Environmental and social changes are deeply affecting Euro-Mediterranean agro-food systems and water resources.
Climate change, unsustainable agricultural practices, over-exploitation of natural resources, new lifestyle behaviours (diet, physical activity and socio-cultural) and low profitability of smallholders put a strain on the sustainable and healthy development of the Region, with major impacts on our societies
The increased complexity and multidimensionality of such social, economic and environmental challenges can only be tackled through common efforts and resources with a research and innovation approach.
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.
BY FUNDING R&I THROUGH COMPETITIVE CALLS, PRIMA AIMS 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”.
PRIMA also aims at to contribute to United Nations’ Agenda 2030 through the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
PRIMA consists of European Union Member States, Horizon 2020 Associated Countries and Mediterranean Partner Countries on an equal footing basis (co-ownership, co-management and co-funding) with the Participation of the European Commission, under the framework of an art.185 TFEU.
TO DATE, 19 COUNTRIES COMMITTED TO THE INITIATIVE:
Algeria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey have formally become PRIMA Participating States.
The partnership will be financed through a combination of funding from PRIMA Participating States (currently €274 million), and a €220 million contribution from the EU through Horizon 2020, its research and innovation funding programme (2014 – 2020).
Integrated and sustainable management of water for arid and semi-arid Mediterranean areas
Sustainable farming systems under Mediterranean environmental constraints
Sustainable Mediterranean agro-food value chain for regional and local development.
Inclusive, healthy and prosperous Mediterranean societies through innovative solutions in agro-food and water systems, contributing, by the end of the programme, to sustainable use of natural resources, economic growth and stability
Natural resources within Mediterranean agro-food and water systems managed in an integrated and sustainable way, in line with the objectives set by Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development;
Mediterranean agro-food value chains enhancing development and competitiveness of business actors, creating employment and generating sustainable growth while maintaining and restoring ecosystem services under current and future climate change;
All Mediterranean population having access to healthy, safe and affordable agro-food products.
“To achieve, support and promote integration, alignment and joint implementation of national R&I programmes under a common research and innovation strategy to address the diverse challenges in water scarcity, agriculture, food security.”
The Euro-Mediterranean Conference on Research and Innovation (Barcelona, Spain) marks the inception of the proposal for a Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA).
Italian Minister of Education, Universities and Research Stefania Giannini submits a proposal for the participation of the EU in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area, through an Article 185, to European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation Carlos Moedas.
The European Commission services perform an Impact Assessment of the PRIMA initiative to analyse the need for an EU action in this domain and the potential economic, social and environmental impacts of the alternative policy options.
The 4PRIMA Coordination and Support Action, funded by Horizon 2020, sets the ground for the launch of the initiative, by contributing to the alignment of R&I programmes on food systems and water use in the Euro-Mediterranean Area and through the definition of the PRIMA Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA).
The Valletta Declaration, endorsed during the Ministerial Conference on Strengthening Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation through Research and Innovation (Valletta, Malta) welcomes PRIMA as the most ambitious joint programme to be undertaken in the frame of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation.
On 13 June 2017, the European Parliament adopts the PRIMA Decision and on 26 June 2017, the Council of the EU endorses the initiative. The Decision enters into force on 7 August 2017.
The PRIMA Foundation is officially established, with its Secretariat based in Barcelona.
An ex-ante assessment of the PRIMA Implementation Structure is carried out to provide reasonable assurance to the European Commission as to whether the entity fulfils the necessary requirements to be entrusted with budget implementation tasks.
The first round of PRIMA calls for proposals is launched by the PRIMA Secretariat.
The Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area will devise new R&I approaches to improve water availability and sustainable agriculture production in a region heavily distressed by climate change, urbanisation and population growth
The PRIMA programme is an Art.185 initiative supported and funded under Horizon 2020, the European Union’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.
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