Deadline: 15-Jul-25
Submissions are now open for the PRIMA Program for the enhancement of Sustainable Farming Systems within Mediterranean Wetlands for Conservation and Coexistence.
Scope
- This call aims to enhance wetland agroecosystems sustainability in the Mediterranean by fostering innovative and cost-effective solutions through a holistic Water-Ecosystems-Food-Nexus approach to comprehensively address the interdependencies and interactions between wetlands, agroecosystems, water resources, and ecosystem services. The adoption of sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices is paramount for conserving wetlands and fostering their unique biodiversity.
- Specifically, the call emphasizes the development and implementation of sustainable agriculture practices that include robust drought management strategies tailored to the Mediterranean region.
Funding Information
- Total indicative amount allocated to this call: EUR 10.8 million.
Duration
- PRIMA considers that proposals with a duration of 36 months would allow these outcomes to be addressed appropriately.
Aspects
- Proposed activities should cover at least one of the following aspects:
- Conducting a comprehensive assessment of Mediterranean wetlands, evaluating their current condition, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions profiles, and potential for carbon mitigation. These assessments must consider key gases (CO2, CH4, and NO), as well as the carbon value of services like food production.
- Examine the trade-offs between wetland restoration for climate and biodiversity benefits and the delivery of other services (including food production), along with methods to avoid or mitigate these trade-offs.
- Exploring the integration of existing local knowledge and practices: embracing a holistic Water- Food-Ecosystems Nexus perspective is essential to comprehensively address the interdependencies between wetlands and the water, food, and ecosystems sectors. This entails integrating multidisciplinary approaches that consider the complex linkages between wetland ecosystems and the provision of water resources, ecosystem services, and ensuring food production. Including new or existing insights from other regions facing similar challenges in wetland restoration is also recommended to enhance understanding and applicability. These solutions will integrate sustainable agriculture practices, habitat restoration efforts, improved water management techniques, and effective drought management strategies tailored to diverse representative wetlands in the area. The implemented solutions should be assessed through appropriate methodologies and indicators and be translated into policies for integration of these approaches into existing environmental and land use regulations.
- Evaluate the socio-economic costs and benefits of investing in wetland conservation, sustainable agriculture practices, and the role of wetlands in enhancing drought resilience and improving local community livelihoods. Insights into these costs and benefits at the farming practice level are essential for encouraging adoption by farmers.
Expected Outcomes
- Aligned with the objectives of the European Green Deal and EU Nature restoration law, and the upcoming European Water Resilience Strategy, the initiative to enhance wetland restoration in the Mediterranean serves as a catalyst for achieving the EU’s climate goals outlined for both 2030 and 2050.It aligns with the Union for the Mediterranean’s Greener Med Agenda 2030, which underscores the pivotal role of wetlands in furnishing vital ecosystem services for the region’s environmental well-being and economic advancement. Wetlands are regions where water influences the environment, fostering a unique ecosystem rich in biodiversity. They include coastal marshes, lagoons, rivers, estuaries that are supporting different varieties of plant and animal life. Successful proposals will contribute to enhance wetland agro-ecosystems sustainably, to expand knowledge on wetland status in the Mediterranean and their restoration potential, and to provide evidence-based policy recommendations for a better integration and coexistence of agriculture and wetlands.
- Project results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes:
- Increased resilience of Mediterranean wetland agroecosystems by safeguarding ecosystem services provisions especially for flood and drought control, while producing food (or feeds) and contributing to the socio-economic development of the region
- Comprehensive Assessment and Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and carbon sequestration, unique to Mediterranean wetlands, thereby contributing to climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts.
- Promote innovative, Mediterranean-specific practices that support agrobiodiversity within wetland agroecosystems. Examples include integrating traditional crop varieties like salt-tolerant barley, durum wheat, and native legumes that thrive in wetland-adjacent soils, thereby preserving genetic diversity while adapting to local conditions.
Eligibility Criteria
- Entities eligible to participate:
- Any legal entity, regardless of its place of establishment including legal entities from no associated third countries or international organizations (including international European research organizations) is eligible to participate (whether it is eligible for funding or not) provided that the conditions laid down in the Horizon Europe Regulation and any derogations to these as specified in the amending Decision (EU) 2024/1167 of the European Parliament and Council as regards the continuation of the Union’s participation in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) under Horizon Europe have been met along with any other conditions laid down in the specific call topic.
- The PRIMA Participating States
- The following EU Member States (MS): Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Slovenia, including the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) linked to these Member States.
- The following third countries associated with Horizon Europe (AC): Israel, Tunisia, and Türkiye.
- The following Third Countries not Associated with Horizon Europe (TC): Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Morocco. These countries will continue to be considered PRIMA Participating States only upon the conclusion of an agreement, in the form of an exchange of letter with the Union setting new terms for their continued participation in PRIMA to update the scientific and technological cooperation international agreements.
- These Associated Countries (AC) and Third Countries (TC) mentioned above are the Mediterranean Partner Countries (MPC).
For more information, visit PRIMA.