INTRODUCTION

The workshop1 aimed at raising awareness on the importance of

engaging youth in agribusiness and following a value- and

supply-chain approach, making a case for engaging African youth

in agribusiness as a solution to the high youth unemploymentrate

on the continent, and building consensus around a multinational

program for African youth engagement in agribusiness to address

youth unemployment, contribute to economic growth, and poverty

reduction. Also addressing participants at the workshop, Chiji

Ojukwu, Director of the AfDB Agriculture and Agro-Industry

Department (OSAN), underscored the need for application of

research, science and technology to enhance agricultural

productivity and thereby make farming attractive to youth.

Our models are:

The “rural model” used in Isola della Scala – Verona – Italy

(http://www.slideshare.net/ClaudiaLanteri/filiera-corta-a-isola-

della-scala-verona-per-sodalitas-feb-2014-inglese-1)

And the “Smart rural Hub” from Portugal

(http://www.slideshare.net/ClaudiaLanteri/smart-rural-hub-eng)

ISOLA DELLA SCALA

tends to achieve a development based on the " short chain"

methodology ) that wants to give Africa a sustainable and profitable

future in agriculture

For those who never had the opportunity to taste a plate of risotto in

Isola della Scala (see video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teNLEHyT-

1 three-day workshop on Engagement of Youth Entrepreneurship for Agricultural Transformation in Africa held at the

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Nigeria, from May 28-30

_Y&feature=youtube_gdata_player ) we explore what the short

chain means for this territory :

- Farmers do not provide their product to large buyers, instead they

work it directly (stack ) and give it straight to the consumer (food ,

aggregation with other products , production of cookies and

crackers , etc.).

- In this situation any proposals for collaboration between

entrepreneurs find fertile ground because it is in the producer’s

interest to make his land more attractive ( local tourism,

international tourism , etc.).

- In Isola della Scala we can find a few important initiatives :

- Consortium of Rice: obtained IGP and subsequently won both

regional and national funding for the promotion of the product

- Rice Fair : it has become the most important promoter of rice and

related products. It has also launched new shows ( boiled meat ,

etc.). It generates a strong involvement of the population and allows

voluntary associations to carry out remunerated activities (1000

people)

Plain System : Prepares the promotion at an international level (

risotterie and international cooperation to export this interesting

development model )

GAL of the Plane : spreads the opportunities arising from European

projects

- It is therefore clear that after a critical initial phase , the

entrepreneurs willingly adhere to the initiatives because spending is

rewarded with better results .

To summarize, the difference between a short chain and a long

chain are the following:

- The long chain leads farmers to deliver the product to major

brands

- The big brands are responsible of the processing of the product

and its promotion and marketing

- It is clear that the farmer is in the hands of large international

buyers and therefore can easily get in crisis with every movement in

product price

- The manufacturer of any product, if it is given to large buyers , is

not interested in being involved in the promotion of the territory

Let us now see the problems and advantages of short chain :

- Farmers do not give their product to large buyers but they work it

directly (stack ) and transform it to bring it to the consumer (food ,

aggregation with other products , production of cookies and

crackers , etc.).

- In this situation, proposals for collaboration between

entrepreneurs find fertile ground because there is a direct interest of

the producer in making his land more attractive ( local tourism,

international tourism , etc.).

WHAT IS SMART RURAL HUB2

• NEW MODEL to facilitate the successful generation of rural

development projects, innovative, sustainable and with social

character

• INTERNATIONAL SERVICES CENTER supporting projects of

people and entrepreneurs, businesses and farms, local

collectivities,cooperatives, etc.

2 FAICO foundation is a non-profit organization. The center develops RTDI projects in collaboration with industry,

universities and other research centers, which has consolidated its position as one of FAICO key stakeholders involved in the transfer of technology solutions for SMEs

• DEMONSTRATION AND DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES

Our goal is:

a) To Build a map of agricultural products of Algeria, Tunisia,

Marocco and Libano – see example

http://elmouchir.caci.dz/index.php

b) Analyse which is the mode of production (short chain or long

chain)

c) Find in Europe the partners for this products (not corporates

that buy or sell African products but little corporates that will

export their model of production) and build a map of it

d) Create cluster between European and African corporates

e) Analyse and map (for each country)

the association of food

the old receipts and their tradition

the fairs

the Universities and center of research specialized on

this field

the bank that can give loans to agriculture to

improve production

f) analyse the positive effect on tourism of this philosophy

DISSEMINATION AND CONNECTION WITH OTHER PROJECT

a) The results of this study (not the final but the methodology and

the steps) will be presented at EXPO 2015 in the pavilion of

Sierra Leone that in connection with other African countries

and with Isola della Scala represents the Rice

b) The map of actors will be used for the next COSME Call on

soustainable tourism to create a virtual platform of sustainable

food (similar to this

http://www.slideshare.net/ClaudiaLanteri/virtual-museum-of-

the-mediterranean-diet)

PARTNERS

The partners that participate to this call are divided in two groups:

- Center of research from European countries (Italy, Spain, UK,

Portugal and Netherland)

- Universities, Center of Young People, Consultants from

Algeria, Marocco, Tunisia and Libano)

In the virtual platform there will be 50 partners from 17 European

countries (Italy, Spain,England, Netherland, Portugal, Cekia,

Slovenien, Slovakia, Montenegro, Romania, Bulgaria, Albanien,

Turkey, Cypro, Greece, Armenia, Macedonia) that will be partner for

the growth of the African economy.