Descrizione del progetto
Nuove strategie di gestione e nuovi modelli aziendali per un’agricoltura più efficiente
Vaste aree di terreno coltivabile nell’Africa occidentale e settentrionale sono fortemente degradate, soprattutto a causa di sistemi agronomi inadatti e di una gestione inadeguata. Il progetto SustInAfrica, finanziato dall’UE, mira a supportare i piccoli agricoltori, le piccole e medie imprese e le organizzazioni governative e non governative in Ghana, Burkina Faso, Niger, Egitto e Tunisia, allo scopo di intensificare efficacemente la produzione alimentare e di realizzare servizi ecosistemici in modo flessibile e sostenibile. Il progetto si impegnerà a raggiungere questo obiettivo fornendo un’analisi accurata degli ecosistemi locali e offrendo strategie di gestione per la salute del suolo, dell’acqua e delle piante. Fornirà inoltre modelli e politiche aziendali, contribuendo a sviluppare tecnologie pertinenti a sostegno del processo decisionale degli agricoltori.
Obiettivo
Large areas of agricultural land in W. and N. Africa are heavily degraded, with water scarcity, low soil fertility and poor plant health, due to use of unsuitable agronomic systems and inappropriate management. In W. Africa, poor water, organic matter and nutrient retention limit food productivity, whilst in N. Africa, salinisation, wind erosion, formation of crusts and compaction threaten rainfed cropland and silvopasture. The low food productivity, poor resilience and unsustainability of current approaches have severe socioeconomic and environmental consequences. The overall goal of SustInAfrica is to empower smallholder farmers, small and medium enterprises and various government and non-governmental organisations in Ghana, Burkina Faso, Niger, Egypt and Tunisia to successfully intensify food production and deliver ecosystem services in a sustainable and resilient manner. This will be achieved through: A) comprehensive analysis of i) local/regional target ecosystems; ii) currently applied and potential landscape, soil, water and plant health management strategies and agronomic systems; iii) relevant actors across supply/value chains; iv) business models and policies; v) challenges and threats to production; B) development of technologies, including a smart platform supporting farmers in decision-making, concerning factors assessed in A); C) implementation of field trials at target sites, combining traditional knowledge, sustainable strategies and systems (agroecology, agroforestry, organic farming) and modern technologies (developed apps/platform); D) communication/dissemination/education/training to inform stakeholders/consumers and empower smallholders (especially women/youths); E) exploiting/continuing approaches/technologies for improved productivity/ecosystem services, long-term self-sufficiency beyond the project, reduced hunger/poverty and gender/wealth disparity, reduced environmental impact, long-term local food sectors growth/increased economic benefit.
Campo scientifico
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagricultureagronomyplant protection
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturesustainable agriculture
- social scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementbusiness models
- social scienceseconomics and businesseconomicsproduction economicsproductivity
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystems
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinatore
00790 Helsinki
Finlandia