Sustainable and resource-efficient Europe. Energy efficiency in agribusiness

European Parliament, Brussels - ASP Building, A3H-1

^th June 2015 - 12h30-14h30

On Tuesday June 16th , during the sustainable energy week, ENEA  will hold an event on the theme "sustainable and resource-efficient Europe-energy efficiency in agribusiness". Simona  Bonafe', MEP ENVI, will deliver the opening speech and the conclusions will be drawn by Mr. Alessandro Ortis, President of States General of energy efficiency (to be promoted /presented by ENEA on  16 October 2015) in Verona. One of the participants, Mr. Paul Hudson of DG Energy will address the topic "towards a more energy efficient food system",while Andrea Gentili of DG RTD will speak about advanced manufacturing systems. Peter Rokke of SINTEF, EERA TP, will speak about "Views and perspectives from the EERA Joint Programme "Energy Efficiency in industrial processes" and Dominique Dejonckheere of Copa-Cogeca will speak about Views and perspectives from the agro-cooperatives. Cristina Corazza Head of External Relations at ENEA ,  will introduce the ENEA Vertical Farm, the first Italian made project based on vertical farming using zero pesticides.

High-quality, secure and safe supply of food in a sustainable, environmentally friendly and more energy efficient and cost-effective manner is of paramount importance for a variety of agribusinesses. Greatest attention is paid to the significant role that agriculture and its supply chains are likely to play in terms of bioenergy production and energy saving. The EU has encouraged the development of a sustainable food chain, including the energy efficient energy use that is leading to an overall energy efficiency increase and an added source of income for the Member States.

Given public opinion’s sensitivity regarding pivotal issues such as sustainability and efficient use of resources, and taking into account the EXPO2015 that has indeed as core theme “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”, the event represents a unique occasion to raise awareness and motivate stakeholders to deeply reflect upon questions related to the implementation of environmental sustainability and energy efficiency on agribusiness.

The main purpose of the event is to encourage a debate among institutions, public or private operators, associations, industrial, commercial and service companies, professionals, research institutions and ordinary citizens to frame policies and measures needed for economic and occupational growth in the energy efficiency field. Furthermore, the event aims to present the international public consultation promoted by ENEA and EfficiencyKNow, which concerns the use of energy efficiency in agribusiness with specific reference to: water consumption, soil utilization, transport, waste and by-products and manufacturing processes. The goal of the consultation is to identify key priorities in these fields related to energy efficiency and sustainability.

Within the event, pathways to promote and disseminate an energy efficiency culture and related best practices and technologies to European agriculture and food industries will be identified.

Program