34
PILLAR 1
Sustainable management
of water for arid and semi-
arid Med areas
PRIMA OBJECTIVES
2.
To
test
and
stimulate
adoption of context-tailored
water-saving
solutions,
in
particular in agriculture
7. To improve land and water
sustainability in arid and semi-
arid watersheds
8. To elaborate and stimulate
adoption of new policies and
protocols for the governance of
water management systems
MAIN ACTIONS
Research, networking, capacity building,
adoption of innovative sustainable
technologies (in particular low-cost and
low-inputs technologies)….
PILLAR 2
Sustainable farming systems
under Med environmental
constraints
PRIMA OBJECTIVES
1.
To
develop
smart
and
sustainable farming systems to
maintain natural resources and
to
increase
production
efficiency
5. To design and promote the
adoption of novel approaches
to reduce the impact of pests
and pathogens in farming
MAIN ACTIONS
Research, pilot studies, long-term trials,
adoption of innovative sustainable
technologies
PILLAR 3
Mediterranean food value
chain for regional and local
development
PRIMA OBJECTIVES
3.
To
innovate
in
the
Mediterranean
food
products
based on Mediterranean diet
heritage and to enhance the links
between nutrition and health
4.
To
find
context-adapted
solutions to increase food and
water
chain
efficiency,
and
reduce losses and wastes
6. To conceive and implement
innovative,
quality
oriented
models
in
agro-business
as
potential sources of new jobs
and economic growth
MAIN ACTIONS
Research and innovation, stakeholder
engagement, networking,
capacity
building, research to support public
policies, SME partnership
Figure 1. – The 3 Pillars of PRIMA Program
THEMES/TOPICS TO BE
ADDRESSED:
Crop and cropping systems
resistance to drought and
climatic stresses
Optimizing pesticides and
fertilizers use in rainfed and
irrigated agriculture
Use of local biodiversity in
developing new crops and
animal breeds
Integration of natural
regulation inside production
systems , ecological
intensification
Integrated animal and plant
pest and disease management
Social aspects of adoption of
innovation in farming systems
THEMES/TOPICS TO BE
ADDRESSED:
Orienting youths and industry
towards sustainable
competitive business models
Valorising food products from
traditional
Mediterranean diet
Food safety in local food chains,
health risk and hazards
assessment
Organisation and coordination
in the food chains for improving
efficiency and waste
valorisation
Integration of smallholders into
formal supply chains
Health effects of the dietary
shifts and promoting healthy
diet for the Med populations
THEMES/TOPICS TO BE
ADDRESSED:
Understanding groundwater
processes and link with surface
water for catchment/basin
balance
Technical and social aspects of
water saving and water
management in agriculture
Technologies adapted to
smallholders and to local
conditions
Soil, water and vegetation
interactions
Water systems governance
Water reuse and water
desalination for use in
agriculture
35
Each
pillar addresses the major issues and gaps identified by the PRIMA partners:
Table 1. – The 3 Pillars of PRIMA Program
Sustainable management of water
for arid and semi-arid Med areas
Sustainable farming systems under
Med environmental constraints
Mediterranean food value chain for
regional and local development
Inequitable water allocation and
unsustainable water management
Overexploitation of natural
resources and unsustainable ways of
farming
Food and water losses and wastes
On-farm irrigation inefficiencies
Animal and plant diseases
Changes in food demand and their
consequences on food supply chain,
nutrition and health
Soil
erosion and mismanagement of
water cycle at the watershed level
Constrained environmental context
Business food systems unable to
create employment and economic
growth
Activities that will be developed within the PRIMA initiative are strongly inter-dependent and will address
the identified gaps by disentangling complementary aspects, thus ensuring that the three PRIMA thematic
pillars will deliver a meaningful impact.
To achieve its ambitious overall aim, the PRIMA initiative identifies eight operational objectives, that are
clustered within the three PRIMA Pillars on the basis of their pertinence and the respective extent.
Table 2. –PRIMA
Operational objectives and 3 Pillars
PRIMA Operational objectives
Sustainable Smart
management of
water for arid and
semi-arid Med
areas
Sustainable Smart
farming systems
under Med
environmental
constraints
Mediterranean
food value chain
for regional and
local development
1 To develop smart and sustainable farming
systems to maintain natural resources and
to increase production efficiency
**
***
2 To test and stimulate adoption of smart
context-tailored water-saving solutions, in
particular in agriculture
***
**
*
3 To innovate in the Mediterranean food
products based on Mediterranean diet
heritage and to enhance the links between
nutrition and health
*
**
***
4 To find context-adapted solutions to
increase food and water chain efficiency,
and reduce losses and wastes
**
**
***
5 To design and promote the adoption of
novel smart approaches to reduce the
impact of pests and pathogens in farming,
including their consequences on human
health
***
**
6 To conceive and implement innovative,
quality oriented models in agro-business as
potential sources of new jobs and
economic growth
*
**
***
7 To improve land and water sustainability in
arid and semi-arid watersheds
***
**
8 To elaborate and stimulate adoption of
new policies and protocols for the
governance of water management systems
***
**
