Meeting the Needs of the Developing Biobased Economy

Meeting the Needs of the Developing Bio-based Economy The Transition from Agricultural to Biosystems Engineering University Studies in Europe D. Briassoulis Agricultural University of Athens

Reaching the limits of the nonrenewable resources Based Economy 2008 The world's problem is as follows (2004 data): We now consume six barrels of oil for every new barrel we discover. Major oil finds (of over 500 m "Are We peaked 'Running Thought 40 13 Years of the Stuff Left"in 2001 barrels) in. Out'? 1964. I In 2000, There there. Was were such discoveries, six, in 2002 two and in 2003 none. Three major new projects will come onstream in 2007 and three in 2008. George The Guardian, Tuesday June 8 2004 Life After. Monbiot the Oil Crash, http: //www. lifeaftertheoilcrash. net/Index. html Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

Reaching the limits of the nonrenewable resources Based Economy • Industrial civilization as we know it is coming to an end soon • This is not the wacky proclamation of a doomsday cult, apocalypse bible prophecy sect, or conspiracy theory society. • Rather, it is the scientific conclusion of the best paid, most widely-respected geologists, physicists, bankers, and investors in the world. • These are rational, professional, conservative individuals who are absolutely terrified by a phenomenon known as global "Peak Oil. " Life After the Oil Crash, http: //www. lifeaftertheoilcrash. net/Index. html Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

Reaching the limits of the nonrenewable resources Based Economy A growing gap is expected between oil supply and demand Gail E. Tverberg – April 10, 2008, Ohio State University College of Public Health, ‘The Expected Economic Impact of an Energy Downturn’, The Oil Drum Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

Reaching the limits of the nonrenewable resources Based Economy The median forecast is calculated from 13 models that are predicting a peak before 2020; 95% of the predictions sees a production peak between 2008 and 2010 at 77. 5 - 85. 0 mbpd World oil production (EIA Monthly) for crude oil + NGL. Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

Reaching the limits of the nonrenewable resources Based Economy • • Easy oil is gone Natural gas is in limited supply Coal is associated with climate change High grade ores of uranium and other minerals are depleting • Substitutes are a long way off The Earth is Finite – We are Reaching its Limits Gail E. Tverberg – April 10, 2008, Ohio State University College of Public Health, The Expected Economic Impact of an Energy Downturn’, The Oil Drum Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

Reaching the limits of the nonrenewable resources Based Economy Richard C. Duncan, ‘The Olduvai Theory, Energy, Population, and Industrial Civilization’, Winter 20052006 THE SOCIAL CONTRACT Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

Reaching the limits of the nonrenewable resources Based Economy IMPACT • Higher oil prices – Gasoline, diesel, asphalt – Spreads to natural gas, coal, electricity • Higher food prices – Partly because of shipping/ cultivation costs – Partly because of biofuel use of food Food and energy costs become a bigger share of the economy. Gail E. Tverberg – April 10, 2008, ‘The Expected Economic Impact of an Energy Downturn’, The Oil Drum Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

Reaching the limits of the nonrenewable resources Based Economy The Oil Energy Curve of History? • The petroleum-based economy is a mere 140 years old and unlikely to survive into the next century. • We face a big challenge of vital importance for the survival of the planet: • The eventual transition of the global economy from one based on non-renewable resources into a veritably sustainable one is of vital importance. Life After the Oil Crash, http: //www. lifeaftertheoilcrash. net/Index. html Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

Reaching the limits of the nonrenewable resources Based Economy? Controversy surrounds predictions of the timing of the global peak, as these predictions are dependent on the past production and discovery data used in the calculation as well as how unconventional reserves are considered. Geological pessimism confronts economic and technological optimism! JACQUELINE LANG WEAVER, ‘THE TRADITIONAL PETROLEUM-BASED ECONOMY: AN “EVENTFUL” FUTURE’, Professor of Law, University of Houston Law Center, Conference on “Biofuels and the New Energy Economy” Cumberland School of Law, Samford University on February 10, 2006. Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

