Section 1 – Water management in the Nexus 2024 – Topic 1.1.1-2024 (IA) – Sustainability of Mediterranean irrigated agriculture through the implementation of WEFE Nexus approach
Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
PRIMA – Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area is the most ambitious joint programme to be undertaken in the frame of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation.
The overall objective of the PRIMA programme is to build research and innovation capacities and to develop knowledge and common innovative solutions for agro-food systems, to make them sustainable, and for integrated water provision and management in the Mediterranean area, to make those systems and that provision and management more climate resilient, efficient, cost-effective and environmentally and socially sustainable, and to contribute to solving water scarcity, food security, nutrition, health, well-being and migration problems upstream.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
This call is designed to promote the creation of innovative solutions rooted in the Nexus approach, with a cross-sectoral perspective that enhances the sustainability of irrigated regions within the Mediterranean area. Moreover, projects should focus on mitigating current challenges that obstruct the effective implementation of the WEFE Nexus approach when adopting novel irrigation technologies.
Detailed Call Description
These challenges may include gaps in data availability, systemic disconnect between institutions, and uneven power distributions across sectors. Through a multi-actor approach, the proposals should be demonstrated at large sites in irrigated areas that are experiencing recurrent or permanent water scarcity conditions and anticipate solutions for current and future challenges. Proposals will support strategies for advancing the WEFE Nexus approach in practice, linking food systems with farming, ecosystem services and healthy diets.
Proposals should assemble innovative technologies and/or strategies developed at sectoral level and test them in a combined way at the demonstration sites to improve the efficiency and sustainability of water, energy, and food use in irrigated agriculture, taking also into consideration water and groundwater quality (i.e., the ecosystem component of the nexus).
Proposals should provide a detailed analysis of the expected impact of these solutions through appropriate indicators. The impact assessment should consider various aspects, such as improved crop yields, reduced water use, energy savings, and enhanced ecosystem service benefits, including water quality. In addition, the impact assessment should consider the potential benefits of these innovative solutions on soil health, including soil structure, fertility, and overall sustainability. It is also important to assess the potential trade-offs and synergies associated with the implementation of these innovative solutions.
Proposals should consider the development of business models and/or policy mixes that support the adoption and scaling up of innovative solutions.
The successful consortia are strongly encouraged to participate in the Mediterranean WEFE Nexus Community of Practice established as an outcome of the WEFE Science Advances Conference to stimulate cross-organization collaboration and knowledge sharing in the Mediterranean region.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
The funding rate is 70%, except for non-profit legal entities in which case the funding rate is 100%.
PRIMA considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU in the range of €4.600.000, would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.
Thematic Categories
- Agriculture - Food
- Energy
- Environment and Climate Change
- Rural development
- Water - Management of Water Resources
Eligibility for Participation
- Central Government
- Farmers Unions
- Farmers, Agriculturalists
- International Organisations
- Legal Entities
- NGOs
- Non Profit Organisations
- Other Beneficiaries
- Private Bodies
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
- Semi-governmental organisations
- State-owned Enterprises
Eligibility For Participation Notes
Legal entities established in the following countries and territories will be eligible to receive funding through PRIMA grants (Participating States): Algeria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Slovenia, Tunisia and Turkey.
In addition, the following entities can also receive funding through PRIMA grants:
- any legal entity created under the European Union law;
- an international European interest organisation, as defined in point (12) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013;
- any international organisation OR any legal entity established in countries not listed above, provided that at least one of the following conditions is fulfilled:
- participation is deemed to be essential for carrying out the action (access to unique know-how, access to research infrastructures, access to geographical environments, involving key partners in emerging markets, access to data, etc.);
- 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 that is not a Participating State, the country in which the legal entity is established.
Participants from countries not listed above can participate, but they must fund their participation.
Consortium composition:
At least 4 legal entities established in at least 3 different countries considered as Participating States. Each of the three must be established in a different country considered to be PRIMA Participating State by submission deadline under the relevant call, out of which:
- at least 1 must be established in an EU Member State or a third country associated to Horizon 2020 and not being a Mediterranean Partner Country (MPC); and
- at least 2 must be established in a third country bordering the Mediterranean Sea (MPC).
All legal entities must be independent of each other.
MPC countries: Algeria, Jordan, Israel, Tunisia, Morocco, Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey.
Moreover, proposals should implement a ‘multi-actor approach’, ensuring adequate participation of the main stakeholders (i.e., research institutions and agricultural extension services, communities of irrigators, environmental policymakers, water management agencies, farmers, and agricultural producers) involved in irrigated agriculture, and making explicit their respective roles and the distribution of costs and benefits.
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
National Contact Point(s)
Research and Innovation Foundation
Competent RIF Officer:
Savvia Alexandraki
Email: salexandraki@research.org.cy
Τelephone: +357 22205070
EU Contact Point
Water Management in the nexus:
Marco Orlando
Email: marco.orlando@prima-med.org