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Research paper Work-in-Progress 2020/01/31, v1 A BioRegional Strategic Framework for a Sustainable Food System for Sicily 2050 Addressing Global Challenges with BioRegional Opportunities 1

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Page 1: A BioRegionalStrategic Framework for a Work-in-Progress …€¦ · Source: Illustrations from: “Hidden Nature –The Startling Insights of Viktor Schauberger”, AlickBartholomew,

Research paperWork-in-Progress

2020/01/31, v1A BioRegional Strategic Framework for a Sustainable Food System for Sicily 2050

Addressing Global Challenges with BioRegional Opportunities

1

Page 2: A BioRegionalStrategic Framework for a Work-in-Progress …€¦ · Source: Illustrations from: “Hidden Nature –The Startling Insights of Viktor Schauberger”, AlickBartholomew,

The Approach and Methodology

The aim of the research

This paper postulates that one of the major reasons for the relatively limited success of sustainable agricultural solutions, is that the paradigm shift which has taken place these last 100 odd years, has created too huge a gap and a loss of institutional memorybetween the former timeless traditional agriculture and modern industrial agriculture. This gap has only been bridged by theever-increasing complexity of modernity, which has now resulted in a ‘complexity gap’. This complexity is further complicated by the interwoven dynamic nature of many tipping points of the various earth systems. As these tipping points are approached, and in some instances probably surpassed, environmental stability is compromised, and with this, comes consequential world-wide systemic risk, which is more than often overlooked simply because of the complexity gap, with potential dire consequences.

The wide coverage of this paper in itself presents a ‘complexity gap’. For this reason, the focus of this paper will be the island of Sicily, since this will provide a more tangible bioregional context to test the proposals of this research. More specifically, the paper is an attempt to mobilise proactive public and private sector stakeholders towards a co-ordinated approach for a sustainable food system for Sicily. To this end, this paper lays out the process for how such a proactive stakeholder group candevelop a strategic framework for the implementation of a Bioregional Development Programme for a Sustainable Food System in Sicily (BDP-SFSS). Given the emerging environmental and socio-economic challenges of the Mediterranean nations, the positive outcomes of this paper can well be replicated at scale throughout the Mediterranean region.

Prob

lem

Stat

emen

t

The Approach(Why and What?)

The Methodology (How and When?)

Chal

leng

es &

O

ppor

tuni

ties

Form

ulat

ing

the

Ratio

nale

Deve

lopi

ng th

e 20

50 V

ision

Alig

nmen

t with

SD

Gs, e

tc.

Deve

lopm

enta

l Ap

proa

ch

Deve

lopm

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Out

com

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Futu

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gic

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The Strategic Framework

2

Page 3: A BioRegionalStrategic Framework for a Work-in-Progress …€¦ · Source: Illustrations from: “Hidden Nature –The Startling Insights of Viktor Schauberger”, AlickBartholomew,

The Challenges

Challenges

• Industrial Agriculture• Dependent on external inputs• Resource intensive• Major irrigation requirements• Monoculture• Loss of soil humus• Feedlot systems for livestock• Declining yields

• Environmental• Extreme weather cycles / events• Loss of biodiversity• Species extinction• Loss of riparian zones• Soil erosion• Desertification• Broken hydrological cycle

• Global-Based Food Economy• Export of agricultural commodities• Import of food necessities• Low nutritional food values

• Cultural• Loss of agricultural jobs• Uninterested youth• Loss of institutional memory• Loss of cultural landscape

https://www.distrettoagrumidisicilia.it/en/projects/through-routes-orange-blossom/

https://www.dreamstime.com/tomato-greenhouses-salines-pachino-italy-greenhouses-cultivation-tomato-saline-ponds-countryside-image107611319

http://footage.framepool.com/en/shot/439754589-farm-section-of-agricultural-land-sicily-hilly-region-deciduous-tree

The Half-Hydrological Cycle: A negative temperature gradient hampers rainfall infiltration into the soil and causes loss of topsoil and erosion.

