• Posted 21-Dec-2021

Open University of Cyprus: Important distinction for the BalkanROAD research project with OUC: Public Choice Award at the RegioStars 2021 European Commission awards

The research project BalkanROAD "Towards Farms with Zero carbon-, waste- and water- footprint. Roadmap for Sustainable Management Strategies for Balkan Agriculture", in the implementation consortium of which was the Open University of Cyprus (OUC), was nominated for an award in the category" Smart Europe "of the RegioStars 2021 awards of the European Union. The project achieved a very important distinction, to be one of the two (2) projects that were awarded the "Public Choice Award" among all the nominated research projects.

OUC participated in the project with the head of its research team, Associate Professor Antonis Zorpas, Academic Head of the Postgraduate Program "Environmental Management and Protection" and Head of the Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Sustainability Engineering. BalkanROAD implemented the following consortium: Benakeio Phytopathological Institute (coordinator, project manager Dr. Maria Doula, Greece), OUC, Institute of Mediterranean Studies-FORTH (Greece), Association of Postgraduate Education and Training of the United States Environmental Farmers (Bulgaria), Agricultural University of Tirana (Albania), Macedonian Organic Producers Federation (Republic of Northern Macedonia).

BalkanROAD contributes, through the design of new tools, prevention strategies, practices and methods, to the development of the Balkan agricultural sector, protecting and conserving natural resources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and generated waste. At the same time, as part of the project, a protocol has been developed for the production of eco-label products, applying sustainable practices in the production, distribution and marketing of these products, so that they have a low carbon footprint.

Source: Open University of Cyprus (https://rb.gy/ap2zem)