projects

CLIMED-FRUIT

SUMMARY

CLIMED-FRUIT aims to share practical knowledge from various Operational Groups (OG) across Europe to better adapt perennial Mediterranean crops (grape vine, olive, fruits) to climate change and mitigate its effects. The project involves a multi-actor consortium of advisors, farmer organizations, research and education institutes, and standardization organizations across seven countries (France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Italy, Croatia, Serbia).

Key focus areas include:

  1. Soil conservation and carbon storage
  2. Improving crop resilience to climatic hazards (frost, hail)
  3. Innovative water stress management practices
  4. Adapting food chain processes to climate change and diversification
  5. Preserving biodiversity for better resilience to climate change and pests

Best practices will be shared through digital formats, cross-visits, and local dissemination events. Additionally, new knowledge will be gathered through an open contest inviting abstracts from various European and international projects. The best solutions will be presented at an online conference and ranked by participants based on cost/benefit ratio, then widely disseminated.

Knowledge will be spread using social media, videos, podcasts, and editorial partnerships with technical reviews. A forum will be established to capitalize on existing OG experiences and encourage new OGs to explore practical climate adaptation knowledge.

 

OBJECTIVES

CLIMED-FRUIT has the following specific objectives (SO):

Objective 1: build a network of OGs, based on 5 sub-topics, and provide feed-back from stakeholders who are already experienced OGs

Objective 2: collect results obtained from a core group of 9 Operational Groups (OGs), and OG and projects outside consortium, related to strategies to adapt and increase the resilience to climate change in the crops in the Mediterranean area in 5 main sub-topics

Objective 3: select and shape the information according to the targeted stakeholders (scientists, agronomists, advisors, farmers, citizens, and policymakers) and their applicability (usefulness, readiness, cost/benefit).

Objective 4: translate the most significant informative documents into the 7 languages most used in the EU Mediterranean area (English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Greek, Croatian), enabling wide access to practitioners

Objective 5: share useful information with findings from European and international (i.e. North Africa) research and innovation, especially multi-actor projects and private initiatives and enable cross-fertilization among OGs, other EU projects and amongst agricultural sectors (grape, olive, citrus, nuts …)

Objective 6: disseminate the documents through diversified forms and media, choosing the most effective for each category of stakeholders. A communication and dissemination plan will be closely monitored, and partnerships with the most popular journals or magazines will be set up.

Objective 7: promote peer learning amongst farmers and advisors through cross visits and cross-fertilisation, and strengthen advisory role as a knowledge transfer facilitator.

Objective 8: feed EU repositories and initiatives, in particular EIP Agri and CAP networks, to share better the knowledge collected by OGs on climate resilience for perennials and inform farmers on innovation.

Objective 9: foster and support the creation of new OGs on the topic, especially in countries where so far OGs on the topic are not implemented.

 

 

Why are these objectives pertinent to the work programme topic?

CLIMED-FRUIT aims to scale up local solutions to the EU level, raising awareness of innovative practices developed by Operational Groups (OGs) across Europe in line with the EU climate-neutrality goal by 2050 and the Horizon Europe Mission. The project focuses on improving the understanding of climate change risks and mitigation solutions, particularly for perennial Mediterranean crops. It emphasizes carbon storage, climate resilience, and practical solutions, promoting co-design, co-implementation, and co-evaluation of these methods.

Key activities include a mix of on-field and online events to enhance digital skills and foster interconnection among Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) across different EU regions. CLIMED-FRUIT supports the EU Green Deal, Farm-to-Fork strategy, CAP, and Organic Action Plan objectives, aiming to:

– Achieve a neutral or positive environmental impact

– Mitigate and adapt to climate change

– Reverse biodiversity loss

– Ensure food security and nutrition

– Increase organic farming

– Enhance food system resilience

– Reduce dependency on pesticides and fertilizers.

 

METHODOLOGY AND APPROACH

 

SEASN’s INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROJECT

SEASN’s member, the Institute for Science Application in Agriculture (IPN), participates in this project as an affiliated entity, while SEASN itself participates as a beneficiary. SEASN is responsible for leading Task 1.3 in Work Package 1, providing tools, materials, and methods for organizing digital cross-visits. Additionally, SEASN leads Task 4.2, which focuses on creating digital stories for mainstream farmers, and Task 4.4, which involves producing technical articles. These tasks are part of Work Package 4, and SEASN serves as the leader for each.