Industrial agriculture induces monocultures, is reliant on external inputs, degrades the environment and causes loss of biodiversity.

https://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2011/05/23/la-bella-sicilia/

Top crops are exported whilst basic food commodities are imported

Cultural landscapes are being abandoned in place of modernity with consequential loss of institutional memorySource: Illustrations from: “Hidden Nature – The Startling

Insights of Viktor Schauberger”, Alick Bartholomew, 2003 3

Page 4: A BioRegionalStrategic Framework for a Work-in-Progress …€¦ · Source: Illustrations from: “Hidden Nature –The Startling Insights of Viktor Schauberger”, AlickBartholomew,

The Opportunities

Opportunities

• Regenerative Agriculture / Agroecology• Keyline landscape rainwater harvesting• Establishment of forest belts• Use of local resources• Intensive livestock mob grazing• Crop diversification• Restoration of soil humus• Massive carbon sequestration

• Environmental• Restoration of riparian zones• Reforestation• Enhanced biodiversity• Species conservation• Moderation of weather cycles / events• Restoration of hydrological cycle

• Local-Based Food Economy• Supply of niche global markets• Resilient local food economy• Enhanced nutritional food values

• Cultural• Restoration of cultural landscapes• Job creation• Attraction of youth• UNESCO qualification• Influence on Mediterranean region

The Full Hydrological Cycle: A positive temperature gradient allows rainfall to soak into the ground and facilitates the nutrient and mineral exchange in the soil.

Source: Illustrations from: “Hidden Nature – The Startling Insights of Viktor Schauberger”, Alick Bartholomew, 2003

The process of rehabilitating a riparian zone with eroded gullies

Establishing forest belts enhances biodiversity, creates micro-climates and strengthens the overall resilience of the landscape

4

Page 5: A BioRegionalStrategic Framework for a Work-in-Progress …€¦ · Source: Illustrations from: “Hidden Nature –The Startling Insights of Viktor Schauberger”, AlickBartholomew,

The Opportunities

Opportunities

• Regenerative Agriculture / Agroecology• Keyline landscape rainwater harvesting• Establishment of forest belts• Use of local resources• Intensive livestock mob grazing• Crop diversification• Restoration of soil humus• Massive carbon sequestration

• Environmental• Restoration of riparian zones• Reforestation• Enhanced biodiversity• Species conservation• Moderation of weather cycles / events• Restoration of hydrological cycle

• Local-Based Food Economy• Supply of niche global markets• Resilient local food economy• Enhanced nutritional food values

• Cultural• Restoration of cultural landscapes• Job creation• Attraction of youth• UNESCO qualification• Influence on Mediterranean region

Regenerative Agriculture is beyond sustainability and regenerates farms through the integration of Holistic Management, Limited-Till, Keyline System, Agro-ecology, Permaculture and carbon sequestration.

Yeomans Keyline plow with shank pot seeders

Change in OC Level

Change in OC (kg/m2)

Extra water (litres/m2)

Extra water (litres/ha)

CO2 Seq. (t/ha)

1% 3.6 14.4 144,000 1322% 7.2 28.8 288,000 2643% 10.8 43.2 432,000 3964% 14.4 57.6 576,000 528

Change in the capacity of soil to store water (litres/ha) with changes Bulk Density 1.2g/cm3

Source: Dr. Christine Jones (www.amazingcarbon.com)

Of Italy’s arable land, only 41% @ 1% humus, or 10% @ 4% humus, is required to sequestrate

Italy’s entire CO2emissions, or, ALL of Sicily’s arable land

@2% humus can do the same.

Arguably, farmers are capable of single-handedly saving the planet! Italian farmers have the potential to sequestrate Italy’s entire CO2emissions, making Regenerative Agriculture thee game-changer!

358 140 6 602 000 358 140 1 549 417 Italy: CO2 emissions

(kt):

Italy: Arable land (ha):

Italy: CO2 emissions

(kt):

Sicily: Arable land

(ha):871 464 41% 204 523 175%

1 742 928 21% 409 046 88%2 614 392 14% 613 569 58%3 485 856 10% 818 092 44%

Italy / Sicily: Statistics

Extrapolation from above table

Italy: Statistics

5

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“Floundering Agricultural Sector”• Environmental destruction• Loss of biodiversity and

desertification• Highly vulnerable to external

market forces• Starvation & Malnutrition• Low Human Development Index• Political instability

Regenerative AgricultureRestores environmental resilience

Stimulates local socio-economy

“Energy IntensiveAgricultural Sector”

• High level of capital resources• Limited learning environment

• Fruitless and wasteful expenditure• Environmental degradation

• Fosters Climate Change• Highly vulnerable to external

market forces

“Innovative Agricultural Sector”• Emphasis on skills development• Maximum impact for minimum

input• Environmental stability• Slow but steady impact on

agricultural sector

Formulating the Rationale

Causes environmental degradationReliant on Global Agro-Business

Industrial Agriculture

ProactiveStakeholder Response

ReactiveStakeholder

Response

Will stakeholders have courage to change and regenerate agriculture to create resilience?