Reaching the limits of the nonrenewable resources Based Economy …now, in a few years or in a few decades! • Agricultural and Industrial production and processing has to adopt innovative clean technologies, based on renewable resources… • We need to move to a new direction of production for agricultural and pharmaceutical products based on pure biological components to eliminate chemicals and toxins. . . • We need to decrease the use of non-renewable resources for reasons of climatic change and water famine… • The eventual transition of the global economy from one based on non-renewable resources into a veritably sustainable one is of vital importance! Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

The development of the Bio-Based Economy "Bio-“ from Greek “βίος” for "life" Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

The triumphant come-back of the Bio-Based Economy • The economy of the humankind has been based on renewable natural resources for untold ages έστιν ουν επιστήμη δόξα αληθής μετά λόγου Πλάτων (επίσταμαι=γνωρίζω καλά) • The bio-based-economy is staging a come-back, but in a totally rejuvenated form. • The bio-based economy developing today is a highly sophisticated, knowledge-intensive sector in which rapid progress should be the norm. Cees Veerman; speech at the conference Sustainability, Rural Development and Rural Tourism, Budapest, August 28, 2005 http: //www. nwlink. com/~donclark/knowledge. html Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

• The opportunities of the Bio-Based Economy almost limitless…. Biospecialties Food ingredients Pharmaceuticals Fine chemicals Agricultural (by)products Sugars Chemo-physical treatment and/or enzymes Cell factory: Biocatalysis or Micro-organisms Fine chemicals Bio-based materials Biomaterials Base Chemicals Biofuels Ethanol Hydrogen Bulk chemicals Maurice Lex, White Biotechnology, Europe on the Move, European Commission FP 7 Agriculture, Food and Biotechnology Research Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

The development of the Bio-Based Economy • The United States and Canada are leaping forward in integrating the bio-based economy into their long-term innovation strategies • The use of sustainable natural resources is seen as giving the agricultural sector a new lease on life. • Developments in Europe are more scattered. A few countries have been forging ahead since the mid-1990 s. Others are only just picking up on the idea • Important steps have to be taken in the European Union, otherwise there is the danger that in the not too distant future, Europe will be lagging behind the United States and Canada. The Emerging Biobased Economy, May 2005: Meeting the goals set for 2010 could create $15 Cees Veerman; speech at the conference Sustainability, Rural Development and Rural Tourism, $20 billion a year in new income for farmers and rural America and reduce annual greenhouse Budapest, August 28, 2005 gas emissions; http: //www. informaecon. com/Biobased_Prospectus_May_2005. pdf Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

The development of the Bio-Based Economy Biomass, as fuel: • Brazil leads the world in production and use, making about 27 billion litres per year (2008). Some 50 percent of the country's sugar crop (2005) is made into biobased automotive fuel, which Brazil exports to the tune of two billion liters a year. • In the USA ethanol production is expected to increase substantially: gasoline sold in the United States shall contain at least 7. 5 billion gallons of renewable fuels in 2012 (about half-a-million barrels per day). • The European Union has set a goal of agro-fuels providing 5. 75% of Europe's transport power by 2010 BBC NEWS; Cees Veerman; speech at the conference Sustainability, Rural Development and Rural Tourism, Budapest, August 28, 2005 and 10 percent by 2020. Economic Report of the President; Transmitted to the Congress February 2006, Together with the Annual Report of the Council of Economic Advisers; mandate included in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

The development of the Bio-Based Economy Bio-fuels use in key countries National Intelligence Council (USA), Disruptive Technologies, Global Trends, Appendix C: Biofuels and biobased chemicals, 2005 Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

The development of the Bio-Based Economy Should the conversion of biomass into fuel (agro-fuels), be the first priority? can it be the driving force of the developing bio-based economy? Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

