The Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) funds 48 projects addressing sustainability challenges
Barcelona, 22 January 2020: The Mediterranean region faces a multitude of sustainability challenges and extreme weather conditions are expected to increase vulnerabilities in the coming years. PRIMA initiative addresses the impact of climate change by funding research and innovation projects, which develop solutions for a more sustainable Mediterranean region, strengthening North and South balanced Euro-Mediterranean cooperation. After launching Calls for Proposals in December 2018, forty-eight projects out of more than 433were selected; the total funding for these projects in 17 PRIMA Participant States is over 53 million Euro. This amount will be increased to 70 million Euro in the 2020 Call for Proposals to be launched in February 2020 in Barcelona.
PRIMA’s goal is to integrate research and policies in the field of food systems and water resources across the Mediterranean region using biodiversity-based farming systems, using genotypes that reduce the drought stress, enhancing water and soil conservation in Mediterranean dry-farming systems, among other innovative solutions that contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in compliance with UN 2030 Agenda.
I am proud of the results and achievements obtained in 2019 for more sustainable agrifood and water systems. The complexities of the Mediterranean region and the attention of the European Commission towards climate change and its impact in the Mediterranean that are at the core of the PRIMA Research and Innovation activities confirm the strategic importance of our Initiative.
Angelo Riccaboni PRIMA Chair
Since 2017, PRIMA has been creating synergy between a wide range of actors including national research centers, public entities and Small & Medium Enterprises from both shores of the Mediterranean to jointly achieve tangible results for the sustainable development of all concerned. Until date, the organization has established a multidisciplinary cooperation framework with over 700 partner institutions in more than 19 Mediterranean countries.
The projects selected are seeking to create more inclusive, healthy and prosperous Mediterranean societies enhancing innovation and competitiveness of business actors, creating employment and generating sustainable growth while maintaining and restoring ecosystem services under current and future climate change.
We are confident that, through Research and Innovation activities and continuously making reference to the principle of equal footing among participating Countries, PRIMA will continue to offer its contribution for more sustainable, inclusive, prosperous and resilient MED societies. Such ambitious objective will not be reached without the collaboration and support of all the actors involved.
Mohamed El Shinawi, PRIMA Co-Chair
In 2019 PRIMA substantially increased its funding, thus presenting an enormous opportunity for the 19 countries committed to this initiative. By funding these R&D programs, PRIMA is building capacity and developing knowledge and common innovative solutions for integrated and sustainable management of water for arid and semi-arid Mediterranean areas; sustainable farming systems under Mediterranean environmental constraints; and sustainable Mediterranean agro-food value chain for regional and local development.
If you are interested in finding out more, join the info day for the launch of the Calls 2020 on 3 February 2020 at the Headquarters of the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean in Barcelona.
For more information contact:
Antonella Autino, Project Coordinator: Antonella.autino@prima-med.org, www.prima-med.org