ABOUT US

The BENEFIT-Med project was conceived with a focus on improved seed germination, as a starting point to valorize orphan legumes and promote local socio-economic development in North-Africa and Mediterranean area. Enhanced germination capacity defines high-quality seeds as proxy of successful crop yields and a well-structured seed system is required to boost the production and use of orphan crops. The BENEFIT-Med consortium is a multidisciplinary research network that will produce knowledge and technology exchanges among regions of the Mediterranean Basin (8 participating countries, 11 individual partners).

Period of Implementation
Jun 1, 2022 - Nov 30, 2025
Total Budget
EUR 2,099,886.00

Project team

Partners

Donors

OUR IMPACT

Goals

BENEFIT-Med aims at developing an innovative technology for sustainable crop production, relying on highly resilient legume accessions and ‘on-farm’ seed priming to enhance seed vigor and seedling performance under adverse climatic conditions. Open-field trials will be established to assess the impact of priming on agronomic performance and yield stability of the target accessions whereas the impact of climate change and variability on existing and new farming systems will be quantified. A database will be set up to integrate the available data on orphan legumes with knowledge gathered by BENEFIT-Med. A multi-stakeholder platform will be established to promote the new farming system at multiple levels (participatory model) with focus on specific training/capacity building activities. The socio-economic benefits for the farmers resulting from implementation of BENEFIT-Med model will be evidenced through LCA/LCC analyses, highlighting profitability, resilience and environmental sustainability.

Objectives

BENEFIT-Med will promote the transition to sustainable farming systems working at the level of the seed value chain, to replace local traditional seed systems and, possibly, move to standardized systems.

Problems and Needs Analysis

Currently, there is limited information about orphan legumes characteristics/use/integration into farming systems, and about sustainable treatments to further enhance their climate resilience/productivity. Such critical gaps must be addressed to exploit orphan legumes in intercropping systems that fit the sustainable intensification concept . BENEFIT-Med will overcome this gap of knowledge by establishing a multi-actor and trans-disciplinary research network that will produce and exchange knowledge/technology/new solutions to bring innovations in orphan legumes production. Currently, there are open opportunities for orphan crops within the global market and smallholder farmers are not properly trained to catch such opportunities . The technological advancements brought by BENEFIT-Med will accelerate the transition towards standardized seed production and marketing strategies applied to orphan legumes.

Intervention Strategy(ies)

This is a multidisciplinary project that will integrate expertises in seed physiology/technology, microbiology/genetics, bioinformatics, agronomy, climate science, socio-economics. A multi-stakeholder platform will be established to promote the new farming system at multiple levels (participatory model) with focus on specific training/capacity building activities.

Impact Pathway

Increased food and feed availability by minimizing the risk of crop failure/yield losses due to inappropriate farming models and despite climate worsening. Adoption of environmentally, socio-economically sustainable agroecosystems with proven evidence of increased yield stability/quality in comparison to current farming systems under challenging environments. Increased efficiency of the use of natural resources (water) and soil fertility. Yield stability and quality in comparison to standard farming systems under challenging environmental conditions. Increased income and satisfaction by the farmers. Promotion of the circular bioeconomy approaches to achieve sustainable growth and economic resilience of local populations.

WHERE WE WORK

NEWS & EVENTS