The opportunities of the Bio-Based Economy • The conversion of biomass into fuel, important as it may be, is just the 'low end' of the bio-based economy. • Biofuels are limited by land, fresh water Biofuels: the illusion and the reality: “…trigger new competition for agricultural resources, and/or will increase existing competition, mainly for land water, between food production and biofuel production”; http: //www. twnside. org. sg/title 2/resurgence/200/cover 1. doc Jan E. G. van Dama, Barbara de Klerk-Engels, Paul C. Struik, Rudy Rabbinge, ‘Securing renewable resource supplies for changing market demands in a bio-based economy’ Industrial cops and products Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

The opportunities of the Bio-Based Economy • The best added value of the bio-based economy comes from knowledge-intensive products, materials and chemicals. • Biomass must be processed in a sustainable way for the bio-based economy to make sense. Cees Veerman; speech at the conference Sustainability, Rural Development and Rural Tourism, Budapest, August 28, 2005 Jan E. G. van Dama , Barbara de Klerk-Engels, Paul C. Struik, Rudy Rabbinge, ‘Securing renewable resource supplies for changing market demands in a bio-based economy’ Industrial cops and products Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

The opportunities of the Bio-Based Economy • The transition from petroleum-based materials to bio-based materials is a major global trend • A bio-based material is simply an engineering material made from substances derived from living matter. These substances may be natural or synthesized organic compounds that exist in nature. • Typically it refers to modern materials that have undergone more extensive processing. A biomaterial is essentially a material that is used and adapted for a medical application. Unprocessed materials may be called biotic material Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

The opportunities of the Bio-Based Economy Biomass, for bio-based materials production: • Biodegradable packaging materials made from the starchy components of potatoes, corn etc and from crop waste. • Packaging materials made from lactic acids are also making headway. Some of the largest supermarket chains are packaging most of their organic food products in such bio-based materials. • Bio-based materials are used to produce biodegradable films and other plastic products for agricultural applications • Renewable building blocks for plastics, as well as natural fibers are already used to reinforce plastics applied in the automotive industry and other applications. • Biocomposites are finding applications in the construction and electronics industry due to their low cost and specific properties Cees Veerman; speech at the conference Sustainability, Rural Development and Rural Tourism, Budapest, August 28, 2005 Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

The development of the Bio-Based Economy Biomass for bio-based materials production: • Biopolymers are now moving into main-stream use, and the polymers based on renewable “feedstock” may soon be competing with commodity plastics, as a result of the sales growth of more than 20– 30% per year. • The US Technology Road Map for Plant/Crop-based Renewable Resources 2020* has targeted to achieve 10% of basic chemical building blocks arising from plant-derived renewable sources by 2020, with development concepts in place by then to achieve a further increase to 50% by 2050. (*) Sponsored by the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

The development of the Bio-Based Economy Biomass for biobased materials production in USA: • The U. S. agricultural, forestry, life sciences, and chemical communities have developed a strategic vision for using crops, trees, and agricultural residues to manufacture industrial products, and have identified major barriers to its implementation. Matt Carr, The biobased revolution, ASC Fall Convention and Expo, October 11, 2005 Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

The development of the Bio-Based Economy Biomass for biobased materials production in EU: • Europe is currently well placed in the markets for innovative bio-based products, building on established knowledge and a leading technological and industrial position. • Perceived uncertainty about product properties and weak market transparency hinder the fast take-up of products. Ø Communication, standardisation, labelling and certification could be used to overcome this. Ø Future revisions of the CAP could provide opportunities to examine the various elements of non-food policy in order to give positive incentives to the cultivation of crops for industrial uses, in line with the ongoing CAP reform path. A Lead Market Initiative for Europe, ANNEX I, ACTION PLAN OF THE LEAD MARKET INITIATIVE IN THE AREA OF BIO-BASED PRODUCTS, Brussels, 21. 12. 2007, SEC(2007) 1729 Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

The development of the Bio-Based Economy National Intelligence Council (USA), Disruptive Technologies, Global Trends, Appendix C: Biofuels and biobased chemicals, 2005 Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

