Innovative sustainable organic sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum L.)-based cropping systems to boost agrobiodiversity, profitability, circularity, and resilience to climate changes in Mediterranean small farms – SEA FENNEL4MED

The project objective deals with the introduction of Mediterranean sea fennel (C. maritimum L) germplasm well adapted to climate change and Mediterranean conditions (water shortage, low soil fertility, high salinity) for the development of new sustainable organic cropping systems, able to increase the resilience of the agro livelihood system based on agroecological principles, that contribute to the zero-pollution ambition, and to cope with limited resources and environmental constrains, with the final objectives of enhancing food production stability over time as well as increasing farmers’ incomes. Specific objectives of the project are: i) selection of sea fennel ecotypes, well adapted to the Mediterranean climate; (ii) introduction of sustainable farming systems for production of organic sea fennel crop in the Mediterranean; ii) development of new/improved high value products from the organic sea fennel crops; iii) valorization of sea fennel by-products for production of functional food ingredients/nutraceuticals/soil amendments; (iv) demonstration of socio-economic benefits, environmental impacts and sustainability of the proposed innovations; (iv) dissemination of sustainable halophyte-based cropping solutions and products in the Mediterranean. These objectives will be reached thanks to a strong synergy between 9 Partners from 6 Mediterranean countries (IT, FR, HR, GR, TN, TR), including Public Universities and Research Institutes, a Research foundation, a farm producing sea fennel crops and sea fennel-based foods. Different test sites across the Mediterranean will be used for selection of sea fennel ecotypes with the highest nutritional/biological potential. Selected ecotypes will be assayed in demo and open field. After multiple analyses, the new organic crops and their by-products will be exploited for the formulation of new foods and food ingredients/nutraceuticals/soil amendments, respectively. The socio-economic and environmental impacts of the proposed innovations will be evaluated. The Project relates to PRIMA 2021 -Section 2 – Thematic Area 2, Topic 2.2.1. The project addresses all the specific challenges of this thematic area by: I. introducing more sustainable agriculture and food production systems with more efficient use of a natural resource (sea fennel) with a high climate change resilience/adaptation, high economic potential; II. improving economic and social resilience of Mediterranean smallholder farming systems to climate change; III. contributing to the zero waste farming systems target; IV. decreasing use of chemical inputs; V. increasing income of the farmers from biodiversity use, improved farming techniques and organic certification; VI. promoting youth engagement and women empowering; VII. encouraging consumption of food produced using more sustainable practices.