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The Resilient Smallholder Initiative was launched on May 31st, 2024, by PRIMA RESILINK, PRIMA INOVFARMER, PRIMA MED-LINKS,  H2020 FAIRCHAIN and HE EU4ADVICE. The main objectives are to collaborate, organize events/webinars, share knowledge, results and tools to increase smallholder farmers’ resilience in the agri-food chain, spanning all the aspects addressed by the contributing projects. A first focus could be on the Mediterranean area as addressed by the PRIMA Partnership. However, the scope of the activities can be enlarged to other regions of the world. 

Contributing Partners

PRIMA RESILINK develops digital platforms and designs open Application Programming Interfaces (API) to facilitate the development resource sharing applications for the smallholder communities.

PRIMA INOVFARMER develops enhanced agroecological practices, eco-friendly solutions in food & nutraceuticals and low-cost technology for better fruit quality. Innovative business models are then developed to increase adaptability, resilience and income of small-scale farmers. 

H2020 FAIRCHAIN is developing intermediate food value chains through social, technological, and organizational innovations. These enable smallholders to scale up and expand production to a regional level, diversifying their activities for more resilience.

PRIMA MED-LINKS develops tailored solutions enhancing efficiency, sustainability and fairness along fruit and vegetable supply chains. With optimised management practices and innovative IT tools for decision making, the project can increase smallholder farmers’ adaptive capacity and resilience.

HE EU4Advice aims to improve advisory services for short food supply chain producers and smallholders. The project’s outcome would make smallholder practices more efficient and more sustainable; economically, environmentally, and socially. 

PRIMA ReCROP integrates biotechnological tools like bioinoculants with eco-friendly agronomic practices to increase plant resilience, boost productivity and reduce reliance on chemical inputs. By offering guidelines for sustainable practices and insights into soil biodiversity, ReCROP helps smallholders to take informed decisions for more sustainability and resilience in farming systems.

PRIMA StopMedWaste extends the shelf life of fresh Mediterranean fruit, vegetables, and aromatic plants by applying physical, natural, and biological approaches. Contributing in reducing loss and waste of fresh products and in minimizing the use of synthetic pesticides, StopMedWaste increases smallholder farmers’ autonomy for increased resilience and income. 

PRIMA OurMED develops social and technological innovations for smallholders. Social innovation fosters inclusive governance and fair water allocation, addressing power and knowledge imbalances among stakeholders. Technological innovation makes advanced tools like SmartAG, a web app detecting soil, water, and plant anomalies, accessible and tailored for smallholder farmers to increase their adaptive capacity and resilience.

The National Institute for Advanced Scientific Research in Information and Communication Technologies (INDICATIC AIP) in Panama focuses on digital technology development and research to increase digital inclusion within local communities and technology adoption in various application domains. Agriculture is one of the important domain where INDICATIC AIP is developing activities to increase smallholder farmers’ resilience to face climate change.  

COST Action FoodWaStop CA22134 runs six Working Groups focused on prevention, management and quantification of loss and waste; recycling of food waste; application of cutting-edge strategies and dissemination of results. By minimizing environmental impact and improving food security, FoodWaStop will contribute to a more resilient food system that benefits to smallholder farmers.

Co-opAbility specializes in systemic transformation by leveraging deep expertise in systems thinking, stakeholder engagement, and impact measurement. It focuses on driving meaningful change within complex systems by combining research, analysis, and participatory, co-creation methodologies. It has participated to several international collaborative projects to co-design sustainable organizational solutions particularly targeting small and medium-sized farms.

Events

2025

On next Apr. 30th, 2025, InovFarmer.MED is organizing a Conference on Transforming Agri-Food Supply Chain for a Sustainable Future in collaboration with the Arab Academy of Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport. The Conference will take place in Alexandria, Egypt, on April 30th, and we are excited about the possibilities it holds. The thematic areas will be as follows:

    • Digital solutions for building resilient and efficient agri-food supply chain
    • Healthy foods towards transformative changes
    • Advancing ingredients and processing solutions for food and agriculture
    • Business models for equity and farmer empowerment

This Conference will provide an excellent platform to the Resilient Smallholder Initiative activities, fostering dialogue and collaboration.

2024

The first webinar organized by the newly created Resilient Smallholder Initiative will take place on November 21st, 2024. The main purpose is to have short presentations from all contributing partners to identify how the group is addressing the various aspects of smallholders’ resilience as a preparation to future working groups and activities. Look at the event agenda and download the presentations.

About us

You can contact any of the Founding and Contributing partners to have additional information on the Resilient Smallholder Initiative with the following email: contact[the-at]resilient[the-dash]smallholder[the-dot]eu

    • PRIMA RESILINK: Pr. Congduc Pham, University of Pau and Adour Country (UPPA), Pau, France
    • PRIMA INOVFARMER: Pr. Dulcineia Ferreira Wessel, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, Portugal
    • PRIMA MED-LINKS: Pr Luca Camanzi, University of Bologna, Italy
    • H2020 FAIRCHAIN: Dr Katherine Flynn, ISEKI-Food Association, France
    • HE EU4ADVICE: Patricia Mora, Innogestiona, Spain
    • PRIMA RECROP: Pr Sofia Pereira, Catholic University of Portugal (UCP), Portugal
    • PRIMA STOPMEDWASTE: Pr Gianfranco Romanazzi, Marche Polytechnic University, Italy
    • COST FoodWaStop: Pr Gianfranco Romanazzi, Marche Polytechnic University, Italy
    • PRIMA OURMED: Dr Seifeddine Jomaa, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Germany
    • INDICATIC AIP: Pr. Philippe Aniorté, Director of INDICATIC AIP, Panama