Smart coastal areas: Resourcefulness and innovation in FLAG communities

FARNET's 8th transnational seminar took place from 2-4 April 2019 in Bantry, Ireland. The seminar was an opportunity for FLAG managers to explore ways in which their FLAG areas can become “smarter” by doing things differently and investing in imaginative ideas to tackle existing challenges. It was also be a chance to reflect on how to work towards smarter strategies for the future.

The theme of this event was "Smart coastal areas: resourcefulness and innovation in FLAG communities". This seminar was organised at the initiative of the European Commission with the support of FLAG South, Ireland’s Sea Food Development Agency - BIM (Bord Iascaigh Mhara) and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine of the Republic of Ireland.

Topics covered included:

Smart Partnerships (creating win-win situations between different interest groups)
Smart Resource Use (optimising local resources and production systems)
Smart Financing (reaching small-scale beneficiaries: micro-credit, crowd funding, etc.)
Smart Services (adapting services to ensure their viability: smart harbours, connecting remote areas, etc.)

The seminar themes were addressed through a series of presentations, working groups discussions, mini-plenary sessions, a "Meet the Practioners" session and a field visit.

Day 1: Tuesday, 2 April 2019
from 17.30	Welcome drink
19.00	Warm-up activity & networking dinner
Day 2: Wednesday, 3 April 2019
08.30 – 09.00	Registration
09.00 – 09.45	“Welcome to the smart space” - interactive introduction to the event by the FSU
09.45 – 10.30	Walls of Ideas - grab a coffee and show what you have! Participants showcase their “Smart Initiatives” in a poster session.
10.30 – 11.15	Official speeches Department for Agriculture Food & Marine, Rep. of Ireland & Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) - Ireland's Seafood Development Agency European Commission, DG MARE, Unit A2 Hosting FLAG, FLAG South
11.15 – 11.30	"Choose your challenge": introduction to the world café
11.30 – 13.00	World café: “Think globally, act locally” World café session where challenges are discussed in the context of the 4 seminar sub-themes (Smart partnerships, Smart resource use, Smart financing, Smart services)
13.00 – 14.30	Lunch
14.30 – 16.00	Meet the experts - Bios Contrast your solutions with those of other FLAGs with the guidance of a seasoned expert: Smart partnerships: Val Cummins, University College Cork Collaboration and establishment of a co-management platform – A. Aradan Cuan Beo (Living Bay) – S. Breathnach Smart resource use: Vilhjálmur Jens Árnason, Iceland Ocean Cluster T-FISH - G.Borsellino Initiating use of undervalued resources – P. Sahama Smart financing: Tony O’Rourke, former Professor of Banking & Finance Convention between Abanca and Ria de Vigo – E. Puentes Microcredit for small scale fishermen - N. Ruggiu Smart services: Suzanne Kearney, South East Cork Development (SECAD) The mobile VillageShop – F. Polster New skills across North Sardinia coastal line – G. Garrucciu
16.00 – 16.30	Coffee break
16.30 – 18.00	Meet the experts (rounds 3 & 4)
19.30	Dinner courtesy of Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM)
Day 3: Thursday, 4 April 2019
08.30 – 09.00	Registration
09.00 – 09.30	Testing good smart ideas Presentation of the winning “smart ideas/initiatives” and reaction from the experts
09.30 – 11.15	Meet the practitioners: Smart development hubs A series of discussion hubs in which smart initiatives was presented and discussed in small groups: Overall project descriptions Functional Digital Region Credit Unions Courtmacsherry Co-operative Community Shop Partnership project with Solidarity purchasing group Hästholmen harbour development through local cooperation Emergency consultations for the fishing community Xesmar - ES Schull Bait Bins Blue Crab Control Plan Roach in Lapland: from unwanted bycatch to marketable product Grow Remote ENTROPI
11.15 – 12.30	Knowledge exchange, networking and cooperation time
12.30 – 13.00	Closing session
13.00 – 18.00	Field trip to visit FLAG projects and other smart initiatives near Bantry Bantry Blueway Bantry Community Vision – Tim Coakley Use of Cleanfish – MOWI SOUTHWEST

Information

Type	Transnational seminars
Twitter Hashtag	#FarnetSmart

Publication date:

08/02/2019