the issue

Approaching consensus among actorsApproaching consensus among actors

Building awareness and commitment among Building awareness and commitment among the stakeholders and the societythe stakeholders and the society

Engagement of political actorsEngagement of political actors ( (regionally, regionally, nationally) nationally)

Agro-related research & innovation Agro-related research & innovation for rural regionsfor rural regions

New quality of R&D activities – demand-driven, New quality of R&D activities – demand-driven, tailor-made for the rural regions:tailor-made for the rural regions:

High-tech parksHigh-tech parks Genomic centerGenomic center

New types of links between science and other New types of links between science and other stakeholders – consortia, clusters, information stakeholders – consortia, clusters, information “bridges” “bridges”

New innovation culture:New innovation culture: Entrepreneurial (scientists)Entrepreneurial (scientists) Knowledge-based (society)Knowledge-based (society)

Ideas and visions…Ideas and visions…

Trans-national foresight (in general…):Trans-national foresight (in general…): To identify priorities, to gather stakeholdersTo identify priorities, to gather stakeholders To build strategies, networksTo build strategies, networks

……and concrete:and concrete: How agro-related R&I contributes to sustainable How agro-related R&I contributes to sustainable

development of rural areas (nationally, trans-nationally)development of rural areas (nationally, trans-nationally)

Transnational links of rural areas – on what base: Transnational links of rural areas – on what base: innovations, exchange of best practices, common innovations, exchange of best practices, common strategiesstrategies

Other ideas …Other ideas …