Scale-ups and start-ups are the protagonists of the “Lorenzo Cagnoni” Prize for Green Innovation, organised by Ecomondo, Italian Exhibition Group’s event ongoing at Rimini Expo Centre until tomorrow. Aimed at companies that have excelled in the development of cutting-edge technological solutions to foster the transition towards a circular economy, the award is a tribute to the memory of Lorenzo Cagnoni, president of Italian Exhibition Group, who recently passed away, and who first believed in Ecomondo 26 years ago. On the podium of the scale-up category were Eco Reciclyng – specialised in the development and creation of innovative processes and systems for recovering metals from secondary raw materials -, HBI, which has developed, patented and created a polygenerative technology for the treatment of sewage sludge with a view to the circular economy, and AMP Robotix, with its automation solutions powered by artificial intelligence to improve the recycling process. The three winners in the start-ups category were 3Bee, which develops technologies to regenerate biodiversity; Oxoco, which builds systems that produce reusable matter and technical gases; and Mixcycling, which uses production waste to create environmentally friendly alternative materials to plastic. The award ceremony was attended by IEG’s new president, Maurizio Ermeti, Alessandra Astolfi, Global Exhibition Director Green & Technology Division at IEG, and Mauro Delle Fratte, Ecomondo Exhibition Manager.
Ecomondo 2023 previews innovations for the Green Med Symposium in Naples
New partners, new players, new formats with the same objective as always: to expand the most ambitious green community in the Mediterranean area. The next edition of Green Med Symposium was presented yesterday during the second day of Ecomondo, Italian Exhibition Group’s circular economy show. The Neapolitan event, dedicated to the green transition in the south for the south, will be a collective occasion for institutions, associations, consortia, universities and research centres that, for the first time, will be held at the Mostra D’Oltremare from 12th to 14th June 2024. Another new aspect at the 5th edition will be the extended exhibition area: as of next year, two halls out of three will be equipped with stands where each company, association, consortium, utility or institution will be able to showcase its know-how in the field of waste, water and energy. Initiatives aimed at schools have also been boosted, including a short film competition to involve young people and give them a key role in an increasingly green future. The wide range of conferences and training events has also been confirmed, as well as the return of the States General of the Campania Region. Strengthened by the endorsement of the Campania Region, the City of Naples on the steering board and partnerships with ANCI and Unione Industriali, the event, organised by Italian Exhibition Group together with Ricicla TV, aims to reinforce the alliance between institutions and the country’s consortium and association fabric in order to align economic, engineering and plant-engineering potential with the needs of the environmental system. A veritable social pact to face together the challenges of mitigation and adaptation that climate change imposes. Speaking about the evolution of the Neapolitan event were Alessandra Astolfi, Global Exhibition Director Green & Technology Division at IEG, Giovanni Paone, Editorial Manager at Ricicla Tv, and Fulvio Bonavitacola, Vice President of the Campania Region and Councillor for the Environment, who recalled the importance of Green Med Symposium as a tool for disseminating and informing public opinion, fundamental in the promotion of new circular production models.
Water saving: at Ecomondo, the memorandum of understanding between Confagricoltura and Utilitalia
Re-use of purified wastewater, incentive mechanisms for water saving, using sewage sludge for agricultural purposes for a more efficient and sustainable use of the resource in agriculture: these are the topics at the centre of the memorandum of understanding signed today, Wednesday 8th November, between Confagricoltura and Utilitalia at Ecomondo, Italian Exhibition Group’s ecological transition show, ongoing at Rimini Expo Centre until Friday 10th November. A series of joint initiatives have been planned, including a system of rewards – “blue certificates” – awarded to companies that engage in good practices, the production of studies and reports on strategies for the primary sector, and the promotion of using sewage sludge to reduce the costs that companies sustain for the purchase of traditional fertilisers. «The protocol signed today is a concrete example of dialogue between the civil use of water and agriculture,» explained Utilitalia president, Filippo Brandolini, «and promotes the need to support an integrated approach between the different uses of water.» «The Memorandum of Understanding is a starting point towards implementing strategic initiatives for an increasingly circular and resilient agriculture,» said Massimiliano Giansanti, President of Confagricoltura.
Biogas, new farming systems for a sustainable economy
“New agro-energy trajectories done well” is the banner in the conference area of CIB, Consorzio Italiano Biogas, which hosted the event entitled “The contribution of anaerobic digestion in agriculture to the INECP objectives” at Ecomondo, Italian Exhibition Group’s ecological transition show, ongoing at Rimini Expo Centre until Friday 10th November. Giovanni Perrella, Technical Secretariat of the Energy Department – Ministry for the Environment and Energy Security -, outlined the situation regarding the objectives of the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (INECP) reform for the sector. The plan envisages an increase in biomethane production to 8 billion Smc by 2030 compared to the 6 billion Smc currently forecast. These sustainable fuels can, in fact, contribute significantly to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector, offering an effective and complementary solution to electricity as well as to the decarbonisation of heating and power generation, the development of new farming systems and a sustainable economy, both for farms and users. «In order to support biomethane production in the short term, we need to ensure the economic sustainability of plants and stimulate investment,» stressed Marco Pezzaglia of CIB. «It is particularly necessary to establish a guaranteed minimum price mechanism, adjust reference tariffs and create a stable and reliable market.»
