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From wine waste to nutritious additive, biotechnical methods for healthy honey and protection on the phenomenon of shieling are this year’s national green idea winners
On June the 2nd, the Organization for Social Innovations “ARNO” announced the winners of the “Green Ideas” competition which was held this year in online format. The jury selected the ideas: “Wise Additive” of WISE Group DOOEL – Skopje, “Friends of the Bees” of the Association core group of beekeepers from the Bregalnica region “Meden Istok (Honey East)” which will compete for support of 10.000 dollars, and “Protection of the phenomenon of shielingin and promotion of the traditional “Maleshvo specialities” by Dushica Krsteska from Berovo, who will compete for support of 5.000 dollars at the regional competition.
For the national winners “ARNO” this year as well, secured support from the partners: vouchers for consulting services from the Association for Management and Consulting “MKA 2000”, for the holder of the first place “Wise additive” coverage of participation fee international pitching opportunity provided by the Fund for innovation and technological development, and for the first time, this year ARNO provided to the winners 2 cash awards of 2000 usd for the first two green ideals and 1500 usd for the winner in the category of green concept. The surprise for this year’s winners also came in another form-our partner – the Economic Chamber of North-West Macedonia- provided two years’ free membership in the chamber.
This year, in total 15 green concepts and ideals competed in the Macedonian finals, and aside from the winning ideas the following ideas entered the finals: re-use of eggshells in human diary Hydroponic system, production of validation service for electronic tickets, Solar dryers for organic fruit drying, Blink Delivery, Rural pasta, Bank of Trees, Bee Varroa Killer, Eco Massage Studio, Smart Green Eco trap, Production of indigenous wine varieties with application of in-vitro technology and GREEN VIVO.
The jury which evaluated the applications was composed of experts in different areas and institutions: Maja Kooistra-European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Driljon Iseni from The Economic Chamber of North-West Macedonia, Vlatko Aleksovski – (UNDP), Robertina Brajanoska from the Macedonian Ecological Society (MED), Gabriela Micevska-, Vlatko Danilov from the Association for Management and Consulting MKA 2000 and Branislav Markovski from the Fund for Innovation and Technological Development (FITD).
“I am especially honored to be participating in the jury for the competition for the second year in a row, all the ideas are wonderful and I would say that they are all our champions, for a simple reason, today when everyone thinks about how the coronavirus will do harm on the economy and to the everyday life, these idea holders think forward, how we can proceed further. All green ideas are winners, and the competition is a platform that we as a Chamber cordially support “- Driljon Iseni from the Economic Chamber of North-West Macedonia.
“For a long time I was looking for a way how to support my idea, which is centered on production of grape pomace, more specifically a waste that is created during the production of wine, and which, although is very healthy, full of antioxidants, fiber and vitamins, remains unused. My company has developed a model of circular economy and we decided to process this waste and through an innovative technological process to make a multifunctional additive, which will act as an antioxidant, natural dye, and fiber that will be used in products in the food industry. I believe that all those who think of using this pricniplse of re-use contribute a lot to our planet and make the world greener. “- Sofija Daceva from “Wise Group”, winner in the category of green ideas.
“We are a core group of beekeepers from the Bregalnica region, we work on ensuring sustainable way in the production of bee services. This means that in our production we avoid all chemicals that can affect the quality of bee products. Our idea is to expand this way of bee production in the entire Bregalnica region and beyond, on the territory of the entire country. “- Vanco Kirovski from” Honey East “, winner in the category of green ideas.
“It is a great honor and pleasure for me to have my green idea chosen from so many ideas, and it is an even greater pleasure to be able to present it at a Balkan competition. I would like everyone to know about the phenomenon of shieling, because in recent years in our country, shieling is in stagnation and even threaten for extinction. With the reduction of the livestock, the huts became just abandoned houses, which are falling apart more and more with each passing day. Our goal is to promote the shieling and offer the shieling hut services to all wecomed guests that want to relax and use it for accommodation” – Dushica Krsteska, winner in the category of green concepts.