Will stakeholders be fearful to change and be responsible for a

collapsing environment and socio-economic

wellbeing?

If we cannot imagine a positive future, how can we move towards one? The challenges and

opportunities discussed earlier need to be explored further in order to clearly justify the rationale for this initiative. To this end, two key issues are contemplated, namely:- (1) Industrial versus Regenerative Agriculture; and, (2) a Reactive versus a Proactive Stakeholder Response. By juxtaposing these two issues, four scenarios emerge, whose intrinsic outcomes and risks are explored in the diagramme. Given the negative environmental and socio-economic impact of continued Industrial Agriculture, is not the Precautionary Principle a valid reason to urgently embrace Regenerative Agriculture before any further environmental damage occurs. X X

ü ü

“Flourishing Agricultural Sector”• Environmental restoration

• Massive carbon sequestration• Mitigates Climate Change

• Resilience to external market forces• High level of Food Security & Food

Sovereignty• Restores cultural landscapes

• High Human Development Index

6

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Incubation Growth Consolidation Dissemination• All stakeholders

find the courage to support wholeheartedly the BioRegionalStrategic Framework for a Sustainable Food System for Sicily. This in turn facilitates the establishment of a BioRegionalDevelopment Programme for a Sustainable Food System for Sicily (BDP-SFSS), which is piloted in several existing BioDistrictsin order to consolidate and strengthen these initiatives.

• All stakeholders have now fully trusted and adopted the BDP-SFSS which is now rolled out to all regions in Sicily, thereby creating a mosaic of BioDistricts, each with their own dedicated sub-programme within the broader BDP-SFSS.

• Pioneering farmers begin cash in on carbon investments through regenerative agricultural practices.

• All stakeholders become optimistic for a sustainable food system that shows positive rewards as crop yields improve through the restoration of soils and biodiversity.

• Stakeholders begin to convert en-masse from industrial to regenerative agriculture until the whole island is fully certified regenerative (a new standard beyond simple organic certification).

• The boundaries of the BioDistricts become fuzzy as they merge into one whole BioRegional whose food system has become fully sustainable and not dependent on any external inputs or other imported foods.

• Farmers reap the fruit of carbon investments as their regenerative agricultural practices begins to yield an additional income stream.

• Community well-being shows marked improvement as instances of dreaded diseases is significantly reduced due to the adoption of nutritious food in the Mediterranean Diet.

• All stakeholders work harmoniously for the greater good and share their successes with lessor folk in Sicily, thereby elevating the overall well-being and quality of life for all in Sicily.

• The success of this BioRegional Development Programme is disseminated throughout the Mediterranean region and elsewhere in the world. Sicily becomes a major learning centre for how to transition to a sustainable food system. Sicilians become highly sought after as change-makers to help other regions make this transition.

• Climatologists have verified that the regenerative agricultural practices throughout Sicily has restored the full hydrological cycle, which has resulted in improved and consistent rainfall, whilst also moderating extreme weather events.

• Farmers enjoy multiple income streams from farm produce and land stewardship.

• Dreaded diseases are eradicated and Sicily has become a haven for hosting tourists attracted to the health benefits of its Mediterranean Diet.

Developing the 2050 Vision – An Overview

20502020 2025 2030 2040

7

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Stockholm Resilience Centre / Research

Formulating the Approach and alignment with the SDGs and related

La visione italiana sul Green Deal europeoVerso la strategia nazionale sul sistema agricolo, agro-alimentare, forestale e della pesca

Goal

ValuesOverarchingObjectives

• To promote trans-disciplinary stakeholder co-operation

Economic• To promote the local food

economy• To restore the traditional

value of cultural landscapes

• To support carbon funding investments

Society• To stimulate job creation

and youth development• To ensure food security

and food sovereignty • To promote the well-

being Mediterranean diet• To empower stakeholders

with ecoliteracy• To embed education in

sustainability, knowledge sharing and experiences

Biosphere• To avoid the use of

harmful pesticides and chemical inputs

• To rehabilitate eroded landscapes

• To restore biodiversity• To enhance soil humus• To embed regenerative

agricultural practices

• To have courage to support lifestyles within the bioregional carrying capacity

• To trust stakeholders to act fairly in the interests of the bioregional food economy