The development of the Bio-Based Economy at the European level The development and production of novel, innovative products and processes in a costand eco-efficient manner, using increasingly renewable raw materials and taking into account the hot environmental issues like climatic change and water limitations, require: • Advances in the technology reach and development of new knowledge though EU and national support of the European Education and Research Areas • Systematic, strong Universities-Enterprises cooperation Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

The development of the Bio-Based Economy Meeting the Needs of the Developing Bio-based Economy at the level of the University Studies in Europe Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

The development of the Bio-Based Economy Many disciplines (e. g. Chemical Engineering, Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology, etc) are expected to adapt their programs of studies to meet the needs of the developing bio-based economy Green buildings Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Hybrid cars Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

The development of the Bio-Based Economy • • Agricultural Engineering programs of studies will have also to be adapted: … to address the complex problems of using nonrenewable resources based fuels for agricultural machinery and production systems, simultaneously increasing productivity under limitations of water and chemicals and environmental constraints… …. exploit by-products for development of bio-based materials and use special bio-based materials in production and processing…. …. irrigate under conditions of water famine, apply sophisticated information technologies and engineering design to optimise prodution, operation and processing involing sensitive and complicated biological systems…. Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

NEW DEVELOPMENTS • What is the future of the AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING STUDIES IN EUROPE? • Facing the new challenges of the Developing Bio-based Economy at the level of the University Studies in Europe related to the production and processing of goods of biological origin: – In an environmental friendly way – Based on non-renewable resources to a steadily increasing degree Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING STUDIES IN EUROPE; A HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Defining the needs in the years before 2002 Agricultural engineering is under-going rapid changes as a result of: o technological innovation; o the dramatic structural changes of the Higher Educational system of Europe; o major inherent problems associated with the traditional field of Agricultural Engineering studies in Europe and the emerging relevant societal needs. Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING STUDIES IN EUROPE; A HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Ø In response to these major challenges, thematic network USAEE - University Studies of Agricultural Engineering in Europe was established in the framework of the Erasmus programme of the EU Directorate-General Education and Culture: 2002 -2006 Ø The USAEE thematic network project was established with the endorsement and the support of the European Society of Agricultural Engineers Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

A Thematic Network composed of CHALLENGE 31 partner RESPONDING TO THE Universities from 27 European countries and funded by DG Education and Culture University Studies of Agricultural Engineering in Europe; a Thematic Network FYROM Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

USAEE - University Studies of Agricultural Engineering in Europe; a Thematic Network Objectives • define the core curricula to be used as benchmarks for Agricultural Engineering studies in Europe • define common accreditation strategies and procedures and establish the bodies/committees to carry out the accreditation of the departments which are to meet the core curricula requirements Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

Outputs Web address to download all eight Proceedings of the USAEE Workshops: http: //www. eurageng. net - link USAEE TN concerning issues on: • Studies • Research • ECTS • Agricultural Engineering core curricula meeting the FEANI criteria • Accreditation procedures • Employability • Quality assurance and assessment Continuous updating on web-site: http: //sunfire. aua. gr: 8080/ects/Welcome. do Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

FEANI PROCESS June 2006: USAEE submitted officially the final core curricula for Agricultural Engineering University studies in Europe. January 2007: FEANI – EMC replies ‘USAEE document combined with the FEANI criteria provide guidance to the schools in order to design an agricultural engineering programme to be included in the FEANI INDEX’ ! D VE O R P P A Fédération Européenne d'Associations Nationales d'Ingénieurs, European Federation of National Engineering Association ; shttp: //www. feani. org/ Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

Eur. Ag. Eng RECOGNITION A recognition implementation plan has been prepared in close cooperation between USAEE and Eur. Ag. Eng The scheme was officially announced (September 2006, Bonn) by Eur. Ag. Eng and foresees several steps Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

ACCREDITATION • Developments towards the establishment of a SINGLE European Accreditation procedure for all European Engineering programs of studies Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

EUR-ACE project (EURopean ACcredited Engineer) The EUR-ACE accreditation system is being set up within ENAEE and monitored by an ad-hoc Working Group (EUR-ACE Label Committee) Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

