AgrEcoMed

New agroecological approach for soil fertility and biodiversity restoration to improve economic and social resilience of Mediterranean farming systems

CUP: H93C21000130005

Programma di finanziamento: PRIMA Section2– Multi-topic 2021 (Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area) Call 2021

Ente finanziatore: MUR

Periodo: 30/06/2022 - 30/06/2025

Finanziamento totale: € 180.000,00

Partner:

Università degli Studi della Basilicata (Italy)
Università degli studi di Bari Aldo Moro (Italy)
Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia agraria (Italy)
Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax (Tunisia)
Sultan Moulay Slimane University (Morocco)
École Nationale d’Agriculture de Meknès (Morocco)
Universidad de Córdoba (Spain)
Universitat Politècnica de València (Spain)

Descrizione

The AgrEcoMed project aims to fill the research gaps for implementing a biodiversity-based strategy for primary crops as cereal farming systems through an agroecological approach adapted to Mediterranean countries. Agroecology is a promising approach to foster the sustainable use of natural resources and the transition towards circular economy in the scenario of climate changes.
The specific objectives are to up-scale agroecological practices to increase ecosystem services and biodiversity and to foster the adoption of viable agroecological business models adapted to climate change scenario.
The project’s research activities are the following:
Testing sustainable agricultural practices and restoration of soil fertility;
Increase and valorization of the natural biodiversity of ancient grains and reintroduction of local wheat or old varieties, better adapted to climate change in Mediterranean conditions;
Farming and screening of alternative species (medicinal plants);
Management of crop residues and processing and valorization of farming crop residues;
Valorization of crop residues and by-products of the agricultural chain through bioconversion by the Diptera Hermetia illucens;
Assessing the economic viability of the agroecological transition of farming systems;
Life cycle assessment (LCA) of agroecological farming systems compared to the conventional one;
Fostering women empowerment and youth employment.

The expected impacts concern the environmental, social and economic benefits for farmers and local communities, and the improvement of resilience to climate changes in the Mediterranean regions. The project will support the adoption of agroecological innovation; the sustainable use of natural resources; the adoption by farmers of innovative business models; the generation of new skills that can constitute, especially for young people and women, an employment and permanence opportunity in the most disadvantaged regional internal areas.

Additional information: https://agrecomed.crea.gov.it/