• To be willing to restore the bioregional environment as the foundation for a positive future

• To forgive past injustices and accept the present urgency to establish resilient communities

• To understand the reasoning for protecting life on land and life below water

• To revere the love for one’s health, wellbeing, home, community and bioregion

Research Approach – “Why” and “What”

To restore cultural landscapes through regenerative agriculture so as to strengthen food sovereignty, enhance nutritional well-being, establish resilient socio-economic communities, and moderate climate change on a bioregional scale

To establish a Bioregional

Development Programme for a Sustainable

Food System in Sicily

Mission

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The 2050 Vision is driven by the rationale for all stakeholders to proactively embrace Regenerative Agriculture before the environment is further damaged and is at grave risk of not recovering. In other words, the 2050 Vision sees an abundant future with a flourishing agricultural sector. This Vision uses a Future-casting approach to expand on the 2050 Vision and then draw up a reasonable timeline with milestone achievements designed to arrive at this Vision in a programmatic manner. To this end, a wholistic development programme for achieving the 2050 Vision encompasses the following four components;-1. An Institutional Governance structure led by a unified public sector in

consultation with all other stakeholders.2. An Education in Sustainability initiative designed to facilitate trans-

disciplinary studies within the education sector, from university, to schools, to vocational training.

3. A dedicated Programme Management Office (PMO) established to guide, align and direct public sector programmes, projects and budget allocations, as well as, a team of agricultural specialists to support Regenerative Agriculture and its value chain.

4. A dedicated Monitoring and Evaluation service that will establish the initial baseline and thereafter report progress and communicate results to various stakeholders.

By 2030, it is envisaged that the following achievements have been made to transform the Sicilian agricultural sector to support a flourishing and sustainable food system.• Stakeholders have been empowered and capacitated with ecoliteracy and

worked in unison to support the overall 2050 Vision by providing dedicated oversight to achieve value for money investments for the greater good.

• Universities have embraced and embedded trans-disciplinary studies in bioregional whole systems thinking with many student dissertations adding value to development programmes and projects.

• Schools are teaching agroecology and demonstrating practically through their vegetable gardens and food forest examples, and have also established seed bank exchanges which scholars and the community are using to add value to home-based vegetable gardens.

• Vocational training in Regenerative Agriculture and related subjects have permeated the agricultural sector with the development of local trainers and mentors to support farmers.

• The success of the PMO to direct and manage resources towards Regenerative Agriculture has resulted in its own redundancy as the public sector has been capacitated and empowered to continue this momentum. In turn, the PMO has been requested to support this same Regenerative Agriculture-based development programme in other regions of Italy and also several Mediterranean nations.

• The Monitoring and Evaluation of the 2050 Vision has produced reports with relevant indicators that have confirmed the overall success of this Vision, as supported by the following key milestones: Soil humus in Sicily has doubled to an average 2%, which has effectively sequestrated ALL of Italy’s entire CO2emissions. This has attracted carbon investments which have recouped the initial farm conversion costs. Waterways are shown little trace of pesticides. Biodiversity has improved significantly. Personal health has improved through better food nutrition. Sicily exports its organic certified niche crops whilst its food imports have decreased from 80% to 20%.

Towards the 2050 Vision – The first 10 years from 2020 to 2030

20302020 2025

Incubation Growth

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Development Components 2022 2025 2030An Institutional Governance structure led by a unified public sector in consultation with all other stakeholders.

The institutional governance structure defined with terms and references and staffed with responsible officials. Broader stakeholders consulted and co-opted into the governance structures.

Meetings are held regularly at all levels with the focus of agenda being the approval of development plans and associated resources, as well as, improved co-ordination and transparency among all stakeholders.

Meetings are held regularly at all levels with the focus of agenda being the analysis of progress reports and ongoing refinement and adoption of policies.Elements of the institutional leadership of the BDP-SFSS have been called upon to share their experiences with other areas of Italy and also internationally.

An Education in Sustainability initiative designed to facilitate trans-disciplinary studies within the education sector, from university, to schools, to vocational training.

Universities facilitate inter-departmental co-operation in order to facilitate whole systems thinking approaches for education in sustainability.Schools adopt policies to “green” their schools through education in sustainability.Vocational training is promoted for Regenerative Agriculture.

