Thematic Area 2 Farming systems in Nexus

Description

1) Objective

Aligned with the objectives of the European Green Deal and EU Nature restoration law, and the upcoming European Water Resilience Strategy, the initiative to enhance wetland restoration in the Mediterranean serves as a catalyst for achieving the EU’s climate goals outlined for both 2030 and 2050.It aligns with the Union for the Mediterranean’s Greener Med Agenda 2030, which underscores the pivotal role of wetlands in furnishing vital ecosystem services for the region’s environmental well-being and economic advancement. Wetlands are regions where water influences the environment, fostering a unique ecosystem rich in biodiversity. They include coastal marshes, lagoons, rivers, estuaries that are supporting different varieties of plant and animal life. Successful proposals will contribute to enhance wetland agro-ecosystems sustainably, to expand knowledge on wetland status in the Mediterranean and their restoration potential, and to provide evidence-based policy recommendations for a better integration and coexistence of agriculture and wetlands.

Project results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes:

• Increased resilience of Mediterranean wetland agroecosystems by safeguarding ecosystem services provisions especially for flood and drought control, while producing food (or feeds) and contributing to the socio-economic development of the region
• Comprehensive Assessment and Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and carbon sequestration, unique to Mediterranean wetlands, thereby contributing to climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts.
• Promote innovative, Mediterranean-specific practices that support agrobiodiversity within wetland agroecosystems.
• Examples include integrating traditional crop varieties like salt-tolerant barley, durum wheat, and native legumes that thrive in wetland-adjacent soils, thereby preserving genetic diversity while adapting to local conditions.

2) Eligibility

Any legal entity created under the European Union law is eligible.

3) Location

The following Member States (MS) of the European Union (EU) are eligible: Croatia, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Slovenia. The following Third Countries associated to Horizon 2020 (AC) are eligible: 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 are eligible: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Morocco.

4) Budget

Total available funding is €10,800,000. Funding rate is 70% (except for non-profit legal entities, where a rate of 100% applies).

5) Application

The application deadline for online submission is 15 July 2025.