PRIMA-the partnership between 19 countries of Europe and the Mediterranean on research and innovation-is engaged in various projects to combat desertification and land degradation. A phenomenon that already affects the lives of 3.2 billion people globally and threatens the livelihood of generations to come.
1) Desertification and land degradation.
Desertification is one of the most enormous challenges facing humanity today. (1) It involves the expansion of deserts that already exist, but also the degradation and depletion of once fertile soils. On which about 95 percent of global food production, 25 percent of biodiversity and a range of ecosystem services depend. These include carbon absorption through biomass production, water purification through contaminant filtration, and pest control.
1.1) Main causes
Soil degradation tends to be irreversible, as it takes about 1,000 years to form a single inch of topsoil. And it is essentially due to several anthropogenic factors, with impact:
– direct, on soil erosion and reduction in the ability of soils to absorb water and organic matter. Deforestation, (2) conventional agriculture (with use of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, nitrogen fertilizers. See footnote 3), intensive grazing and ranching, unsustainable irrigation practices,
– overall, on the ecosystem. We refer to industrial activities and other sources of greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn affect climate emergency and extreme weather conditions (droughts, flooding and inundation, fires).
1.2) Drought alarm
The drought alarm also went off in 2022 in France and Italy, respectively the top countries in the EU in terms of volume and profitability of agricultural production. As well as afflicting other European countries bordering the Mediterranean, such as Spain, Portugal, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, and Malta.
28 percent of the Italian territory is reported to be at risk of desertification (ISPRA). With further effects, in some areas of Italy, on lowering of water tables and salinization of water. Lack of rainfall has already forced many municipalities to ration drinking water consumption, which could be followed by agricultural water consumption (4.5).
1.3) Effects
One of the main effects of desertification is the decline in crop productivity, which can lead to food shortages and price inflation. As well as exacerbating global climate change through the release of carbon and nitrous oxide from degraded soils. The food supply security crisis-so-called food security (6)-also causes social instability and forced migration.
The Mediterranean is already in a very serious situation. ‘One third of the land is already degraded in the Mediterranean region. This trend is steadily increasing: almost all soil types in this area may be threatened by the desertification process.’ Loss of biodiversity, but also ‘a real socio-economic challenge that could undermine the region’s food security and lead to malnutrition, famine and migration’ (Fabrice Dentressangle, PRIMA, Project Officer).
2) FIRST, research and innovation in the Mediterranean area.
FIRST is the initiative launched by 19 Euro-Mediterranean countries – of which 11 EU member states (Cyprus, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain) and 8 extra-EU (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey)-to establish a joint European research and innovation program on the themes of ‘water management and provisions and agro-food systems in the Mediterranean Region‘.
A partnership formed under Article 185 TFEU, which provides for the
Participation in long-term research programs, for cooperation among member and associate states and their partners. With the macro-objective of developing innovative solutions to improve agribusiness production and water resource management, in this case in the Mediterranean area. And thus help solve the most serious problems currently found in the areas of food, health, welfare and migration.
2.1) Three key areas
The PRIMA program thus focuses on three main thematic areas. Water management, agricultural systems, value chain in agri-food supply chains.
2.2) FIRST, the actions against desertification.
Addressing desertification and land degradation requires coordinated action that includes various solutions at different levels. From the bacterial scale to the ecosystem scale, to soil geology to the hydrological cycle, with attention to the socio-economic context to better understand and mitigate the phenomenon in its breadth, with collaboration among all actors (policy makers, land managers, farmers, and scientists).
PRIMA therefore supports several projects that propose solutions to desertification and land degradation through research projects involving concrete actions on the ground. (7) Some of these projects encourage soil degradation prevention practices, focusing on testing alternative techniques and spreading good practices among farming communities to make the agrosystem more resilient.
Agronomic practices are based on the principles of agroecology (8) and conservation agriculture, aimed at improving the availability of water and organic matter in the soil so as to protect it from erosion and/or salinization. As well as solutions based on nature and the enhancement of local biodiversity. (9)
3) CAMA. Conservation Agriculture in the Mediterranean Area
CAMA
is a research project, under PRIMA, aimed at understanding and overcoming the barriers preventing the adoption of conservation agriculture in the Mediterranean basin. This farming system is based on minimal tillage, covering the soil with crop residues and crop rotation.
Most Mediterranean soils have low organic content due to low water availability, high temperatures and intensive tillage. Under these conditions, conservation agriculture could reduce the risk of soil degradation and improve water and nutrient use efficiency to better sustain peasant agriculture through more stable yields.
In contrast, conservation agriculture, which is widespread in South America, is still marginal in the Mediterranean area. 2% of UAA (utilized agricultural area) in EU countries and 0.8% in African countries. The CAMA project aims to overcome critical issues arising from the lack of machinery (for direct seeding) and technical knowledge, difficulties in managing crop residues and competition with other residue users, and the choice of crops for rotation.
