Si segnalano due bandi che richiedono il contributo delle scienze sociali, messo a disposizione dall’ iniziativa PRIMA.
Di seguito un estratto dei bandi con un focus su scienze sociali e umanistiche.

Titolo del bando: PRIMA 2025 Call- Section 1
Thematic Area 1: Water management in Nexus
Topic 1.1.1-2025 Upscaling Nature Based Solutions for sustainable water management to address extreme events in the Mediterranean
The successful proposals should cover at least one of the following aspects:
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• Test, validate, assess cost-effectiveness and benefits, and scale up NBS in diverse Mediterranean contexts (i.e., urban and rural scenarios), to mitigate droughts, floods, water pollution, heat waves, storms, while improving ecosystem biodiversity and resilience, recharge aquifer and preventing soil salinisation and erosion.

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• Formulate new business models, governance approaches, and recommendations tailored for the Mediterranean region to promote widespread NBS adoption and their integration into existing policies, environmental and land use regulations.

Thematic Area 2: Farming systems in Nexus
Topic 1.2.1-2025: Enhancement of Sustainable Farming Systems within Mediterranean Wetlands for Conservation and Coexistence
The call emphasizes the development and implementation of sustainable agriculture practices that include robust drought management strategies tailored to the Mediterranean region. These strategies are crucial for preserving wetlands’ functions in delivering ecosystem services, managing floods, and mitigating the impacts of drought. The overarching goal is to enhance environmental resilience and socio-economic development in the region by safeguarding the essential roles of wetlands.
Proposed activities should cover at least one of the following aspects:
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• Exploring the integration of existing local knowledge and practices: embracing a holistic Water- Food-Ecosystems Nexus perspective is essential to comprehensively address the interdependencies between wetlands and the water, food, and ecosystems sectors. This entails integrating multidisciplinary approaches that consider the complex linkages between wetland ecosystems and the provision of water resources, ecosystem services, and ensuring food production. Including new or existing insights from other regions facing similar challenges in wetland restoration is also recommended to enhance understanding and applicability. These solutions will integrate sustainable agriculture practices, habitat restoration efforts, improved water management techniques, and effective drought management strategies tailored to diverse representative wetlands in the area. The implemented solutions should be assessed through appropriate methodologies and indicators and be translated into policies for integration of these approaches into existing environmental and land use regulations.
• Evaluate the socio-economic costs and benefits of investing in wetland conservation, sustainable agriculture practices, and the role of wetlands in enhancing drought resilience and improving local community livelihoods. Insights into these costs and benefits at the farming practice level are essential for encouraging adoption by farmers.

Thematic Area 3: Agri-food value chain in Nexus
Topic 1.3.1–2025 Transforming Mediterranean Food Systems: Empowering Consumers for Sustainable Diets
This topic aims to accelerate the adoption of innovations from PRIMA, Horizon 2020, and Horizon Europe projects to promote the Mediterranean diet, celebrated for its focus on plant-based, fresh, seasonal, and locally sourced foods.
Proposed activities should cover the following aspects:
• encourage the development and adoption of sustainable, healthy, and preferably organic food
• products that align with dietary guidelines, taking into account consumer preferences and nutritional needs, to reinforce adherence to the Mediterranean diet.
• Implement hands-on training using virtual reality and gamification to educate different demographic groups on the benefits of the Mediterranean diet.
• Promote co-creation of adaptable frameworks that support the Mediterranean diet and sustainable food systems. Tailor policy recommendations to reflect dietary habits and preferences across different demographic segments, ensuring relevance and feasibility.
• Embed Mediterranean diet principles into public food procurement through pilot programs that support local economies, environmental sustainability, and nutritional quality. Customize these programs for various age groups, gather feedback, and scale effective practices to inform adaptable policy development

Maggiori informazioni qui. 

Titolo del bando: PRIMA 2025 Call- Section 2
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.
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:
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• 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.

• Establishing Living Laboratories, including setting up demonstration plots, conducting participatory research with farmers, and hosting training sessions and workshops.

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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.
Proposed activities should cover all the following aspects:

• 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.

Maggio informazioni qui.

L’articolo Nuove opportunità di finanziamento per le Scienze Sociali e Umane proviene da Horizon Europe.