Project / Objectives
The overall objective of the project is to identify and optimise innovative agroforestry strategies combining truffles with medicinal and aromatic plants, fruit bearing trees, vineyards and plant species suitable for pollen and honey production, and to overcome the current barriers to adopting and scaling-up these strategies in the Mediterranean region.
The specific objectives of the project
- Identify and develop innovative practices, models, and strategies to revitalise agroforestry systems, focusing on truffles combined with vineyards, medicinal and aromatic plants, fruit bearing trees and species that support pollen and honey production, ensuring sustainability, resilience, and productivity. This will include promoting ecosystem services and assessing the environmental, social and economic impacts of different agroforestry practices (WP1 & WP2).
- Investigate market access and value chains for a wide range of agroforestry products. This will include the development of certification schemes, branding initiatives, and business models, while also integrating emerging activities such as mycological/truffle and gastronomic tourism (WP3).
- Undertake a comprehensive analysis of the regulatory and institutional framework governing agroforestry practices in the Mediterranean region. This analysis will identify the technical, political, and socio-economic barriers that hinder the adoption of sustainable agroforestry practices and provide policy recommendations to address these challenges (WP4).
- Raise awareness and improve the understanding and knowledge of the manyfold benefits and advantages offered by agroforestry systems among different stakeholders through comprehensive and gender-sensitive training programmes, outreach initiatives, and educational materials tailored specifically to the needs of women farmers (WP5).
METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH OF COSMOS
