Section 1 - Call for Proposals for the Thematic Area: Agro-food value chain Topic: Implementing innovation in Mediterranean Agro-food chains by smallholders and SMEs

PRIMA-IS is launching a call for research and innovation (RIA) proposals to mobilize the Euro-Mediterranean scientific communities, stakeholders and private entities and to support a wide range of research and innovation projects expected to produce a socio-economic impact in the near future.

Thematic Area:  Agro-Food value chain

Topic: Implementing innovation in Mediterranean Agro-food chains by smallholders and SMEs

Type of action:  Innovation action (IA)

Total indicative amount allocated to this call: EUR 6.1 million

Opening date: 6 February 2018

Deadline:   Stage 1 Pre-proposals - 17th April, 2018 (17:00h CET)   / Stage 2 Full proposals - 15th September, 2018 (17:00h CET)

Challenge

Horizontal and vertical fragmentation of the Mediterranean value chains and the lack of integration among the main food system actors are the biggest obstacle to the adoption of technological and organizational innovation. Furthermore, the small size of the firms and the weak entrepreneurial business culture make it even harder the adoption of such innovations.

Effective organizational and business models, replicable on most of the typologies of Med food companies are necessary to foster uptake of production of business solutions able to meet the needs of the market, food security needs and the opportunities given by Mediterranean values, heritage and biodiversity.

Adoption of technological and organizational innovations by smallholders and SMEs is one of the major challenge for Mediterranean economies and societies.

Scope

Proposals should clearly address food production and distribution in a changing social, economic and environmental scenarios. Activities should focus on chosen Mediterranean food product(s) and be in line with sustainability principles (e.g., consuming less water and energy, reducing environmental impact and waste, valorising by-products etc).

Activities should aim to produce plans for new, modified or improved value chains, products, processes or services in line with Mediterranean values and heritage and biodiversity, and promoting the scaling-up of sustainable solutions in a chosen agro-food sector (e.g. vegetables, fruits, cereals, animal products, etc.). For this purpose proposals may include prototyping, testing, demonstrating, pilot projects or large-scale product validation and must include business and market replication analysis. Proposals are expected to produce innovative solutions for existing problems, as well as strategies that may potentially open new markets in an international context. Proposals may, if necessary, include limited research and development activities especially if there are clear market failures or cultural or behavioral barriers to overcome.

Proposals should include activities such as demonstration of the benefits for all the players along the food chain, validation of technical and economic performance at business and system level, identification of possible new standards in line with Mediterranean values and heritage, activities to prepare market uptake, ensure consumer acceptance and optimise dissemination of results towards the main sector’s players and the consumers. Work is expected to benefit from contribution of social sciences.

Demonstration activities will require the active involvement of food processing companies, retailers, civil society organizations and consumer associations, to bridge the gap between ideas that have been developed and their practical implementation. Cooperation among relevant Mediterranean stakeholders in the food production and supply chains is encouraged to ensure the adoption of innovative, sustainable, technological and organizational solutions in line with citizens and community’s needs.

Proposals could implement solutions to trace origin and identity, ensure safety or exploit digital opportunities. Liaison with EU and Mediterranean quality standardization bodies is encouraged.

To have the desired impact, proposals should show financial sustainability in the middle-long term, be harmonized in the context of the regulatory framework, implement communication and marketing strategies.

Expected impact

The proposal’s expected impacts should be clearly described in qualitative and quantitative terms (e.g. on new job opportunities, financial turnover, employment figures, market seize, IP management, increased sales, return on investment and profit). With a view to support more sustainable Mediterranean economies and societies, proposals should show how some, or all, of the following impacts, will be achieved with reference to the chosen agro-food sector:

• Deployment of wider, faster and profitable innovative solutions by smallholders and SMEs, overcoming the barriers to market uptake.
• Strengthen the food processing sector in line with Mediterranean values and heritage improving competitiveness.
• Create opportunities for growth, diversification and job creation particularly for smallholders and agro-food SMEs.
• Strengthen Mediterranean food value chains, supporting product quality, healthy food consumption and consumer trust.
• Reduce the negative impacts of food value chains on the environment with particular reference to water.
• Support the transition from a linear to a circular economy.

Please find more details on PRIMA initiative, this call, guidelines for applicants, application submission here.

For questions related to this call for proposals, please contact Anabel de la Peña at anabel.delapena [at] prima-med.org or +34 93 401 08 81.