 

DELIVERABLES of the project

EXTENDED PRACTICE ABSTRACTS (EPAs)

One of the project’s key deliverables includes Digital Stories and Extended Practice (EP) Abstracts. The Extended Practice Abstracts provide valuable insights into the project’s selected practices, offering a structured overview that includes an introduction to the Operational Group or project behind the practice, a detailed description of a specific practice implemented for climate change mitigation or adaptation, and a simplified cost-benefit analysis to assess its impact. Additionally, you can explore all the Digital Stories to see these selected practices and gain a deeper understanding of their application.

ENGLISH:

Here you can view the Extended Practice Abstract in PDF format or watch the Digital Stories by following the link to the YouTube platform:

    1. The use of subsurface irrigation in viticulture (.pdf, YouTube)
    2. Spontaneous plant cover in almond trees (.pdf, YouTube)
    3. Green manure in Mediterranean viticulture (.pdf, YouTube)
    4. On-farm production and application of compost tea (.pdf)
    5. Improving the shelf life of organic table grapes through an innovative packaging system endowed with a breathable device (BlowDevice® Technology) (.pdf)
    6. Late winter pruning to prevent spring frost damage and maintain freshness of the grape/delay ripening (.pdf, YouTube)
    7. Precission irrigation at the service of the vineyard (.pdf, YouTube)
    8. The sustainability of the avocado crop in Europe (.pdf, YouTube)
    9. Rice straw mulching to increase water efficiency in citrus production (.pdf, YouTube)
    10. Cover management in rainfed olive groves (.pdf, YouTube)

CROATIAN:

Ovde možete pogledati Proširene sažetke praksi (EPA) u PDF formatu ili pogledati Digitalne priče prateći link-ka YouTube platformi:

  1. Podzemno navodnjavanje (.pdf, YouTube)
  2. Spontani biljni pokrov u nasadima badema (.pdf, YouTube)
  3. Zelena gnojidba u mediteranskom vinogradarstvu (.pdf, YouTube)
  4. Proizvodnja i primjena kompostne juhe na poljoprivrednom gospodarstvu (.pdf)
  5. Povećanje roka trajanja organskog stolnog grožđa inovativnim sustavom pakiranja opremljenim uređajem za paropropusnost (tehnologija BlowDevice®) (.pdf)
  6. Kasna zimska rezidba kako bi se izbjegla oštećenja od proljetnog mraza i održala svježina grožđa / odgodilo sazrijevanje (.pdf, YouTube)
  7. Precizno navodnjavanje u službi vinograda (.pdf, YouTube)
  8. Održivost uzgoja avokada u Europi (.pdf, YouTube)
  9. Malčiranje rižinom slamom za povećanje efikasnosti korištenja vode u proizvodnji citrusa (.pdf, YouTube)
  10. Gospodarenje pokrovom u maslinicima koji se navodnjavaju samo oborinama (.pdf, YouTube)

SUBTOPIC REVIEW – Strategies for Climate-Resilient Mediterranean Farming

This subtopic review is a project deliverable that brings together a comprehensive collection of innovative, field-tested practices designed to help Mediterranean farmers respond to the increasing challenges of climate change. Focused on perennial crop systems, the Subtopics Review presents practical solutions developed and trialled within EU-funded projects and Operational Groups (OGs). It highlights actionable strategies for improving soil health, increasing water use efficiency, enhancing biodiversity, and adapting food chain processes to climate change. From composting and cover cropping to smart irrigation and post-harvest innovation, the review serves as a valuable resource for advisors, practitioners, and farmers. Each thematic area is available both as part of the full report and as an individual document in English, with translations in several other project languages.

The Subtopic Review includes:

  • Soil conservation and carbon storage
  • Improving resilience of crops facing climatic hazards
  • Innovative practices for water stress management and dry farming
  • Adaptation of food chain processes to climate change and diversification
  • Preserving biodiversity in Mediterranean crops

👉 You can access the English version of Subtopic Review here.

Ovaj pregled podtema predstavlja projektni rezultat koji objedinjuje sveobuhvatan skup inovativnih i u praksi provjerenih rješenja namijenjenih mediteranskim poljoprivrednicima u suočavanju s rastućim izazovima klimatskih promjena. Fokusiran na sustave trajnih nasada, pregled donosi praktične mjere razvijene i testirane u sklopu EU projekata i operativnih grupa (OG-ova). Istaknute su konkretne strategije za poboljšanje zdravlja tla, učinkovitije korištenje vode, očuvanje bioraznolikosti te prilagodbu prehrambenog lanca klimatskim promjenama. Od kompostiranja i pokrovnih usjeva do pametne navodnjavanja i inovacija nakon žetve – ovaj dokument vrijedan je izvor informacija za savjetnike, praktičare i poljoprivrednike. Svaka tematska cjelina dostupna je kao dio cjelovitog izvješća ili kao zaseban dokument na engleskom jeziku, uz prijevode na nekoliko drugih projektnih jezika.