4) Mara Mediterra. Safeguarding the livelihood of rural communities and the environment in the Mediterranean through nature-based solutions
Instead, Mara-Mediterra focuses on creating an open innovation ecosystem to demonstrate the importance and effectiveness of nature-based solutions in agri-environmental management and socioeconomic development in Mediterranean rural areas.
‘Farmers across the Mediterranean are increasingly expressing concern about dwindling access to sufficient freshwater resources for irrigation and the gradual degradation of soil quality. At the same time, public attention is repeatedly drawn to the impact of climate change as the main cause of land and water degradation. But often not enough attention is paid to the negative impacts of human interventions‘ (Vasileios Takavakoglou, coordinator of Mara-Mediterra). (10)
The project directly targets farmers through living labs set up in Algeria, Egypt, Greece, Lebanon and Turkey. Where the benefits of nature-based solutions, such as organic farming, mulching, green manure and field terracing, will be demonstrated. Along with green solutions such as micro-ecosystem-based afforestation, dynamic water allocation and aquaponic wetlands.
5) Restoration of degraded land
PRIMA also funds projects aimed at restoring already degraded land. One possible solution is to grow salinity-adapted species or varieties, which can survive better in drought conditions. Another option is to apply circular economy principles such as recycling and composting to enrich the soil and make it healthier and more resilient.
5.1) HaloFarMs. Development and optimization of halophyte-based farming systems in salt-affected Mediterranean soils
Halofarms
addresses the problem of high soil salinity. The Mediterranean area has suffered from decreased rainfall, rising temperatures and rising sea levels. Thus, cultivable areas have decreased. But combating desertification also means developing effective strategies to minimize the negative impact of salinity.
Halofarms’ overall goal is to develop and optimize sustainable, environmentally friendly agriculture based on the cultivation of halophytes, salt-tolerant plants therefore able to grow on high-salinity soils. To help restore degraded soils, halophyte and tomato crops are rotated, the world’s top producers of which are Turkey, Egypt, Italy and Spain. Planting halophytes plays an important role in improving soil productivity, through an intercropping system that saves water consumption while adding economic value to tomato yields.
5.2) Isferalda. Improving soil fertility in arid and semi-arid regions using local organic date palm residues
Isferalda applies circular economy principles to address desertification in North Africa by recycling date palm residues. This fruit is the main source of income for farmers in the oases, but it produces a high amount of agricultural waste, which is mostly destined for waste. The project thus aims to recycle date palm residues and convert them into an organic soil conditioner to improve soil properties and fertility. Based on traditional productions, Isferalda tends to improve processes, product quality and their suitability to the needs of both local plants and substrate composition. The dissemination of these organic soil conditioners could improve soil properties, thus counteracting soil degradation and reducing desertification.
#SDG1, no poverty. #SDG2, zero hunger. #SDG3, good health and well-being. #SDG12, sustainable production and consumption. #SDG13, climate action. #SDG15, life on earth. #sdgs2030
Dario Dongo and Giulia Torre
Cover image by Louisiana Gaita. Water crisis and water rationing: ‘We can no longer afford waste’. Techniques for farming and those for creating reserves: what can be done. The Daily Fact. 12.6.22
Notes
(1) Dario Dongo.
World days on desertification and refugees, barren balance sheet.
. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 19.06.2019,
(2) Dario Dongo. Due diligence and deforestation, stop unsustainable imports of commodities. Proposed EU regulation, the ABC. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 06.03.2022,
(3) Dario Dongo.
#SaveTheBees, civil society calls for a true pesticide-free ecological transition in the EU.
GIFT(Great Italian Food Trade). 17.06.2022
(4) Andrea Zaghi. Water alarm in half of Italy: stop wasting. And the Po delta tastes like salt. Avvenire. 17.6.22,
(5) Cristiano Riciputi. Half a meter more water, then it will be catastrophe. Freshplaza. 15.6.22,
(6) Dario Dongo. Food security, thesis and antithesis of the European Parliament. GIFT(Great Italian Food Trade). 27.03.2022,
(7) https://prima-med.org/desertification-the-mediterraneans-invisible-enemy/
(8) Marta Strinati. Agroecology, 6 systems compared. The benefits of organic for farmers. Analysis. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 30.08.2020,
(9) Dario Dongo, Paolo Caruso. Biodiversity in agriculture, varietal mixtures of wheat and high quality organic bread. Ecosystems, health and taste. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 11.02.2022,
(10) In Turkey, for example, the Gorges Dam has caused Lake Marmara, once a world-renowned biodiversity hotspot, to dry up. In Lebanon, man-made fires have resulted in the disappearance of entire forests in the mountainous Al-Atika area.
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
Graduated in law, master in European Food Law, she deals with agro-food, veterinary and agricultural legislation. She is a PhD in agrisystem.