University students start completing trans-disciplinary dissertations on bioregional whole systems approaches for Regenerative Agriculture.Schools are teaching Permaculture / Agroecology and have established school vegetable gardens with supporting infrastructure.Regular vocational training courses are being held related to Regenerative Agriculture.

Sicilian Universities start transferring their knowledge and skills related to bioregional whole systems approaches to other Mediterranean universities.Scholars have influenced the “greening” of communities and homestead food gardens.Sicilian-based trainers in Regenerative Agriculture are called upon to train farmers in Italy and other Mediterranean nations.

Towards the 2050 Vision – Formulating the Methodology

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Development Components 2022 2025 2030A dedicated Programme Management Office established to guide, align and direct public sector programmes, projects and budget allocations, as well as, a team of agricultural specialists to support the BDP-SFSS.

A PMO is established and staffed with green professionals who support various departments to align their policies, strategies, resources, plans and standards with the BDP-SFSS.The PMO conducts extensive training of public and private sector officials and professionals to align with the requirements of the BDP-SFSS.A dedicated sub-programme to establish Small Organic Farms is initiated.A dedicated sub-programme to convert farmland to Organic certification is initiated.

The PMO extends its support to municipalities and private sector entities to align their plans with the BDP-SFSS.Public sector officials have embedded the requirements of the BDP-SFSSwithin their core business.The Small Organic Farms sub-programme is extended countrywide.The conversion of farmland to Organic certification is extended countrywide.Various sub-programmes are initiated to add value to existing projects.A sub-programme of emerging best practice Learning Centres is initiated countrywide.

Public entities have embedded the BDP-SFSS within their core business as the PMO has created their own redundancy.The PMO is called upon to capacitate and support similar initiatives elsewhere in Italy and the Mediterranean nations.The entire country is certified Organic with pesticides and harmful chemicals banned.Learning Centres have become internationally renowned and attract growing numbers of farmers from other nations to undertake training courses on Regenerative Agriculture.

A dedicated Monitoring and Evaluation service that will establish the initial baseline and thereafter report progress and communicate results to various stakeholders.

A full spectrum of milestone indicators are determined together with protocols that will collect, measure and assess the data.The baseline is set upon which the impact of the BDP-SFSS is evaluated.Data collection is started and evaluated against the baseline.Carbon funding mechanisms are established and calibrated against the baseline data.

The baseline data is extended countrywide and regular performance reports are distributed among all stakeholders.Positive carbon sequestration results start emanating which begins to extend the funding of the BDP-SFSF on a countrywide basis.The indicators for the baseline bioregional evaluation of this type of programme are being shared with other Mediterranean nations.

A significantly positive bioregional impact is measured from the countrywide BDP-SFSS.Organic soil humus and biodiversity indicators keep on growing and have reached an average 2% out of the 4% target.The baseline bioregional indicators for this type of programme are acknowledged worldwide as best practices and are replicated at scale.

Towards the 2050 Vision – Formulating the Methodology

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Institutional Governance• Establish stakeholder forums • Establish the governance structures• Embed the strategic framework for the

sustainable food system at all levels• Technical support provided by the PMO• Meetings structured to monitor and evaluate

progress and mitigate risk

Academic Institutions

FarmersAssociations Food outlets

Retailers / Wholesalers

Agri-Services Agri-

ProducersInvestors

FarmersMarkets

Stakeholder Forums

Public Sector EntitiesRegional

Authorities

Local Municipalities

Provincial Authorities

State Owned Agencies

Political Accountability

Top

dow

n po

licie

san

d st

rate

gies

Bott

om u

p ne

eds

and

solu

tions

Methodology: Institutional GovernanceThe approach encompasses the broad stakeholder consultation in order to present this proposal, such as, educational institutions; public sector entities involved in environmental affairs, agriculture and economic development; farmers associations; entities involved in food value adding logistics, distribution and sales; and, investors. The main outcome of this approach is to seek consensus towards the establishment of an institutional governance structure that will guide the overall development of a “sustainable food system” programme for Sicily.

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Dissertations

The resulting student dissertations with a wholisticbioregional emphasis but with specialist study fields is envisaged to encompass the following typical themes and to add value to the overall “Sustainable Food Systems for Sicily” programme;-• Landscape-based rainwater harvesting design

projects• Integration of stormwater management with

rainwater harvesting for agri-projects• Earth systems impact of regenerative-type

agricultural practices• Plant species design to enhance bioregional

biodiversity • Impact of soil humus on the resilience of the local

agricultural sector• Health impact of nutritional rich diets• Embedding sustainable design principles in the

project management value chain• Monitor and evaluate development impact with GIS• Impact on the circular agrarian economy• Optimizing the logistical and distribution network

for the local food economy• Restoring cultural landscapes• The wellbeing of an agrarian-based economyAmong many others …

Design Studio

Engi

neer

ing:

-Env

ironm

enta

l, Ci

vil,

Wat

er, W

aste

Man

agem

ent,

etc.

