Ozone Sensitivity of Crops in Africa

Información del proyecto

OSCA

Identificador del acuerdo de subvención: 704501

DOI

10.3030/704501

Proyecto finalizado el 30 Septiembre 2016

Fecha de la firma de la CE 5 Abril 2016

Fecha de inicio 1 Diciembre 2016

Fecha de finalización 30 Noviembre 2018

Financiado con arreglo a

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Coste total

€ 195 454,80

Aportación de la UE

€ 195 454,80

Coordinado por

UNITED KINGDOM RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
United Kingdom

Objetivo

Africa will experience rapid population and economic growth this century. Without pollution controls, the increased demand for fossil fuels, agricultural intensification, and industrial expansion will result in increased emissions of the atmospheric precursors that form ground-level ozone. Ozone is phytotoxic to plants and so reduces crop yields. Global losses in yields are estimated at over $10 billion. Africa will be particularly vulnerable as malnourishment is rampant and already ground-level ozone far exceeds levels safe for plant growth. Deleterious effects of ozone on crops are not included in crop yield forecasts for Africa, so future crop yields are likely overestimated. The overarching aim of this project is to get a data-driven estimate of current and future (2050) effects of ozone pollution on crop yields in Africa with Africa-specific crops and cultivars not yet considered in global studies. Project objectives will be achieved with (1) ozone exposure measurements at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH, UK) where the fellowship will be based; (2) ozone and crop physiology measurements at field sites in Kenya; (3) simulation of surface ozone with an atmospheric chemistry model to be evaluated in this work; and (4) crop productivity forecasts for Africa at the University of Leeds as secondment. Data collected will be used to quantify current and 2050 food security threats of surface ozone in Africa. Results will be reported to relevant air quality and agricultural policymakers to emphasise the need for crop adaptation and ozone pollution control in Africa. New skill sets include ozone exposure experiments, physiological modelling, and crop forecasting; career development will be in project, person and data management; and placement at CEH and University of Leeds will facilitate extensive global networking. CEH will benefit from the candidate’s skills in global atmospheric modelling and a new focus on Africa as part of the ozone impacts team.

Ámbito científico (EuroSciVoc)

• ciencias naturales › ciencias de la tierra y ciencias ambientales conexas › hidrología
• ciencias naturales › ciencias biológicas › ecología
• ciencias médicas y de la salud › ciencias de la salud › nutrición
• ciencias naturales › ciencias de la tierra y ciencias ambientales conexas › ciencias ambientales › contaminación
• ciencias agrícolas › agricultura, silvicultura y pesca › agricultura

Palabras clave

• Africa
• food security
• crop yields
• ozone pollution
• air quality

Programa(s)

• H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions PROGRAMA PRINCIPAL
  
• H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
  

Tema(s)

• MSCA-IF-2015-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF)
  

Régimen de financiación

MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)

Convocatoria de propuestas

H2020-MSCA-IF-2015

Coordinador

UNITED KINGDOM RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

• Aportación neta de la UEn: € 195 454,80
• Dirección: POLARIS HOUSE NORTH STAR AVENUE ; SN2 1FL SWINDON ; Reino Unido
• Región: South West (England) › Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area › Swindon
• Tipo de actividad: Research Organisations
• Coste total: € 195 454,80