Open Call with SSH aspects in Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area II

Call title:

PRIMA 2025 Call- Section 2 

Deadline:

for proposal submission: 8 July 2025, 17:00 CET

Weblink:

https://prima-med.org/submit-your-project/section-2-multi-topics-2024/ 

Short Call Abstract:

Topic 2.1.1-2025: Enhancing Policy Development through Impact-Driven Water Footprint and Virtual Water Concepts in the Mediterranean Region PRIMA website. 

The objective is to drive policies that promote equitable and efficient water use, reduce environmental degradation, prevent water pollution, and strengthen resilience to climate-related challenges. Given the transboundary nature of many Mediterranean water resources, fostering collaborative policy development is essential for effectively addressing cross-border water issues. Additionally, supporting less water-demanding crops and expanding water recycling and reuse systems in agriculture and industry are critical strategies to alleviate pressure on freshwater resources.

Proposed activities should cover at least one of the following aspects:

• Evaluate national policies and regulations on water management decisions from the perspective of water footprint
• Define the limitations of common water footprint and virtual water concepts and propose methodologies to improve them.
• Analyse virtual water trade to manage the impacts of cross-border product trade on water resources and external chocks. Water scarcity footprint should be assessed for local and imported agricultural products.
• Analyse, through case studies, the green, blue water and grey footprints at river basins with a focus on the main strategic crops and breeds.
• Model and predict future changes and trends in water footprint and virtual water trade, considering their broader impacts.
• Recommend institutional and regulatory reforms guided by impact-driven water footprint and virtual water concepts.
• Establish a Water Footprint Network in Mediterranean countries Encourage Water-Efficient Practices: Promote the use of less water-demanding crops and the implementation of systems for water recycling and reuse in agriculture and industry. These measures are critical for enhancing water conservation efforts, supporting sustainable water management, and improving water efficiency in the region.

Topic 2.2.1-2025: Upscaling Agroecology Practices at the Farm Level in the Mediterranean

Proposed activities should cover all the following aspects:

• Providing a methodology that facilitates the identification of optimal combinations of agroecological practices and strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate change, while also preserving biodiversity and enhancing farm profitability.
• Emphasizing the implementation of scalable and cost-effective methods for measuring and verifying carbon sequestration efforts, empowering farmers to accurately quantify and monetize their contributions to carbon reduction.
• The proposed practices should cover a diverse range of crops and farming systems encompassing both conventional and organic practices.
• Piloting innovative mechanisms to assist farmers in transitioning to agroecological practices.
• Establishing Living Laboratories, including setting up demonstration plots, conducting participatory research with farmers, and hosting training sessions and workshops. These labs will be key to fast-tracking the adoption of agroecology practices, emphasizing microbiological solutions, with the aim of achieving targeted objectives across farms. This includes supporting and increasing plant yields and their resistance to diseases, reducing the use of artificial pesticides and fertilizers, minimizing food waste, and decreasing emissions of greenhouse gases.
• Developing strategies for scaling out and scaling up agroecology practices beyond the project’s geographical area and duration. This involves identifying pathways for scaling, leveraging existing networks and institutions, and creating enabling environments for sustainable agricultural development.

Topic 2.3.1: Towards a Plant-Based Alternative Protein products Transition in the Mediterranean Region

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Proposed strategies should be culturally sensitive, acknowledging the unique culinary heritage of the Mediterranean and addressing obstacles faced by local consumers. This approach will highlight the health and environmental advantages of PBAPs while respecting traditional dietary practices, fostering an inclusive transition towards sustainable, plant-based eating.

Proposed activities should cover all the following aspects:

• Innovate technologies, formulation methods, and processing techniques to increase the acceptability, affordability, availability, and sustainability of plant-based protein alternative products (PBAPs) in Mediterranean diets. Focus on optimizing food composition and refining processing methods to enhance product quality, appeal, and shelf life.
• Conduct studies on allergens and food intolerances associated with plant-based protein sources, focusing on the Mediterranean region. This includes identifying potential allergens and assessing their impact on consumer health and safety to ensure PBAPs are safe and accessible.
• Assess the nutritional value, digestibility, and sensory quality of plant-based protein alternatives, with a particular focus on vulnerable population groups, including young people, pregnant individuals, and older adults. This may involve conducting sensory panels, nutritional analyses, and digestion studies to ensure these alternative proteins meet the specific nutritional and dietary needs of these groups, providing a thorough evaluation of
  overall quality and suitability.
• Investigate the influence of media, including social media, and education in shaping consumer behaviour and dietary choices, particularly regarding PBAP adoption
  Enhance efforts to educate and inform consumers about sustainable food choices through initiatives such as clear labeling (targeted to improve clarity for consumers), educational campaigns, and community outreach programs. These activities aim to increase understanding and awareness of sustainable dietary options, empowering individuals to make informed food choices that support both health and environmental goals.

SSH aspects:

Sociology, Economics, Political Sciences, Media and Communication Studies, Anthropology, Education Sciences

Specific participation requirements:

Please refer to section PRIMA Work Programme 2025 General Annexes B Eligibility for the list of countries eligible for funding. Due to the specific challenge of this topic, in addition to the minimum number of participants set out in the standard eligibility conditions consortia must include at least an additional legal entity established in a Mediterranean Partner Country (MPC) as defined in section, Eligibility. 

In addition to the standard admissibility and eligibility conditions (please refer to section Section 2, A Admissibility and B Eligibility sections of the document available here), the following additional eligibility condition applies: each applicant must check its own eligibility for participation/funding in accordance with their national funding agencies.

More information here. 

Countries

Algeria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Tunisia, Türkiye  

More information here.