Ecological Design

Economic Design

SocialDesign

Cultural Design

Life

Sci

ence

s:-G

eolo

gy, E

colo

gy,

Biol

ogy,

Bot

any,

etc

.

Agric

ultu

re:-

Soils

, Hol

istic

M

anag

emen

t, Ag

roec

olog

y, A

gri-

Busin

ess,

etc

.

Com

mer

ce:-

Econ

omic

s, F

inan

ce,

Busin

ess

Man

agem

ent,

etc.

Arts

& H

uman

ities

:-Ge

ogra

phy,

Hi

stor

y, S

ocio

logy

, Phi

loso

phy,

etc

.

Built

Env

ironm

ent:-

Arch

itect

ure,

Pr

ojec

t Con

stru

ctio

n M

anag

emen

t, To

wn

& R

egio

nal P

lann

ing,

GIS

, etc

.

The GE Design Studio integrates the 4-Dimensions with university trans-disciplinary studies into student dissertations that focus on a wholisticbioregional regeneration programme for Sicily.

University students can participate in the GE-BDE programme in order to inculcate a wholistic bioregional approach to dissertations in their respective field(s) of speciality. The dissertations can be directed towards adding value to existing or new projects.

Loca

l Uni

vers

ities

(Cat

ania

, Pal

erm

o, M

essi

na)

Uni

vers

ity F

acul

ty P

rogr

amm

es

Methodology: An approach for how to embed a wholistic trans-disciplinary BioRegionalDesign Education course from Gaia Education within Catania University in Sicily

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Establish a Programme Management Office• Resource the PMO with development

professionals and deploy • Provide technical and admin support to the

governance structures for the alignment of plans, budgets and projects

• Provide agricultural / business mentorship to farmers, agri-business, etc.

Methodology: Establish a Programme Management Office

Engage public sector stakeholders in order to align development programmes and associated financial allocations with regenerative agricultural development initiatives, including an overall regenerative plan for Sicily.Engage key public sector stakeholders to resource a PMOstaffed with green development professionals who will provide dedicated support to public and private sector entities, as well as, support the alignment and packaging of programmes and budget allocations.Monitor and evaluate project progress across the project cycle from bioregional planning alignment to design to implementation to close out and support.

PMO

Government Departments

Regional Authorities

Farmers Associations

Private Sector Entities

BioregionalPlanning

Alignment

Project Feasibility

Project Packaging

Project Design

Project Implementa

tion

Project Close Out

Proj

ects

Governance Structures

Progress Reporting

Monitoring & Evaluation14

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Methodology: Progress Reporting against baseline indicators

GIS Database Typical Development Impact Reporting Indicators

Economic: Exports, imports, circular economy, job creation, youth development, private and public sector spend, carbon investments, etc.Environmental: Precipitation, river flows, aquifers, biodiversity, ecosystem restoration, pollution levels, water quality, etc.Agriculture: Farming units, organic certification, soil humus, crop production, distribution, plant vitality, carbon sequestration, etc.Educational: Dissertations, training courses, farmers trained, greening of schools, etc.Wellbeing: Health, nutrition, dreaded diseases, mortality, etc.Composite: Human Development Indices, poverty levels, ecological footprint, biocapacity, Happy Planet Index, etc.

Typical Map Categories

ClimateTopographicalGeophysicalHydrologicalBiophysicalInfrastructureSettlementsAgricultureDevelopment projectsEconomic activityInvestments

Progress Reporting against baseline indicators• Determine data sources and protocols for

data collection• Establish a GIS database to report against

baseline milestones• Regular data collection and analysis, evaluate

performance and publish results• Establish carbon investment mechanisms• mechanisms

Explore the spectrum of baseline indicators from among the SDGs and local public sector agencies. Engage other entities that can provide additional baseline data, including, satellite surveys, footprint indicators, etc.Consolidate the programme baseline reporting indicators and use the data to determine developmental targets for the overall programme.Publish regular programme development reports, news reports and student dissertations.