USAEE TN University Studies of Agricultural Engineering in Europe: synergies with EURACE-ENAEE • USAEE/ERABEE participate in the project board of the EUR-ACE Implementation project aiming at establishing the ACCREDITATION of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering programmes of studies as Engineering Programmes of studies complying with the EUR_ACE Standards Framework in the same way as for any other ENGINEERING program of studies in Europe Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

Steps in the Accreditation procedure: For the programs of study in Agricultural /Biosystems Engineering that adopt the FEANI / USAEE TN Core Curricula 1. Eu. Ag. Eng may undertake the task of RECOGNITION of these programs as being Agricultural or Biosystems Engineering programs of studies. • Then, the use of the terms: Agricultural or Biosystems Engineering by programs of studies that are not Engineering recognized by Eur. Ag. Eng will not be as easy as it happens today 2. EUR-ACE standards may be applied for the ACCREDITATION of any recognised Agricultural or Biosystems Engineering program in the same way as for Engineering any other ENGINEERING program of studies in Europe Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

USAEE-Steps in the Accreditation procedure: • The ACCREDITATION through EUR-ACE standards of any recognised Agricultural or Biosystems Engineering program in Engineering Europe awards the EUR-ACE Labeling of the accredited programs of studies: The EUR-ACE® label certificates will be: EUR-ACE First Cycle level EUR-ACE Second Cycle level 3. The Accredited by EUR-ACE standards Agricultural or Biosystems Engineering programs will be automatically Engineering registered in the FEANI index without any additional application and procedure Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING STUDIES AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES INTERNATIONAL LEVEL Ø Traditional field of Agricultural Engineering is now evolving into the Biosystems Engineering field Ø Biosystems Engineering is a science-based engineering discipline that integrates engineering science and discipline design with applied biological, environmental and agricultural sciences, broadening in this way the area of application of Engineering sciences not strictly to agricultural applications, but to the biological systems in general, including agriculture Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING STUDIES AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES Ø Agricultural Engineering applies engineering sciences to agricultural applications Ø Biosystems (or Agricultural and Biological) Engineering, extends this application of engineering sciences to all living organisms applications, including agriculture. Ø Biosystems engineers can be involved in the expanding new areas of bio-based materials, agro-fuels, biomechatronics, etc. , in the assessment of food traceability, quality and safety and in the design of environmentally friendly and sustainable systems. Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING STUDIES AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES Ø The major international political priority relevant to Biosystems (or Agricultural and Biological) Engineering studies was set in USA and Canada back in 2003 by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE) and the Canadian Society of Agricultural Engineering (CSAE), respectively. Ø This political priority regarded major changes in the curricula, also reflected in the change of the Societies’ names which was considered as a major issue. Ø At that time it had become evident that traditional Agricultural Engineering Departments experienced a marked decline in students. Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING STUDIES AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES Ø Since the majority of such Departments in USA and Canada added a ‘bio’ modifier term (i. e. Biosystems, term Biological, Bioresources, Bioengineering, etc. ) in their titles and aligned their academic programs with the biology-based curriculum (including the agricultural engineering main core), student enrolment increased. ), Ø As a result in 2005 ASAE and CSAE decided to change their name to: Ø American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) Ø Canadian Society for Bioengineering (CSBE) Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

Policy Oriented Measures in Support of the Evolving Biosystems Engineering Studies in USA - EU: 2007 -2008 EU-US Atlantis programme 2006

Main objective of POMSEBES Policy Oriented Measures in Support of the Evolving Biosystems Engineering Studies in USA - EU Provide a platform for a systematic exchange of experiences and ideas between the established Biological Engineering studies in the US and the evolving Biosystems Engineering studies in EU aiming at the establishment of appropriate policy oriented measures to support and guide this evolution Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

Biosystems Engineering - I Biosystems Engineering is defined as an evolving sciencebased engineering discipline that integrates engineering science and design with applied biological, agricultural and environmental sciences Biosystems Engineering concerns education and research in the physical sciences and engineering to understand, model, process or enhance biological systems for sustainable developments in agriculture, food, land use and the environment http: //www. elsevier. com/wps/find/journaldescription. cws_home/622795/description#description Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

