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About the Project

Mediterranean Fair of Healthy Food, Medicinal Herbs and Green Enterpreunership

1. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECT

Project name: Mediterranean Fair of Healthy Food, Medicinal Herbs and Green Enterpreunership

Project Executive: Manager of the Mediterranean Fair: M. Sc. Vedran Kraljević

Area of the project implementation: City of Dubrovnik

Duration of the project: unlimited (annual event)

unlimited (annual event) : 2004

Who will directly or indirectly benefit from the project?

Direct beneficiaries of this project will be: producers, traders, representatives of tourism catering industry, local population etc. Through increasing the ecological awareness, life and health quality, sustainable development, nature preservation, and environment protection- The City of Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik –Neretva County, Tourist Boards, Republic of Croatia, and neighboring Mediterranean countries will benefit indirectly from the project.

What is Dubrovnik–Neretva County’s interest in the project implementation?

Implementation of this project is highly significant because it strengthens the interest for production of ecologically and traditionally grown food, especially in rural areas of Dubrovnik –Neretva County. It encourages development of eco-rural tourism, employs existing local population and keeps them on the countryside. Producers and end consumers meet in one place. Professional and scientific conferences, exhibitions, presentations of environmentally friendly products, publications and brochures contribute to scientific and economic education of all citizens, especially youth, in promoting and developing sustainable and democratic society.

2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Society’s needs (Dubrovnik –Neretva County)

Today, we are witnessing increasing penetration of artificial laboratory products into variety of naturally established and developed processes. It is well known how damaging all those artificial products can be to human health and life quality; so today we stand on the only path efficient enough to protect us from those influences- the path for development of healthy food and medicinal herbs production. It’s encouraging that the world has already decidedly started with that kind of production, and it’s high time for Croatia to make major steps in that direction. For this, we have a big comparative advantage that we can and we must use. One of our advantages is continental –Mediterranean position, which enables the production of top quality medicinal herbs and excellent organic food. The Mediterranean side imposes the need for contact with the whole Mediterranean; therefore, we are organizing this fair as the first Mediterranean Fair of Healthy Food and Medicinal Herbs.
Of course, this Mediterranean accent contains only a part of our country’s space; therefore, our goal is to have producers from all over Croatia and neighboring countries present. We can already conclude that the attendance rate exceeded our expectations, so we are optimistic about future development of this manifestation. As in the past years, eminent scientists and notable healthy food and medicinal herb producers also confirmed their arrival to this year’s event. Orientation of the fair is aimed at increasing the fair quality, but also increasing the quality of exhibitors’ presentations. To promote higher quality of exhibitors’ presentations and ecological products, we have established rewards for the best presentation, the best product, the best herbal product, and contribution for promotion of eco–economy in Croatia. The fair will also include a series of professional and thematic round tables, lectures, presentations, and attractive cultural entertainment and gastronomy events.

3. PROJECT GOALS:

To include as many Mediterranean countries

To increase consciousness of ecological standards, sustainable development, life quality and nature preservation, through educational lectures, workshops and round tables.

To value comparative advantages that enable progress in production of high quality organic food and medicinal herbs, and create conditions for our country to become one of the leaders in the growing trend of rejecting artificial, laboratory manufactured food products.

To strengthen the promotion of Croatian products by connecting producers with end consumers (tourist catering and trade).

To strengthen the promotion of Croatian products by connecting producers with end consumers (tourist catering and trade).

To encourage employment

To promote production and purchase of medicinal herbs.

To ensure that the water and all of its springs, as a matter of strategic national interest, stay exclusively in the ownership and under surveillance of Republic of Croatia, so its high profitability could be used for economic development.

Dubrovnik as the main promoter of eco-economy and eco-tourism on the Mediterranean

Dubrovnik–Neretva County; a GMO-free area

Expected results:

Protection of the ecological whole in a more simple way, verification of that surface through constant education, and creation of more sensible environment in which eco-organic products will find their market niche.

Simplification and shorter deadline for awarding a certificate to eco-products.

Dubrovnik–Neretva County; a GMO-free area

Dubrovnik–Neretva County; a GMO-free area

Ecological production and eco-tourism as foundations of economical growth of Dubrovnik-Neretva County.

Necessity to find new instruments and financial support.

The importance of eco-tourism being supported by legal regulations and state legislation.

Who are our partners?

Partners in our project are; Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development, Dubrovnik–Neretva County, City of Dubrovnik, Croatian Chamber of Economy, Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts, Croatian National Tourist Board, tourism and catering industry subjects, sponsors, donors and representatives of the media.

What is their role?

By active participation and financial support, they help significantly in the fair organization.

Other supporters of the project activities:

Dubrovnik–Neretva County, City of Dubrovnik, Croatian National Tourist Board, tourism and catering industry subjects, sponsors, donors and representatives of the media.

We expect the support of EU funds.

Informing the community about the project implementation:

Local media (radio, TV) will be informed about all activities. We will request presence in certain radio shows, as well as establish communication with journalists in order to inform the public and institutions on all events.

The project success:

A survey will be conducted, measuring the success of the fair, and results will be analyzed. Continuous monitoring of the work will be an integral part of project implementation.

Continuation and sustainability of the project:

Given the results achieved so far, we think the project is well designed, with very clear vision and objectives that fully justify the future existence.

Reports:

Our partners will be informed in a timely manner about preparation and duration of the fair. Some phases of the project will be publicly presented with the invitation to all media for participation and presentation of results. The emphasis is on publicity and transparency of work

Manager of Mediterranean Fair of Healthy Food and Medicinal Herbs
mr.sc.Vedran Kraljević