GREEN TECHNOLOGIES FOR HANDLING MICROPLASTICS. EUROPEAN PROJECT GREENLAND «GREEN COUNTRY»

The Sustainable Development Goals and the Green Deal presuppose a comprehensive cross-sectoral solution to environmental problems. Addressing global challenges requires innovative approaches and investment in interinstitutional developments at the global level. The scientific team of EDUCONS University, Serbia in co-operation with scientific teams of intensive EU research institutes with extensive experience in this field - the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany and the University of Galway in Ireland - has developed a development strategy that will put Serbia at the forefront of research and development in Europe through the HORIZON-CSA TWINNING MICROPLASTIC FREE ENVIRONMENT project 101079267, GREENLand. The project will run for 36 months and is backed by extensive European funding. Despite the serious efforts made at European level to synthesise studies and results, in order to best manage global processes, it is necessary to distinguish the specificities of different countries and regions of Europe in approaches to prevention, detection and clean-up technologies for microplastic pollution. Despite the serious efforts made at European level to synthesise research and results, in order to best manage global processes, it is necessary to distinguish the specificities of the different countries and regions of Europe in approaches to prevention, detection and clean-up technologies for microplastic pollution. This project aims to change the system and make a major contribution to a plastic-free planet by developing prevention measures, innovations and a remediation plan. By engaging the academic, scientific and broader social communities to increase knowledge and use of technologies to prevent, detect and clean up microplastics, the realisation of the project's aims and objectives contributes to food safety and environmental safety. However, this is not the only benefit: the project activities will support and develop researchers in the region united by the desire to protect the environment. The GREENLand project will benefit the citizens of the EU and beyond, as the basic aim of the project is to create friendly technologies to achieve a clean environment and microplastic-free food for the future. The project is structured around five work packages, each of which will produce intermediate results that will be incorporated into a system of indicators of successful project implementation. The objectives of the first package are:1) development of a microplastic resistance index with protocol and analysis that will serve as a relevant indicator of understanding of this complex environmental problem, its sources, fate and transfer in the selected pilot areas; harmonisation of Serbian legislation with European Union (EU) legislation to ensure the PDP (personal development plan) strategy for a microplastic-free environment; development of a database and maps of pilot areas (hotspots ) The objectives of the second package are: 1) development of a cloud-based e-learning system; 2) development of a document management system; 3) development of an interuniversity repository. The objectives of the third package are: 1) development of a human resource management strategy ; 2) personnel exchange and training; 3) establishment of a project incubation and technology transfer centre. The objectives of the fourth package include: 1) dissemination and utilisation of project results; 2) development of a communication and information dissemination strategy for the project; 3) exchange of know-how, technologies and skills. Objectives of the fifth package:1) implementation of project management within the consortium; 2) monitoring and evaluation of progress and timely completion of all project phases and results; 3) coordination of preparation and submission of all periodic and final reports to the European Commission (EC). The scientific research, which is carried out both on the basis of EDUCONS University, which has a unique laboratory complex and highly qualified staff, and with the help of the results provided by the European universities - partners of the Project Consortium, has a serious methodology, which includes scientific methods of system analysis, data collection, processing and interpretation, a set of laboratory studies, validation of working models and implementation of practical results. The forecast evaluation of the final results of the project includes the implementation of the proposed microplastic sustainability index into the European regulatory framework for waste management, including microplastics, and will also contribute to the wider practical implementation of innovative technologies for microplastics management in Europe.