PRIMA inviting Proposals for 2021 Farming Systems

Deadline: 13-Apr-21

The Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) is inviting Proposals for the 2021 Farming Systems to increase the environmental and socio-economic performance of small scale farming systems through improvements in organisational aspects and new value chain governance models.

An urgent goal is to increase the profitability of smallholders by tackling technical, organisational and social challenges while at the same time being sustainable. The agro-ecosystem and the social system at stake in this type of farming must be considered together, and a strong focus on the social system is required. Proposals should revisit organisational aspects, i.e. new models of organisation of farmers, enabling them to process transformation at the farm level, new value chain governance including short and circular value chain models are to be developed.

Within each of the main targets, an integrated and participatory approach involving multiple disciplines and actors concerned (farmers, manufacturers, logistic suppliers, etc.). should be stimulated considering the following logic framework:

a detailed diagnosis of the situations;
an ex-ante co-design of innovations;
an implementation of innovations.

Activities must be implemented in living labs or with value-oriented approach Based on Demo, including a cost-benefit assessment of the tested innovations addressing the different dimensions of sustainability.

Funding Information

PRIMA considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU in the range of EUR 2.75 millions and with the duration of 36 months.

Expected Impacts

Enable access to markets, i.e. ensure access of local producers to distribution channels and markets, providing the general population with healthy and sustainable products.
Increase the income of the farmers, also including other possible agricultural-linked income sources and ensure transparency and fair pricing structure along the value chain.
Promote access to work of young farmers and women.
Improve sustainable food production systems with efficient use of natural resources and with eco-friendly processes with low GHG emission.
Reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses and potentially valorising the waste left.

Eligibility Criteria

Legal entities established in the following countries and territories are eligible to receive funding through PRIMA grants:
- The PRIMA Participating States: The following Member States (MS) of the European Union (EU): Croatia, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Slovenia. It includes the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) linked to these Member States.
- The following Third Countries associated to Horizon 2020 (AC): Israel, Tunisia, and Turkey.
- The following Third Countries not associated to Horizon 2020 (TC), having concluded international agreements for scientific and technological cooperation setting out the terms and conditions of their participation in PRIMA: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco.
In addition, the following entities are eligible to receive funding through PRIMA grants:
- Any legal entity created under Union law
- Any international European interest organization
- Any international organisation (IO) OR any legal entity established in countries not listed above as PS will be eligible for funding provided that at least one of the following conditions is fulfilled:
  - participation is deemed to be essential for carrying out the action;
  - such funding is provided under a bilateral scientific and technological agreement or any other arrangement between the Union and the international organisation or, for entities established in a country which is not a Participating State, the country in which the legal entity is established.