JemsPioneering ecosystem-based microplastics contamination reduction and climate change resilience in cross-border region (ECO(RE)ACT)
Priority Axis 2: Cooperating for greener and climate change resilient programme area
Operation start date: 15 June 2024
Operation completion date: 14 December 2026
Budget: EUR 919.365,56
Number of partners: 3
Operation purpose and expected achievements:
The project’s overall objective is to establish a comprehensive system for addressing plastic and microplastics issues in ecosystems, contributing to climate change adaptation. It will encompass a welldeveloped Strategy, Control points for monitoring microplastics contamination, and “”Centre for Microplastics”. The goal is to achieve sustainable practices, reduced contamination levels, heightened awareness among stakeholders, and implement policies for effective adaptation to climate change. To achieve its goals, the project will establish centres around developing a comprehensive Strategy to raise awareness, implement sustainable practices, and enhance infrastructure for agricultural plastic waste management. Also, project is dedicated to devising collective solutions for monitoring microplastics in ecosystems. This involves knowledge exchange workshops to share expertise, identifying key control points for microplastics monitoring, and conducting a pilot monitoring program to put these solutions into action. And finally, project is focused on piloting innovative solutions to mitigate microplastics contamination from agricultural production. To its end, the project aims to establish a specialized Centre for Microplastics as a research and mitigation hub. Furthermore, a certification process for microplastics contamination will be developed to standardize assessment procedures for farmers and SMEs involved in agricultural production. Additionally, educational initiatives will be implemented to raise awareness among the public and relevant stakeholders.
Beneficiaries:
Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek (HR) as Lead Partner will play a vital role in the project by actively participating in project implementation, by defining objectives, and conducting workshops and promo events. Establishing the “Centre for Microplastics,” advocating policies, and integrating lectures in university curricula to raise awareness. FAZOS will actively participate in a joint committee to help shape the Strategy. The team will also evaluate existing policies and regulations, aiming to identify areas for potential enhancements, participate in a joint research/scientific committee with partners to design research methodologies and best practices for microplastic determination. Apart from procuring necessary equipment and resources for the pilot project’s sample analysis it will also collaboratively collect soil, water, and feed samples from targeted areas in the cross-border region of Croatia and conduct rigorous analysis and validation of data to identify key control points for monitoring microplastic contamination. FAZOS will establish a legal framework and write a rulebook for the “Centre for Microplastics” and furnish and set up the “Centre for Microplastics” headquarters at the FAZOS. It will be involved in designing a rigorous certification process for farmers and SMEs, and conducting a pilot for certifying microplastic contamination with a select group of stakeholders from Croatia.
The Educons University (RS) as Project Partner will play a vital role in the project by conducting stakeholder engagement, data collection, policy evaluation, and best practice research for microplastics in ecosystems, collaborating in workshops and joint committee meetings, establishing the “Centre for Microplastics,” advocating policies, and organizing awareness events. The experts from EDUCONS together with other partners will be involved in the work of steering committee for project implementation. It will actively participate in joint committee to help shape the Strategy. EDUCONS will contribute to the procurement of necessary equipment and resources for the pilot project’s sample analysis and be involved in collaborative collection of soil, water, and feed samples from targeted areas in the cross-border region and conduction of rigorous analysis and validation of data to identify key control points for monitoring microplastic contamination, as well as furnish and set up the “Centre for Microplastics” branch office at EDUCONS. It will be involved in collaboration with relevant institutions and experts to research microplastics prevalence and impacts in ecosystems and participate in conferences and workshops to advocate for microplastics policies based on scientific evidence. It will be involved in designing and piloting a rigorous certification process of microplastic contamination for farmers and SMEs involved in agricultural production.
Institute for Nature Conservation of Vojvodina Province (RS) as Project Partner will play a vital role in the project by active collaboration in developing the comprehensive Strategy, emphasising awareness, promoting sustainable practices, and providing guidelines for minimizing microplastics impact in nature protected areas. Contributing to the work of “Centre for Microplastics” and writing a booklet for mitigating plastic and microplastic challenges in ecosystems. Institute for Nature Conservation of Vojvodina Province will be actively involved in defining clear project objectives and research questions and in preparation of activities to increase knowledge among stakeholders and the public about plastic and microplastics pollution and mitigation efforts especially for protected areas. Apart from that it will be engaged in joint research/scientific committee with partners to design research methodologies and best practices for microplastic determination in protected areas. PZZP will contribute to the procurement of necessary equipment and resources for the pilot project’s sample analysis and be involved in collaborative collection of soil and water samples from protected areas and validation of data to identify key control points for monitoring microplastic contamination especially in protected areas.