Environmental research

Project Description Macedonia is an agricultural country and agriculture is the biggest employer. Through out the country there are different fruit and vegetables processing capacities which run on conventional fuels. Dehydration of the agricultural products in Macedonia is done only in dryers which use heating oil, wood, electricity and coal as a fuel. The project goal is to reduce green house gasses (CO2) through an integration of sustainable solar drying capacity in two organic farmers associations. Within the project the following activities were envisioned: Construction of two industrial Solar Food Dehydrator capacities in two rural municipalities. Certification of the Solar Food Dehydrator capacities with food safety and organic production standards Raising public awareness on potentials for solar drying food production through medias. Project achievements Constructed and installed two Solar Food Dehydrator capacities for industrial food products: Municipality of Butel (Skopje) and municipality of Kavadarci Main Macedonian food production and processing facilities were informed about the existence of Solar Food Dehydrator capacities with organized visits to the capacity in Butel (19 bilateral meetings/ presentations and 7 visits) Solar Food Dehydrator capacities testing performed, with expected first commercial production in the drying capacity in Butel scheduled for the season of 2009 Secured certification of the Solar Food Dehydrator capacities with food safety and organic production standards. 1. Regulation on organic production (EC 2092/91), 2. Standards for food safety HACCP and ISO 22001, 3. Production of Elaborate assessment of environmental impact (EIA) and 4. Documentation for the eco-logo products and their submission to the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning The project and project results was recorded and presented on the Macedonian National TV (series smart Projects, 10.22.2009). Follow up The NGOs is proceeding with further implementation of the undertaken activities as well as with organising new complementary activities: Continuing with promotion and presenting sustainable usage of the solar dryers to business partners with organizing meetings with interested existing processing capacities offering cheaper and more environmentally friendly solutions for drying their products. Secured verbal agreements for pilot food drying with three companies (herbal and aromatic plants).

Macedonia