The M.D.E.S. project aims to promote sustainable economic development in the Mediterranean region based on the Mediterranean diet. It plans to build on the results of previous related projects to (1) promote traditional Mediterranean food products, herbs, and spices; (2) preserve culinary heritage; (3) support small businesses in the food sector; and (4) increase awareness of the health and cultural benefits of the Mediterranean diet. The project's objectives are to inspire smart and inclusive growth through research, innovation, competitiveness, employment, and education related to the Mediterranean diet. Its activities include promoting innovation clusters, cooperation between research and businesses, and social innovations connected to tourism.

1. M.D. E. S.
MEDITERRANEAN DIET ECOSYSTEM –
ECOSUSTAINABLE
OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF THE INTERREG-MED PROGRAMME
The overall objective of the MED programme is to promote sustainable growth in the
Mediterranean area by fostering innovative concepts and practices (technologies,
governance, innovative services…), reasonable use of resources (energy, water, maritime
resources…) and supporting social integration through integrated and territorially based
cooperation approach
M.D.E.S ABSTRACT
M.D.E.S. aim is to capitalize on results of previous projects on the Mediterranean diet, (e.g.
SLOWMED, FOODING, MED EMPORION, MED-DIET-NET and PROHERBS) in order to
exploit opportunities for cultural, social and touristic approaches targeting in economic
development in the Mediterranean area, proposing the implementation of a numerous activities
such as (i) promote traditional food products with healthy and organoleptic properties, (ii) Put
into practice the cultivation, harvesting, and protect for sustainable commercial exploitation of of
natural herbs and spices. (iii) encourage the Mediterranean culinary heritage preservation and
conservation, (iv) promote the recognition of food as a form of cultural and artistic expression,
(v) foster nutrition education based on the Mediterranean culinary heritage, (vi) Improve
capacity of chambers of commerce and business organisations to support SMEs in proposing
foodstuff coherent with an authentic Mediterranean Diet, (vii) improve connections between
SMEs producing traditional food products and tourism, (viii) Exploit the market potential of
identified range of natural herbs and spices, (ix) Increase capacity of schools and local
authorities to implement initiatives aiming at increasing the awareness about the advantages of
the Mediterranean Diet among children, young people and other groups of consumers, (x) form
of "clusters", which will lead to the formation of an Association that will give SMEs and
organizations a considerable gain in terms of international legibility and visibility, thus giving
them the opportunity for a sustainable commercial development, (xi) make people conscious of
the values of markets, their Mediterranean character, and the benefits of a healthier
nourishment, to improve the knowledge of Mediterranean products and finally Improve capacity
of policy making institutions
M.D.E.S. OBJECTIVES1
Establish The Mediterranean Diet Ecosystem which will:
1. Inspire smart growth through Research, technological development, innovation and
Competitiveness of SMEs in the field of Mediterranean Diet
1
Objectives are based on the “Swot Analysis of the MED Area”, Interreg MED Programme 2014-2020,
pages 23-24

2. 2. Inspire inclusive growth2
in Sectors involved in Mediterranean Diet through Employment
and labour mobility, Skills and education
Smart growth goals are:
➢ increase GDP per capita in the involved partners regions
➢ increase investment in R&D
➢ encourage local scientists and engineers to work on research programs
➢ create actions that would increase the number of patent applications
➢ encourage breakthrough innovation through quadruple helix techniques.
Inclusive growth goal is to progressively decrease in the rate of early school leavers.
M.D.E.S ACTIVITIES3
1. Diffuse new procedures and methodologies for investments in R&D relevant to the
Mediterranean Diet.
2. Promote best practices to improve competitiveness of businesses which are involved in
the Mediterranean Diet.
3. Enhance the connection and cooperation between research, innovation and businesses.
4. Improve connections between regional networks and clusters of the Mediterranean Diet
to generate critical mass in terms of research and innovation in this sector.
5. Improve the capacity of SMEs involved in the Mediterranean Diet to use the results
research and innovation produced by large research and innovation poles.
6. Develop a better focus of interventions on common innovation sectors throughout the
MED area green growth sector.
7. Promote social innovation in connection with tourism as a socioeconomic sector for the
Mediterranean Diet.
8. Augment socioeconomic issues and needs of end users in the conception and
implementation of sustainable development policies for the Mediterranean Diet.
M.D.E.S. RESULTS
1. Reinforce, empower and increase the transnational innovation clusters and networks in
the thematic Mediterranean Food Diet of the MED area.
2. Embrace innovation capacities with cooperation between actors of the quadruple helix.
3. Better cooperation between diverse (and sometimes conflicting) stakeholders in the
fields of the green growth, of creative industries and of social economy.
4. Support Green growth with new materials, biotechnologies and new techniques in
agriculture, agribusiness, agro-tourism, bioagriculture and bio food, products’
transformation, valorisation and commercialisation, etc.
2
Inclusive growth is a concept that advances equitable opportunities for economic participants during
economic growth with benefits incurred by every section of society.This concept expands upon traditional
economic growth models to include focus on the equity of health, human capital, environmental quality,
social protection, and food security.( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inclusive_growth)
3
Activities have reference to needs of the “Summary of the main Challenges and Needs of the Med
Area, Interreg MED Programme 2014-2020, page 25

3. 5. Promote creative industries with actions that are connected to green growth sectors
which can be a case for design activities, multimedia, or cultural activities in relation with
tourism.
6. Stimulate Social innovations in regard to marginal areas concentrating on geographical,
economic, social or demographic difficulties that hamper development possibilities of
green growth.

4. M.D.E.S. ACTIVITIES RESULT MATRIX
Table below is an analysis of M.D.E.S project activities as related to project results, (what
activities will lead to what kind of results)
RESULTS
ACTIVITIES
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 X X X X X
2 X X X X X X
3 X X X
4 X X X X
5 X X X
6 X X X X
7 X X X X
8 X X X X X X

5. M.D.E.S. ACTIVITIES OLD PROJECT MATRIX
Table below is an analysis of M.D.E.S project activities as related to previous projects
PROJECTS
ACTIVITIES
FOODING MED
EMPORION
MED-DIET-
NET
MedDiet PROHERBS SLOWMED
1 X X X
2 X X X X
3 X X X X
4 X X X X
5 X X X X
6 X X X X X X
7 X X
8 X X X
http://www.medemporion.eu/
http://www.foodingproject.org/en/
http://it.med-diet.eu/
http://www.comitech.gr/flipping_book/lefkoma_gr/Default.html
http://slowmed.eu/