21st Conference of the Working Community of the Danube Regions

Sustainability Working Group in Cooperation with the Soil Strategy Network in the Danube Region and the SoPro Innovation Agency

SONDAR (Sustainable Operations Network in the Danube Region) -
Sustainability and socio-ecological production as an incentive for regional economy in the Danube regions

March 26 and 27, 2014

Konrad Lorenzstrasse 24
3430 Tulln on the Danube
AUSTRIA

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Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Participation forenoon
  Workshop afternoon:
WS 1
WS 2
WS 3
WS 4
Dinner
 

Thursday, March 27, 2014
Participation work groups forenoon
Participation work groups afternoon
   
I need assistance for booking a hotel room.

 


The Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) links the living environment of 14 nations and more than 100 mio. people into one sphere of activity for common visions, projects and initiatives. The topics of SUSTAINABLE LAND USE / SOIL CONSERVATION - INNOVATION AND COMPETITIVENESS - INVESTMENT IN PEOPLE AND QUALIFICATIONS are the focal points within this strategy.

On the basis of existing projects and cooperation, at this conference the bases for a deepened and enlarged international cooperation are created.

For further information, please refer to:
www.sondar.eu
www.sozialproduziert.at

 


Soil is the starting point and endpoint of our life. Work and life in the Danube region are closely connected with soil and its crops. Soil also cannot be increased at will, and soil conservation and the right use of soil are therefore crucial tasks.

Soil is threatened in many ways: excessive construction and exploitation in favorable conditions, neglect and give-up in unfavorable conditions. A general awareness of the population seems to get lost, and does no longer correspond to reality, respectively. "Raising soil awareness" - increasing soil awareness - is therefore a declared aim of the Strategy for the Danube Region.

The soil and sustainability network project of SONDAR (Sustainable Operations Network in the Danube Region) strengthens existing structures, and in international cooperation, especially on the creation and use, respectively of positive examples of use of land and soil conservation, a contribution is made towards improving soil quality in the long run.

It is the aim of SONDAR to establish a network of increasing responsibility for soil: between science and practice, administration and users of land, education, arts and the entire population. It is a matter of implementing measures and initiating processes, which can be developed further successfully. The effect of the project examples shall become relevant to the entire Danube region, and contain the development of a strategy for a continuation of activities. Results of the almost completed SONDAR HU-AT project „Soil as a Filter and Buffer of Pollutants" will be presented at this conference.

 

Social Production (sopro)

This project operated by nine project partners in Austria and Hungary aims at expanding cooperation between economic enterprises, public clients and social enterprises, and at finding, developing and furthering the marketability of sustainable products and services of high quality, so as to make them known by a broad public. In the years to come, the model of "social production" shall be offered in all of Europe by a European Innovation Agency.

The Potential of Social Economy on a European Scale
The European Commission increasingly pays attention to social enterprises and occupational projects. The following conclusions are drawn by the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities of the European Commission from the WISE (Work Integration Social Enterprises as a tool for promoting inclusion) project:

"Social economy constantly increases in significance and offers a considerable potential, which can be used, in order to

  • create high-value workplaces,
  • move people, who are currently excluded from the labor market, to work and keep them there,
  • strengthen social, economic and regional cooperation,
  • give rise to social capital,
  • further active citizenship, solidarity and economic activity focusing on democratic values,
  • support sustainable development and social, ecological and technological innovation."

 


Programme
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Moderation: Erwin Szlezak

08:30 - 09:00 a.m.

Registration, Music with "Kreuz & Quer" (Karl Prieler)

09:00 - 09:30 a.m.

Opening

  • Martin H. Gerzabek, Rector of the BOKU
  • Hans Peter Herdlitschka, Baden-Württemberg, Substitution of the Chairman of the Danube Countries

09:40 - 10:25 a.m.

Keynote

  • Brian Oldreive, Foundation for Farming, Zimbabwe: "Plan for the Poor"
  • Virgil Vrajmasu: Presentation of the first Romanian soil colour ("Painting with the Colours of the Earth Goes International")

10:25 - 11:10 a.m.

Panel discussion
Erwin Szlezak in discussion with:

  • Andrea Nasi, Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs
  • Peter de Martin, General Secretary: "Presentation of the Working Community of the Danube Regions"
  • Florian Ballnus, Coordinator of Priority Area 6: „EU Strategy for the Danube Region - Current Activities in Priority Area 6"*
  • Hans Peter Herdlicka (Ms. Dragica Karaic), Coordinator of Priority Area 8: EU Strategy for the Danube Region - Current Activities in Priority Area 8"**

11:10 - 11:40 a.m.