Biosystems Engineering - II Biosystems Engineering is not Biotechnology which is defined as: • Techniques that use living organisms or parts of organisms to produce a variety of products (from medicines to industrial enzymes) to improve plants or animals or to develop microorganisms to remove toxics from bodies of water, or act as pesticides • A multidisciplinary field in which biological systems are developed and/or used for the provision of commercial goods or services Biotechnology is not an Engineering Discipline http: //www. nsc. org/ehc/glossary. htm#b http: //www. elsevier. com/wps/find/journaldescription. cws_home/525455/description#description Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

Biosystems Engineering - III Biosystems Engineering is not Biomedical Engineering which is defined as: The application of engineering principles and techniques to the medical field. It combines the design and problem solving skills of engineering with the medical and biological science to help improve patient health care and the quality of life of healthy individuals http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Biomedical_engineering Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

Biosystems Engineering Ø Focuses on applying Engineering principles to biological systems except for humans to avoid conflicts and confusion of systems professional competences with the discipline of Biomedical Engineering Ø Does not simply include scattered courses from Biotechnology or Biology creating conflicts and confusion of professional competences with the well established non-Engineering discipline of Biotechnology Ø Is founded on a broader basis of biological sciences through replacing agricultural application oriented courses with selected agricultural application oriented fundamental biological systems /agricultural sciences subjects fundamental biological systems /agricultural sciences Ø Retains Agricultural Engineering as the main component of component the program of studies with a clear and strong Engineering core curriculum (USAEE/ FEANI) Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

Need for the transition from Agricultural to Biosystems Engineering in Europe Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

Need for the transition from Agricultural Engineering to Biosystems Engineering in Europe 1. Europe should keep step with the latest developments in Biosystems Engineering occurred at the international level to meet the needs of the developing biobased economy: strong competition in education, research and economy 2. Biosystems Engineering should evolve as an integral part of the rapid developments in the Higher Education Area in Europe Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

Need for the transition from Agricultural Engineering to Biosystems Engineering in Europe Ø In response to the dramatic developments*, the new Thematic Network for Education and Research in Biosystems Engineering or Agricultural and Biological Engineering in Europe (ERABEE-TN) was established ERABEE-TN Ø ERABEE-TN is built-upon and further develops the ERABEE-TN outputs of the USAEE-TN by contributing to the inevitable transition from the traditional Agricultural Engineering studies towards a new European dimension in higher education in the broader area of Biosystems Engineering. (*) Bio-based economy; Reduced interest of students for the traditional Agricultural Engineering; International developments Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

Geographical distribution of the consortium Education and Research in Biosystems or Agricultural and Biological Engineering in Europe; a Thematic Network – ERABEE TN ERABBE Thematic Network: composed of 33 partner Universities and 2 students associations from 27 European countries and funded by DG Education and Culture Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

Facing new developments and new Ø challenges In the future, it is anticipated that the bio-based economy through the ERABEE TN work will grow significantly in Europe. Ø The climatic change related problems will affect the development of the bio-based economy Ø Enterprises in the areas of bio-energy and renewable resources and bio-based materials are likely to increase, creating new employment opportunities for Biosystems (or Agricultural and Biological) Engineers. Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

Facing new developments and new challenges through the ERABEE TN work Ø Advancements in science and technology will create new opportunities in areas such as bio-safety, risk assessment, sensor/bio-sensors, electronics and use of information technology, remote sensing, GPS/GIS etc. Ø New emerging opportunities are likely to occur in developing and under-developed countries in areas of environmental quality, infrastructure and rural development (agriculture and bio-energy). Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece

ERABEE TN: Meeting the Needs of the Developing Bio-based Economy Ag. Eng 2008 Crete, Greece, 23 -25 June 2008 Dept. of Natural Resources & Agricultural Engineering, AUA, Greece