Project Details | AASTMT Research

Project: Improving Mediterranean supply chain through innovative agro food business models to strengthen small scale farmers competitiveness using prickly pear and fig as a case study

Abstract

The InovFarmer.MED proposal focus on PRIMA’s Thematic Area 3 – Sustainable Mediterranean agro-food value chain for regional and local development, addressing specifically the topic 2.3.1 “Increasing the resilience of smallscale farms to global challenges and COVID-like crisis by using adapted technologies, smart agri-food supply chain and crisis management tools”. Knowing that environmental and social changes are deeply affecting Euro Mediterranean agro-food systems, and that COVID-19 outbreak imposing restrictions on movement, has demonstrated the fragility of the Mediterranean food systems, already distressed by climate change, population growth and scarcity of resources, the InovFarmer.MED consortium has developed a empowerment strategy addressing vulnerabilities of the producers in particular, smallholder farmers, to establish lines of resilience to face these challenges.

InovFarmer.MED will address, as case-study, the value-chains of two traditional agrifood products with high potential economic relevance and social significance for small-scale farmers of Mediterranean basin: fig (Ficus carica) and prickly pear (Opuntia ficus indica).

Project Name

Improving Mediterranean supply chain through innovative agro food business models to strengthen small scale farmers competitiveness using prickly pear and fig as a case study

Ref No/ Funded Entity

1733

Project Duration

36month

Project Start Date

2022-01-01

Project End Date

2025-12-30

Total Budget

EUR

Budget of the academy in this project

EUR

Project Website

Go to Website

Objectives

I. Analyze current and traditional production methods applied by small-scale farmers and needs to be addressed

II. Monitor fruit ripening productivity, sales prices, stocks and improve end product quality in the production of fig and prickly pear using smart technologies and adoption of best practices to increase fruit profitability for fresh marketing channels

III. Establish scientific eco-friendly methodologies for processing the fruits or parts of the plant with direct flow to dedicated transformers, preserving the nutritional and bioactive properties of the plant

IV. Develop and implement training with and for small-scale farmers and prepare a toolkit for sustainable production transformation and commercialization

V. Design innovative business models that will improve the interconnection between farmers, smallholder organizations,s transformers, retailers, and consumers using different digital technologies and platforms such as mobile apps and e-commerce to serve the various stages of the value chain of the targeted agro products, increasing the profitability of small-scale farmers from the Mediterranean basin communities

Our Partners

PRIMA
https://inovfarmer-med.org/?cmp_bypass=link-privativo%20

Yasser Gaber Dessouky

Dean of Scientific Research and Innovation

Mobile: 01006030790

E-mail: ygd@aast.edu

Project Coordinator