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the region experiencing similar conditions to those existing today on the southern shores. Adapting to
climate change is therefore a common necessity for Mediterranean agriculture. Genetic and plant
breeding is key for this topic, but cropping system diversification, and spatial organisation, as well as
diversification of animals and mixed farming are also important for improving resilience to climate
change.
Topic 2.2: Preventing emergence of animal and plant diseases
The Mediterranean Region is a hotspot for biodiversity but it is also a rich and well-known centre of
origin and dispersion for virulent plant and animal pests and diseases. They increase under the
influence of climate change and of the intensification of trade flows inside the Mediterranean. The
recent outbreak of Xylella fastidiosa in olive groves is a clear example of such kind of threat, but
Mediterranean area faces many other similar situations where the invading species rapidly colonize
the entire region. Plant and animal diseases and pests cause significant decreases in yield and quality
of Mediterranean crops, in particular fruit, cereal and vegetables as well as Mediterranean animal
productions, and have strong economic and social consequences. The objective of this call is to gain
scientific knowledge in order to understand and foresee outbreaks and to develop preventive
measures and Integrated Pest Management solutions.
Topic 2.3: Developing farming systems able to generate income, to create employment and to
contribute to a balanced territorial development
Integrated and multidisciplinary research approaches should be developed to enhance the potential
benefits of agriculture in terms of employment and poverty alleviation. The objective is to encourage
the development of labour-intensive agricultural activities and the design of profitable farming
systems for small-scale agriculture, of technologies adapted to diverse farming systems. The growth
of rural employment is critical for fighting rural poverty. Potential synergies among activities of the
various economic sectors in rural areas and rural/urban synergies should be enhanced. Integrated
approaches should be implemented at different levels (farms, region, territories…).
2.1.3 Thematic area 3: agro-food value chain
Topic 3.1 Valorising food products from traditional Mediterranean diet
Mediterranean areas are characterised by traditional diets connected to traditional local products.
However, life-style changes have led to dietary changes and consumption of lower quality food, poor
in essential nutrients, micronutrients and health-promoting bioactive ingredients. Research is needed
to develop new products and processes to increase the quality of Mediterranean foods by combining
improvement of raw material composition with better use of innovative and soft production and
processing technologies. The result will be a better nutritional quality of food products, as well as
stable (micro) nutrient-dense ingredients, bioactive extracts, functional ingredients and new products.
Topic 3.2: Food Safety in local food chains
Food safety is a key issue for the Mediterranean agro-food sector. Lack of efficiency and food safety
problems are recurrent in Mediterranean agro-food value chains, both regarding upstream suppliers
who struggle to assess the quality of raw materials, and downstream suppliers, who struggle to comply
with the increasingly stringent standards of quality, traceability, product homogeneity and supply
regularity required by the sector. Research should focus on the elaboration and adoption of innovative
solutions aimed at improving quality control in supply chains at local and regional levels in order to
ensure food quality and safety throughout the food chain, as well as enhancing links between place of
origin, food processing and food quality and safety.
Topic 3.3 Implications of dietary shifts and sustainable diets for the Med populations and food
industry
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While the traditional Mediterranean lifestyle composed by three main pillars (Mediterranean diet,
physical activity pattern and socio-cultural behaviours) is considered an ideal combination and
particularly healthy, the Mediterranean is paradoxically one of the areas of the world where
overweight and obesity are most prevalent—a clear sign of lifestyle shift in progress in several
modifiable factors: excess consumption of carbohydrates, sugars, saturated fat and salt, lower
consumption of fruits, vegetables and fibres; decreased physical activity; loss of Mediterranean
traditional socio-cultural habits. The emergence of chronic diseases related with lifestyle such as diet
and physical activity (heart disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease and diabetes) is massive in the
Southern and Eastern Mediterranean. The complex Relationship between lifestyle and health in the
Mediterranean context needs to be understood, as well as the diet and physical activity habits, their
heterogeneity and their determinants, and the vulnerability of specific populations should be
addressed (i.e. child obesity). The goal is also to prevent lifestyle-related diseases by raising awareness
among both Mediterranean population and policy-makers.
Table 6. Planned activities and indicative budget distribution of Participating States and to be
Participating States
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