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• Land Certified Organic

• Biodiversity indicators

• Soil humus• Water quality

• Determine data sources and protocols for data collection

• Establish a GIS database to report against baseline milestones

• Regular data collection and analysis, evaluate performance and publish results

• Establish carbon investment mechanisms

• Value adding analysis

• Projects supported

• Farming units created

• Jobs created

• Resource the PMO with development professionals and deploy

• Provide technical and admin support to the governance structures for the alignment of plans, budgets and projects

• Provide agricultural / business mentorship to farmers, agri-business, etc.

• Dissertations completed

• Schools greened

• Vocational training courses

• People trained

• Embed Bioregional Design Education programme at universities

• Embed Education in Sustainability within schools

• Promote life skills training in sustainable agriculture and agri-business

• Promote ecoliteracy campaigns

Progress Reporting against baseline indicators

Establish a Programme Management Office (PMO)

Institutionalise Education in Sustainability / Regenerative Agriculture

A Bioregional Strategic Framework for a Sustainable Food System in Sicily 2050

• Updated Risk registers

• Bioregional Strategic Plan approved

• Public sector plans endorsed

• Establish stakeholder forums • Establish the governance structures• Embed the strategic framework for the

sustainable food system at all levels• Technical support provided by the PMO• Meetings structured to monitor and

evaluate progress and mitigate risk

Stakeholder management of the Institutional Governance structure

Goal

ValuesAction PlansKPIsOverarchingObjectives

Critical Success Factors

• To promote trans-disciplinary stakeholder co-operation

Economic• To promote the local food

economy• To restore the traditional

value of cultural landscapes

• To support carbon funding investments

Society• To stimulate job creation

and youth development• To ensure food security

and food sovereignty • To promote the well-

being Mediterranean diet• To empower stakeholders

with ecoliteracy• To embed education in

sustainability, knowledge sharing and experiences

Biosphere• To avoid the use of

harmful pesticides and chemical inputs

• To rehabilitate eroded landscapes

• To restore biodiversity• To enhance soil humus• To embed regenerative

agricultural practices

• To have courage to support lifestyles within the bioregional carrying capacity

• To trust stakeholders to act fairly in the interests of the bioregional food economy

• To be willing to restore the bioregional environment as the foundation for a positive future

• To forgive past injustices and accept the present urgency to establish resilient communities

• To understand the reasoning for protecting life on land and life below water

• To revere the love for one’s health, wellbeing, home, community and bioregion

Research Approach – “Why” and “What”Research Methodology – “How” and “When”

The “100-3-2-100 Plan” for the first 10 years from 2020 to 2030

To restore cultural landscapes through regenerative agriculture so as to strengthen food sovereignty, enhance nutritional well-being, establish resilient socio-economic communities, and moderate climate change on a bioregional scale

To establish a Bioregional

Development Programme for a Sustainable

Food System in Sicily

100-3-2-100 Plan• 100% commitment

by all stakeholders;• 3 Universities have

embedded a BioRegional Design Education course;

• 2% Soil Organic Carbon on all farms; and,

• 100% carbon investments are validated.

Mission

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Summary: Critical Success Factors towards the Mission

Goal

Values

Action Plans

Key Performance Indicators

(KPIs)

Overarching

Objectives

Critical Success Factors

Mission

Progress Reporting against baseline indicators

PMO

Government Departments

Regional Authorities

Farmers Associations

Private Sector Entities

BioregionalPlanning

Alignment

Project Feasibility

Project Packaging

Project Design

Project Implementa

tion

Project Close Out

Proj

ects

Governance Structures

Progress Reporting

Monitoring & Evaluation

Establish a Programme Management Office (PMO)

Institutionalise Education in Sustainability / Regenerative Agriculture

Academic Institutions

FarmersAssociations Food outlets

Retailers / Wholesalers

Agri-Services Agri-

ProducersInvestors

FarmersMarkets

Stakeholder Forums

Public Sector EntitiesRegional

Authorities

Local Municipalities

Provincial Authorities

State Owned Agencies

Political Accountability

Top

dow

n po

licie

san

d st

rate

gies

Bott

om u

p ne

eds

and

solu

tions

Stakeholder management of the Institutional Governance structure

To restore cultural landscapes through regenerative agriculture so as to strengthen food sovereignty, enhance nutritional well-being, establish resilient socio-economic communities, and moderate climate change on a bioregional scale

17