Challenge(s)
Optimising food production and logistics chains in port cities.
Recommendation(s)
Establish maritime clusters to maximise city/port competitiveness
The creation of maritime clusters requires the various fields of activity present at the proposed redevelopment site to be identified, along with public and private stakeholders. This process will aim to define the shared economic and social interests of all stakeholders, who will then strive to combine their efforts in the areas of research and development, communication, international prospecting, etc. To this end, they may rely on a specific organisation (informal working group, users' association, stakeholder group, etc.). By working together as part of a collective win-win approach, institutions, local communities, ports and businesses can attract new partners to the site.
Good practice
In 2018 the port of Bahia Blanca presented their vision to create a food cluster, building on the exiting agro-food sector, in cooperation with Bolsa de Cereales (Grain Exchange of Bahía Blanca). One year later, the Cluster was launched based under the jurisdiction of the port authority to foster a competitive edge linking food production, research and logistics. The main goal is to gather companies creating synergies to increase the added value of these products in the local context while incrementing the exports. The central action vectors will be to improve the quality, value and reach of regional and national products, to implement innovative technologies (industry 4.0) linked to new business models, improve supply chains and generate new connections between the sector and research centers and universities, supporting new start-ups. These actions should result into business incubators with new funding systems, or human capital development linked to educational programs.
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