Deadline: 22-Mar-23
The Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) is now accepting applications for the 2023 Farming systems to focus on the topic “Actions to restore and return degraded lands in the Mediterranean region into productive agroecosystems.”
Scope
- The call supports the deployment of measures and practices adapted to biophysical and socio-economic conditions in the Mediterranean region to restore degraded natural resources and their ecosystem functions.
- Proposals should scale up existing local knowledge and/or propose practices already tested at a research scale in the Mediterranean region to restore soil health on degraded lands capitalising on agroecological practices. The use of species, varieties and breeds, previously or de novo generated by classic and novel breeding techniques and better adapted to local climatic conditions with minimal watering/inputs and generating incomes and food for the local holders are strongly encouraged.
- Proposals should be built on demonstration sites located in different Mediterranean Partner Countries23 (land degradation hot spots) and follow a participatory method that ensures the involvement of key stakeholders.
- Proposals should assess the costs and benefits of agricultural practices to restore drylands already affected by desertification by building up business models to enhance investments and create new market opportunities and social wealth.
- Since an engagement at a large geographical scale and coordinated actions are needed to combat desertification in the long term, this action should prepare the ground for developing soil restoration Mediterranean lighthouses24 that allow efficient exchanges of expertise and best soil and land management practices to be adopted in regions already affected by desertification. The project’s proponents should use solutions against desertification from projects funded by previous PRIMA and Horizon 2020/Horizon Europe calls by developing a close partnership during the implementation of respective projects. A multi-actor approach, including all the relevant stakeholders (public and private actors), is strongly encouraged to ensure the system’s sustainability even after the project’s end.
Funding Information
Total Amount: EUR 8.2 million
Expected Impacts
- Restored desertified landscapes: improve the functionality of ecosystems and landscapes to continue providing ecosystem goods and services, and offer proven and cost-effective solutions for land restoration
- Increased biodiversity, soil health, and food production
- Decreased land degradation. Increased /stabilized the surface of lands suitable for cultivation and other related ecosystem services.
- Contribute to improving employment, especially for women and youth
Key Performance Indicators
- Hectares of desertified areas restored
- Number of innovative solutions applied for land restoration
- Number of business models deployed?
- Number of stakeholders engaged
Eligible Countries
- 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 some of these Member States:
- The following Third Countries associated to Horizon 2020 (AC): Israel, Tunisia, and Turkey.
- The following Third Countries not associated with 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.
For more information, visit PRIMA.