Secondly, Dr. Marinka Vovk, CEO of the Center for Reuse and an associated project partner of PolarecCE, gave an engaging presentation about silkworms, their lifecycle, the process of silk production, and the fundamentals of sericulture. She explained how silkworms live and produce silk, offering participants valuable insight into this traditional yet innovative practice. Furthermore, she highlighted the potential of sericulture to transform degraded land into productive and sustainable areas of opportunity. Special emphasis was placed on the social impact of this activity, as sericulture can create meaningful employment opportunities, particularly for people with special needs and other vulnerable groups.
After that, Marin Zver from CPU presented examples of how sericulture is practiced abroad, especially in Greece, where mulberry fields cover tens of hectares and large-scale factories are dedicated to silk production. He explained that although the primary focus of sericulture was traditionally textile production, the industry is now increasingly expanding into other sectors, particularly animal feed and medicine. His presentation highlighted the growing economic and environmental potential of sericulture and its ability to support innovative and sustainable forms of production.
Brochures presenting the project were also prepared in both Slovenian and English.