LIFE Programme! Funding projects for the environment and climate action!
The LIFE Programme is EU’s funding instrument for the Environment and Climate Action. The general objective of LIFE is to assist in the protection of the environment through the implementation of EU policy and legislation. In Cyprus the National Contact Point of the LIFE Programme is the Department of Environment, of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment.
The National Contact Point team assists LIFE projects during the funding period, but also after the completion of the funding. The reason is because LIFE projects don’t cease when their funding ends. They instead continue with After LIFE actions. These actions are essentially the continuation, replication and transfer of all the accomplishments of a project by its completion.
LIFE ORGANIKO! Two of the greatest challenges human kind is facing today are: Child obesity, which is turning into a pandemic and the combat of climate change, which is threating future generations. A means to fight these challenges is the project LIFE ORGANIKO!
The project’s main aim is to demonstrate the comparative advantages of organic production using a series of climate mitigation indicators. Climate change mitigation effectiveness. Environmental and agronomic quality. Reduce the exposure of children to pesticides. Promote a healthy diet for fighting obesity and keeping our children healthy.
The duration of LIFE ORGANIKO was 4 years and it was completed successfully in 2019. With the project’s completion, the partners continue their After LIFE actions.
- The findings of LIFE ORGANIKO were used to form an action plan promoting organic farming and organic products. This action plan will be taken into account by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment in the preparation of the strategic national plan for the development of organic farming.
- In addition, seminars are organized on the benefits of organic farming.
- Informational visits to farmers are planned.
- Organic outdoor markets are organized on the grounds of the Cyprus University of Technology, where producers and consumers come in direct contact!
- Organic fruit and vegetables are offered to children at all-day schools under a new project implemented by the Cyprus University of Technology.
- The EFSA has been informed about the results of LIFE Organiko and of course the partners continue to provide information and awareness to the general public and relevant Ministries of the country.
After LIFE actions ensure that everything the LIFE Programme has achieved will not be lost. These actions define the long-term sustainability of every project and ensure that the solutions applied within the framework of a project will continue to have a use. In addition, After LIFE actions intend to encourage the replication of the solutions by other entities, or sectors, or their differentiation and transfer to other entities for other purposes. After LIFE actions essentially act as multipliers of project results and make them known to the general public, as well as to parties of relevant interest.
From our side, the Department of Environment, as the National Contact Point of the LIFE Programme in Cyprus, we promote, encourage and assist the After LIFE actions of projects. The reason is because these actions don’t merely aim at the transfer of knowledge, but also at the substantial contribution to the protection of the environment.
LIFE Programme! Funding projects for the environment and climate action.