4CE-MED project will achieve its ultimate objective through the following specific objectives:
OBJECTIVES 4CE-MED PROJECT
01.
Identify
Identifying the socio-economic barriers and local conditions to stimulate the diffusion of CA in the Mediterranean region by adopting a participatory approach based on local multi-stakeholder platforms (WP1).
02.
Define
Defining, optimizing and testing under real operational conditions locally tailor-made 4CE-MED solutions adopting camelina as a cash cover crop, assuring short term economic profit to Mediterranean farmers (WP2).
03.
Demonstrate
Demonstrating to local stakeholders (farmers, researchers, students, practitioners) the feasibility of the proposed tailor-made 4CE-MED solutions and training them on their use to build new skills (WP3).
04.
Assess
Assessing environmental, social and economic impacts of the current systems and of the proposed new 4CE-MED systems by adopting a robust, consistent and science-based analytical framework (WP4).
05.
Disseminate
Disseminating and transferring 4CE-MED results to farmers, practitioners, and end-users (industry) by developing a collaborative network of stakeholders, who will adopt, modify and further improve the 4CE-MED solutions, providing also best practices to exploit the project results in other Countries capitalizing on a highly experienced and competent team of 11 partners located in 7 PRIMA Countries (WP5).
WORK PACKAGES
To ensure the achievement of its main and specific objectives 4CE-MED has been organized in 6 work packages (WPs)
LOCAL MULTI-STAKEHOLDER PLATFORMS
Adopting a strong participatory approach, local multi-stakeholder consultation platforms will be organized in each participating country at the beginning of the project, including farmers, practitioners, other stakeholders and long term CA adopters, with the aim to uncover the local agro-socio- economic barriers preventing the widespread of CA.
AGRONOMIC TRIALS ON TAILOR-MADE 4CE-MED SYSTEMS
Fielding trials on local tailor-made systems will be set under different environmental conditions in 7 different countries (4 EU: France, Greece, Italy, Spain + 3 non- EU: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia). All trials will serve to collect data on the environmental benefits related to the adoption of the 4CE-MED systems in terms of soil water availability, soil erosion, agronomic inputs in relation to traditionally managed trials grown side by side at each location.
DEMONSTRATION & CAPACITY BUILDING
Large demo-field trials will be established in each country to demonstrate the feasibility and advantages of the co-designed local tailor-made 4CE-MED systems in comparison to traditional local conventional systems. Local platform participants will be trained to acquire the knowledge for managing and implementing innovative cropping systems and the use of cash cover crops, such as camelina, as an essential feature to increase the future sustainability of Mediterranean farming systems. Training courses will be also organized for students and advisors in order to increase the awareness on the positive impact of CA in Mediterranean dry-farming systems.
INTEGRATED SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT
Assessing the sustainability of the local tailor-made 4CE-MED systems by comparing them with current scenarios. It will develop a science-based analytical framework. WP4 will also assess environmental impacts and environmental associated services, as well as economic and social impacts in the adoption of CA systems integrating the use of camelina as a cash cover crop.
DISSEMINATION & RESULT EXPLOITATION
Project results from the previous WPs will be transferred and disseminated engaging local stakeholders through communication activities. WP5 will convey the project outputs to stakeholders and support their uptake by end-users for bringing about the expected impacts and liaise and cluster with other relevant EU projects to maximize 4CE-MED impact and optimal use of resources.
COORDINATION & MANAGEMENT
All partners will ensure the implementation of the project according to the work plan and the consortium agreement.WP6 will undertake the scientific coordination, financial control, quality monitoring, and risk analysis. WP6 will set up financial statements and consolidate scientific reports and will ensure administrative management, conforming to the PRIMA rules