A lesson in bioeconomy at Didacta Italia: new professions and new skills for Generation Z.

Firenze, 24 February 2023 – To spread knowledge of the bioeconomy and its huge innovative potential, and in particular to present the sector of compostable bioplastics, a sector in which Italy is a world leader.

These are the objectives of Biorepack, Italy’s national consortium for the organic recycling of biodegradable and compostable plastic packaging, which has decided to participate at Didacta Italia, the leading trade fair on innovation in the world of education, first held in Germany 50 years ago. This year’s edition will be taking place in Fortezza da Basso, Florence from 8 to 10 March.

Already today the bioeconomy accounts for 6.4% of added value, equal to €100 billion, and employs 2 million people, just under 8% of the country’s employed total. These numbers put Italy at the top of the ranking of European countries. An economy based on the sustainable use of renewable natural resources and their transformation into goods and services has great potential for innovation and is the solution to many of the global challenges we will face in the coming years, such as environmental remediation and climate change.

But to consolidate the bioeconomy’s development and ensure that we make the most of its full potential, committed involvement of future generations is necessary. This will help them understand how opportunities for growth and sustainable development can arise thanks to the bioeconomy. If we want to achieve, it is just as important that we contribute to the professional development of teachers and educators, those who come into contact with students every day.

As part of the fair, Biorepack will organise two conferences on the morning of 9 March. Both conferences are designed for high school and university teachers. The first, entitled “New knowledge and new skills for the circular bioeconomy”, is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. and will outline the most important and innovative characteristics of the bioeconomy and how this new approach to industry and production systems, which grew out of the circular economy and the need to recover and reuse waste, also requires the research and innovation system to be given a new direction,  based on integrated, interdisciplinary skills.

With the title, “The circular bioeconomy: economic, environmental and social scenarios. Case study: the bioplastics chain” , the second conference is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. and will provide a more in-depth perspective of one of the bioeconomy sectors in which Italy is in pole position, both for research and the production chain - green chemistry and compostable bioplastics. These innovative materials, which have been used for some time to produce carrier bags, food waste bags and rigid packaging, possess the singular property of being recyclable together with organic waste in separate waste collection and then sent to composting plants to be transformed into compost, a precious natural fertiliser that restores organic matter to agricultural land.

Lead speaker at the first conference will be Carmine Pagnozzi, general director of Biorepack. Speakers at the second conference, moderated by Rossella Muroni, Didacta – Area Green, will include Massimo Aiello, a member of the Board of Directors of Cluster SPRING, a grouping of more than 130 companies operating in the circular bioeconomy field, and Lucia Gardossi, a lecturer in organic chemistry and researcher at the University of Trieste.

Participation in the two conferences is free of charge for DIDACTA ticket holders, subject to availability. To reserve your place, please complete the form at the following link: https://exhibitor.fieradidacta.it/eventi

DIDACTA ITALIA

BIOREPACK STAND: Stand T30