CHANGE-UP is organized into seven WPs whose inter-relation is shown in the figure reported above.
WP1 will set up field trials in different locations in Tunisia, Algeria, Italy and Morocco, covering various types of pedo-climatic conditions in order to assess the agronomic performance and to collect relevant data for the activities of WP2, WP3, WP4. The objectives of WP1 are: 1) to assess the agronomic and environmental adaptation of selected NPGs (wheat) to the Mediterranean environment, by evaluating their agronomic performance as compared to their annual relatives; 2) to test different EPs of wheat, barley and triticale under low-input and organic farming systems including crop rotation systems with different annual legumes, as compared to genetically uniform varieties.
WP2 will assess the impact of NPGs and EPs on biogeochemical processes and evaluate their effect on soil ecosystem services such as water, nutrient, carbon storage, protection against erosion and biodiversity. It is also aimed at developing early indicators for changing soil properties in response to NPGs and EPs cultivation, at quantifying the potential effects of the cropping systems on soil-water interface, on local hydrology, nutrient leaching and carbon cycling, and at elucidating the role of genetic and functional diversity of rhizospheric microorganisms on element cycling in both NPGs and EPs’ systems as compared to conventional ones.
WP3 will address the nutritional and technological quality of NPGs and EPs and their safety aspects. In particular, the objectives of this WP are: i) to assess the nutritional and biochemical characteristics of selected NPGs as compared to their annual counterparts and of EPs of wheat, barley and triticale as compared to genetically uniform varieties, ii) to assess the potential fungal contamination and occurrence of mycotoxin in grains as a function of the different environments in different years; iii) to evaluate biomarkers of resistance or susceptibility towards mycotoxin accumulation in model experiments; iv) to evaluate the technological characteristics for bakery processing and transformation into food products of EPs and NPG.
WP4 will perform a socio-economic assessment of the introduction of NPGs and EPs in Mediterranean farming systems and related value chains. In particular, the objectives of this WP are: i) to analyse the socio-economic context of the cereals value chain in Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Italy; ii) to build PMP-based models able to assess the impact on farm household and commercial farm and the implication for the value chain performances according to alternative technology, commercial and policy scenarios, on the base of the data collected from the value chain analysis at farm level; iii) to improve food availability, food security by increasing farmers’ productivity, incomes and livelihood as well as increasing awareness of the value chain actors.
WP5 will set up stakeholder engagement strategies to trigger and consolidate positive social changes. In particular, objectives of this WP are: i) to build social legitimacy and favor the public effective participation in the research program both during and after the implementation phase in order to capitalize the outcomes; ii) to analyze the technological, socio-economic and cultural determinants that can favor or hinder introduction of EPs and NPGs within the values chains; iii) to facilitate the adoption of the innovations by the local community and their empowerment.
WP6 will focus on dedicated communication, dissemination and exploitation activities taking into account societal, farmer, consumer, food company requirements. In particular, the objectives of this WP are to: i) develop effective dissemination and communication activities to assure the continuity of CHANGE-UP after the project end; ii) create awareness and seek involvement of different stakeholders around the main advantages of NPGs, EPs, legume crops and latest results in CHANGE-UP; iii) disseminate project results on a global basis, through academic, industrial and commercial channels, including track record of scientific publications in high impact journals and presentations at major conferences in the field by CHANGE-UP researchers.
WP7 will assure that all project activities will be supported by project management and multi-actor coordination. In particular, objectives of this WP are to: i) coordinate and manage all scientific, contractual, financial, and legal aspects of the project; ii) ensure quality of the project outcomes through efficient risk management and quality control; iii) ensure a smooth and efficient coordination between activities implemented by the project partners; iv) ensure proper reporting to PRIMA.
PRIMA-funded project
This project is part of the PRIMA (Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediteranean Area) programme supported by the European Union. This website reflects only the author’s view and PRIMA is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.
Contact
E-mail: info@changeupproject.com
Address (Coordinator)
Dept. of Food and Drug,
Parco Area delle Scienze, 27/a
University of Parma, I – 43124 PARMA (Italy).
Change-Up | Project 