Pregled podtema obuhvaća:

  • Očuvanje tla i skladištenje ugljika
  • Povećanje otpornosti na klimatske nepogode
  • Inovativni postupci za upravljanje vodnim stresom u višegodišnjim nasadima
  • Prilagodba procesa u lanca opskrbe hranom klimatskim promjenama i diverzifikaciji
  • Očuvanje bioraznolikosti u mediteranskim podrućju radi veće otpornosti na klimatske promjene

👉 Hrvatsku verziju pregleda podtema možete pronaći ovdje.

TECHNICAL ARTICLES – Deep Dives into Climate-Resilient Practices

In close connection with the Subtopics Reviews, these articles provide additional depth by offering technical perspectives on the main practices of each Subtopic Review.

Subtopic 1 – Soil conservation and carbon storage

  • Improving vineyard resilience: good practices for soil conservation and carbon storage (read here)
  • Improving the resilience of perennial fruit: good practices for soil conservation and carbon storage (read here)

Subtopic 2 – Improving resilience of crops facing climatic hazards

  • Adapting vineyards to extreme heat and drought conditions in dry farming – EN (read here)
  • Agricultural frost damage mitigation techniques in vineyards (read here)
  • Improving resilience of perennial fruit trees facing climatic hazards (read here)

Subtopic 3 – Water stress management and dry farming

  • Innovative practices for water stress management in viticulture (read here)
  • Innovative approaches to dry farming in viticulture (read here)
  • Innovative practices for water stress management and dry farming in perennial crops (read here)

Subtopic 4 – Adaptation of food chain processes and diversification

  • Dealcoholisation of wine: adaptation of wine processes to lower alcohol levels associated with rising temperatures (read here)
  • Strategies for adapting food processes to climate change: transforming olive waste into valuable resources (read here)

Subtopic 5 – Preserving biodiversity in Mediterranean perennial crops

  • Winged allies for your crops: strategies for boosting the presence of pollinators (read here)
  • Varietal diversity: building on yesterday’s varieties to meet tomorrow’s challenges (read here)

(Croatian) U bliskoj vezi s Pregledima podtema, ovi članci daju dodatnu dubinu nudeći tehničke perspektive o glavnim praksama svake podteme.

Podtema 1 – Očuvanje tla i skladištenje ugljika

  • Poboljšanje otpornosti vinograda: dobre prakse za očuvanje tla i skladištenje ugljika (pročitaj ovdje)
  • Poboljšanje otpornosti višegodišnjeg voća: dobre prakse za očuvanje tla i skladištenje ugljika (pročitaj ovdje)

Podtema 2 – Poboljšanje otpornosti usjeva na klimatske nepogode

  • Prilagodba vinograda ekstremnim vrućinama i suši u uvjetima suhog uzgoja (pročitaj ovdje)
  • Tehnike ublažavanja šteta od mraza u vinogradima (pročitaj ovdje)
  • Poboljšanje otpornosti višegodišnjeg voća na klimatske nepogode (pročitaj ovdje)

Podtema 3 – Upravljanje vodnim stresom i suhi uzgoj

  • Inovativne prakse za upravljanje vodnim stresom u vinogradarstvu (pročitaj ovdje)
  • Inovativni pristupi suhom uzgoju u vinogradarstvu (pročitaj ovdje)
  • Inovativne prakse za upravljanje vodnim stresom i suhim uzgojem u višegodišnjim kulturama (pročitaj ovdje)

Podtema 4 – Prilagodba procesa u prehrambenom lancu i diversifikacija

  • Dealholizacija vina: prilagodba vinskih procesa na niže razine alkohola povezane s porastom temperatura (pročitaj ovdje)
  • Strategije prilagodbe prehrambenih procesa klimatskim promjenama: pretvaranje maslinovog otpada u vrijedne resurse (pročitaj ovdje)

Podtema 5 – Očuvanje bioraznolikosti u mediteranskim višegodišnjim kulturama

  • Krilati saveznici za vaše usjeve: strategije za povećanje prisutnosti oprašivača (pročitaj ovdje)
  • Sortna raznolikost: gradnja na sortama od jučer za suočavanje s izazovima sutrašnjice (pročitaj ovdje)

Climed-Fruit newsletter

The project published its newsletter as well. You can find published newsletter editions below..

Newsletter No.3: English version, Croatian version.