What can years of research across the Mediterranean teach us when viewed as a whole rather than project by project? Which innovations are ready to scale, what barriers remain, and how can research better inform policy and practice?
From individual projects to a shared Mediterranean conversation
Imagine 10 PRIMA and EU-funded projects sitting around the same table, sharing years of research, field experience, and results from across the Mediterranean. They’re opening the doors to this conversation, and you’re invited to be in the room.
Save the date: Special PRIMA Side Event, Tropentag 2026: September 16, 2026 | Göttingen, Germany | Hybrid Side Session (online and on-site), 9:00–11:30
This Special PRIMA Side Event, held as part of Tropentag 2026, brings together the results of weeks of joint reflection between projects engaged in shared dialogue.
The idea was initiated by Harun Cicek (TransforMed project partner, and Coordinator to the concluded project ConServTerra), who proposed bringing PRIMA and EU-funded projects together to reflect on research findings, implementation experiences, and lessons learned.
Together, the projects identified common challenges and converging solutions, which evolved into three thematic discussions:
- Integrated Water Management & Agroecological Restoration
- Biodiversity, Neglected Species & Circular Value Chains
- Governance, Scaling & Policy Integration
The result is a joint side event bringing together 9 PRIMA-funded project: WaterMellon, NUSTALGIC, WEFE4MED, VENUS, TRANSFORMED, BONEX, Blumi-MED, AGROFORESTEAM, alongside 2 Horizon Europe project VALERECO and legumES.
Together, they are inviting you to a collective reflection on what works, what can be scaled, and how research can better inform policy and practice.
Background and Objectives
The session aims to:
- Synthesize emerging lessons on water harvesting, agroforestry, neglected and underutilised species (NUS), circular economy, and the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) nexus.
- Identify cross-cutting issues, including upscaling, socio-economic inclusion, market integration, and policy coherence.
- Facilitate networking among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.
The event will be hybrid: on site (as part of the TROPENTAG 2026) and online. All participants must register and specify their preferred attendance mode in the form.
Main programme
Opening & Welcome Rationale for integration
Block 1 – Integrated Water Management & Agroecological Restoration (09:10–10:00)
- WEFE Nexus in Practice: Groundwater, Energy, and Ecosystem Links
- Agroforestry and Land Restoration in Saline & Degraded Areas
- Q&A / Discussion
Block 2 – Biodiversity, Neglected Species & Circular Value Chains (10:00–10:50)
- Neglected & Underutilised Species (NUS) and Legumes for Resilience
- Urban Markets, ICT Opportunities, and Circular Bioeconomy
- Q&A / Discussion
Block 3 – Governance, Scaling & Policy Integration (10:50–11:30)
- Policy Tools, Communities of Practice, and Scaling Strategies
- Panel Discussion: Critical issues for Mediterranean resilience — upscaling demonstration results, social inclusion and gender, policy coherence, and long-term sustainability, featuring representatives from all eight projects, moderated by Harun Cicek
Download the programme here (link agenda).
Who should attend
Researchers, practitioners, and policymakers working on water, food, agroforestry, and ecosystem resilience in the Mediterranean are invited to attend, in person in Göttingen or online.
About Tropentag 2026
Tropentag is the annual interdisciplinary conference on research in tropical and subtropical agriculture, natural resource management, and rural development, jointly organised by a consortium of European universities and research institutions, including the Universities of Göttingen and Kassel, which host the 2026 edition. Running as a hybrid event from September 16–18, 2026, this year’s theme, “Towards multi-functional agro-ecosystems promoting climate-resilient futures,” explores how agriculture, forestry, and land-use systems can reconcile food security and rural development with the safeguarding of soil, water, and ecosystem health under climate change. The PRIMA side session takes place on the conference’s opening day, alongside keynote and thematic sessions, bringing a Mediterranean-focused conversation into this wider global discussion.
Comments are closed