 Break & Group photo

11:40 - 12:10 a.m.
  • Peter Eisenschenk, Mayor of Tulln
  • Anton Reinl, Austrian chamber for agriculture - Soil protection and sustainability from an agricultural point of view
  • Jan Olsson, Introduction of the European Network of Cities and Regions for the Social Economy (REVES)
  • Erwin Szlezak, Christian Steiner, Sustainability Working Group of the Working Community of the Danube Regions: "Concept of Sustainability Working Group and Linking to EUSDR"
  • Doris Mayer, Franz Rybaczek, Bernhard Kuderer, Szabolcs Hollosi in discussion with Erwin Szlezak: "Lighthouse Projects of Sustainability in the Danube Region - Retrospect and Perspectives"

12:10 - 12:40 a.m.
Introduction of the topic
  • Erwin Szlezak, Christian Steiner, Sustainability Working Group of the Working Community of the Danube Regions: "Concept of Sustainability Working Group and Linking to EUSDR"
  • Andrea Nemeth, Istvan Arvay, Zoltan Füzfa, Szabolcs Hollosi, Emil Fultjar, Antonin Okenka, Doris Mayer, Franz Rybaczek, Bernhard Kuderer in discussion with Erwin Szlezak: "Lighthouse Projects of Sustainability in the Danube Region - Retrospect and Perspectives"

12:40 - 01:40 noon

Project presentations

  • SONDAR HU-AT project film
  • Istvan Arvay, SONDAR HU-AT: Presentation of national coordination site for the European Land and Soil Alliance in Hungary - Municipality of Mosonmagyarovar
  • Zoltan Füzfa, Csaba Ispanke - Best Practices SONDAR HU-AT
  • Best Practices SOPRO HU-AT: Projekt presentations of partners

01:40 - 02:40 p.m.

Lunch break

02:40 - 05:00 p.m.

Workshops*

05:00 - 06:00 p.m.

Summary of Workshops

06:00 - 08:00 p.m.

Dinner with live-demonstration "Circular Economy in the Classroom" - Best Practice Project for the Danube Region" (Alfred Grand)
Get-together

 

* Workshops:

Workshop 1 - SOPRO HU-AT International
Social Production: A sustainable impulse für Europe?
Project status SoPro HU-AT
Next steps to establish an Innovation Platform
SoPro seal of approva: common development
Workshop - Chair: Sopro innovation platform

Workshop 2 - Sustainable Operations Network in the Danube Region 2015-2020
Implementation of the concept for sustainability of the Working Community of the Danube Regions
Soil strategy network in cooperation with food for life, foundation for farming, Greencare, Danube University Krems, LKÖ and other partner-organisations
Workshop - Chair: Sustainability Working Group of the Working Community of the Danube Regions

Workshop 3 - Sustainable Operations Network in the Danube Region 2015-2020
Soil capacities, soil saving settlement, soil mapping international
Inputs: SONDAR HU-AT, Land schafft Wasser, Federal office for water economy & CASEE
Workshop - Chair: Soil Strategy Network in the Danube Region

Workshop 4 - Rural Development
Strengthening of networks and regional cycles for rural development in the Danube region; participation / civil society
Workshop - Chair: Sustainability Working Group of the Working Community of the Danube Regions in cooperation with IAD International Association for Danube Research

 

Programme:
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Moderation: Erwin Szlezak

08:30 - 09:00 a.m.

Arrival

09:00 - 12:30 a.m.

Open space work groups:

Topics:

  • SOPRO HU-AT, international cooperation workshop "Painting with the Colours of the Earth"
  • SOPRO HU-AT Platform, Development SOPRO-seal of approval and Platform
  • Sustainable Operations Network in the Danube Region 2015-2020 in cooperation with SONDAR HU-AT

 

12:30 - 01:30 p.m.

Lunch break

01:30 - 03:00 p.m.

Work groups (Continuance)

SOPRO HU-AT: Education training for municipal social coordinators and multiplier
(until 05:30 p.m.)

 

Organizer & Partners:
WORKING COMMUNITY OF THE DANUBE REGIONS - Sustainability Work Group
BIENE Association - Soil and Bioenergy Network of European Countries
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
CASEE Network
SONDAR HU-AT (Soil Strategy Network in the Danube Region)
SOPRO HU-AT (SoPro-InnovationAgency)

Financing:
The performance of this event is subsidized by the European Union, the Lower Austrian Agricultural District Authorities, Department of Rural Development, the Department of Social Affairs (GS5), and the Department of Economy (WST3) of the Lower Austrian Government. The premises are provided by the University of Natural
Resources and Life Sciences.

There is no attendance fee for this event.