VENUS – ConVErting marginal lands of the Mediterranean basin into productive and sustainable agroecosystems using low water demanding Neglected and Underutilized Species
The Mediterranean region faces significant environmental pressures due to climate change, population growth, intensive agriculture, and desertification. Declining freshwater availability and the loss of productive agricultural land represent some of the main challenges ahead.
The VENUS project aims to demonstrate the environmental and economic potential of neglected and underutilized (NUS) species, which require little water and are suited to arid and saline soils. By promoting the use of these species, the project intends to convert marginal lands into productive areas, improving soil quality and avoiding conflicts over water resources. Another key objective of the project is to raise awareness of the benefits of NUS among farmers, consumers, and markets.
Expected outcomes include the implementation of sustainable management practices for NUS, the assessment of their quality for different markets, and market analysis along with the development of business models for their production. Furthermore, the project aims to evaluate the scalability of NUS production systems and their contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Communication efforts and the involvement of various stakeholders will be crucial to the project's success.
Le azioni di comunicazione e il coinvolgimento di diversi attori saranno fondamentali per il successo del progetto.
VENUS involves 12 partners from 8 Mediterranean countries, both European (Italy, Greece, Spain) and non-European (Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia).
This collaboration will enable the development of integrated solutions that combine traditional knowledge and modern techniques, adaptable to the specific conditions of the Mediterranean.
Questa collaborazione permetterà di sviluppare soluzioni integrate che uniscono conoscenze tradizionali e tecniche moderne, adattabili alle condizioni specifiche del Mediterraneo.
Project partners:
PP12: University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene (USTHB)
LP: Ellinikos Georgikos Organismos – Dimitra (ELGO)
PP2: University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli” (UNICAMPANIA)
PP3: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR)
PP4: Consorzio di Bonifica Adige Euganeo (CONSAE)
PP5: Rinci SRL (RINCI)
PP6: IDENER RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT AIE (IDENER)
PP7: National Agricultural Research Center (NARC)
PP8: Hassan II University of Casablanca – Faculty of Science and Technology (UH2C-FSTM)
PP9: Institut National de la Recherche en Génie Rural, Eaux et Forêts (INRGREF)
PP10: Participatory Development Solutions – ElMahrousa PDS (ElMahrousa PDS)
PP11: National Water Research Center (NWRC)