INTEC will ensure the decrease in the use of plastics and the carbon footprint

The European Foundation for Technology Innovation and Development (INTEC) has launched a call to reward the commitment of agrifood companies to fight climate change. In the framework of the UN Climate Change Conference -COP25-, Startup Europe Smart Agrifood Summit has been presented, an event distinguished with the ‘patronage’ of the European Commission, where companies and startups from around the world will meet on June 18 and 19 in Malaga.

In this sense, these are companies and startups that are already working to reduce plastics in their production chain, adopting innovative measures to generate a change in the use of plastics with the introduction of other materials or other uses in consumption for recycling. It also refers to those who are working with the goal of ‘Zero Emissions’ to reduce the carbon footprint by introducing electric vehicles or other technologies that eliminate the use of petroleum or coal derived fuels, through the use of renewable energy. Companies that want to qualify for these awards can apply through the form here and on the event website.

The use of plastics fills the land and seas of 8.3 billion tons

It must be taken into account that with respect to the use of plastics, today it is known that 8.3 billion tons have been produced, something totally unattainable by nature. The packaging accounts for 26 percent of the total volume of the plastic and these take 10 to 1,000 years to decompose. In addition, 50 percent of the plastic is for single use and 95 percent loses its value after the first job, something that all brands should take into account.

Likewise, it is already known from scientific studies that micro plastics have been found in 50 percent of the population’s feces, that is, these materials also reach our stomachs.

Greenhouse gas pollution deteriorates agriculture and livestock

On the other hand, the carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions, which mainly consists of the carbon dioxide associated with a production. It is one of the most common measures of the effect of an industry or country on the environment. Also, rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns are altering plant growth patterns and result in native vegetation moving to increasingly colder climates.

Sea levels rise as the temperature of our planet rises, warm water takes up more space than cold water. As vegetation changes weather due to rising temperatures and changing weather patterns, the wildlife that depends on it is threatened because it cannot keep up with this rate of change. For example, migratory birds arrive at their destination and discover that food sources, such as plants, flourished too early while in turn, the melting of the Arctic ice destroys the polar bear hunting ground. According to the Nature Conservancy, a quarter of the Earth’s species will become extinct in 40 years if climate change increases at its current rate.

Risk for increased hunger and human health

Our biggest carbon footprint has the ability to damage our health. Those most at risk are women who work in agriculture and children. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), climate change is expected to increase the percentage of people in Mali who are hungry, from 34 percent to 64 percent within 40 years. Along with this, an increase in malnutrition is caused by climate change in food crops, given the drought that interferes with the growing season.

Drought also causes diarrheal diseases, since access to drinking water is compromised. Vector-borne diseases, such as malaria, are increasing as the temperature rise allows malarial mosquitoes to survive in countries that were previously too cold for them. Finally, the increase in air pollution has caused a higher percentage of respiratory problems as asthma and allergies increase.

Examples of measures to reduce the carbon footprint

For this reason, Fundación INTEC will reward companies that reduce their carbon footprint by changing their fleet to electric vehicles, policies for the use of public or alternative transport such as bicycles or other means, reducing beef diets from the company -which causes 20 percent of greenhouse gas emissions according to WHO-, or supporting its local farmers and farmers, buying fruits and vegetables at the nearby market at nearby farmers and ranchers. It is worth mentioning that often these.

They use healthier and organic practices that are better for the environment and that translates into less travel and less time in the car, while investing in the local market to do greener practices.

In addition, good practices such as the change in heating systems for greener systems with clean energy and with the air conditioning will be assessed by placing intelligent temperature control systems, replacing conventional lights with LED lights in the company and with potentiometers, among others measurements.

In short, it is about recognizing the integral plans that companies carry out for this reduction of emissions and with measures that are measurable and quantifiable.

Startup Europe Smart Agrifood Summit, a world reference event with more than 3,000 attendees

Startup Europe Smart Agrifood Summit is a global event for the transformation of the agri-food chain in the world through innovation and digital transformation organized by the INTEC Foundation, the European Commission, the City of Malaga through FYCMA (Palacio de Fairs and Congresses of Malaga) and SVG Partners.

The event has the participation of 3,000 attendees – managers and technicians of technological and agri-food companies, public decision makers, investors, university and research center managers, etc -; 300 participating companies from the AgroTech, FoodTech, technology, communications, agribusiness, retail or financial sectors, among others; more than 500 startups – 75 percent from outside the European Union -; 90 countries of which 50 percent belong to the European Union; 50 universities around the world, and more than 500 million investment in companies and startups mobilized in the event and in satellite meetings, generating more than 200 million impact on the media.