One of the key topics of this year’s Elafonisos Eco Week was “Blue Opportunities.” During the conferences on the second day, Constantinos Machairas, Secretary General at IFOAM Agribio Mediterraneo and moderator during the Elafonisos Eco Week, opened his speech by reflected on how the initiative of Elafonisos Eco evolved from a small gathering into an international movement promoting sustainability and environmental awareness across the Mediterranean.
He emphasized the interconnected nature of key environmental issues: biodiversity, water, energy, and waste and the need to address them through shared principles like health, ecology, fairness and care, values rooted in organic agriculture. He also expressed gratitude to key supporters of the event, including Prince Albert II of Monaco, the mayor, the president of Elafonisos Eco, and all volunteers.
Then, he recapped the first day’s focus on water and waste management, which included contributions from various levels of government and the unveiling of a new plastic recycling machine at the local school. International examples from Cyprus and Monaco were also presented, along with future waste-related projects supported by BeMed.
He concluded by stressing the importance of developing a concrete action plan based on local needs, especially regarding water solutions and called for faster technical evaluations. Finally, he highlighted the role of practical education and reiterated that the goal of Elafonisos Eco is not only to address environmental challenges but to reconnect people with the island’s natural and cultural identity.