AGRI-DRY

Dryland agriculture and Land use: past, present and future resilience

The interest in traditional agriculture is a worldwide trend: as people reclaim their heritage, they increasingly turn to lessons learned by their ancestors about how to sustainability interact with their environment. The network "Dryland agriculture and Land use; past, present and future resilience [AGRI-DRY]" aims to develop an interdisciplinary approach to traditional crop cultivation through the recognition of the complementary value of cultural heritage and sustainable living. Human cultural development is inextricably linked with the development of agriculture. This bond resulted in the "domestication" of the biological and physical environments around us, and historically shaped and engendered present-day landscapes. Agricultural landscapes are a testimony to humanity's long interaction with the land, often-unique examples of the whole people-nature system. They demonstrate a rich cultural and landscape diversity, sustainable land-use systems and, in some cases, people's daily struggle for survival under extreme climatic and environmental conditions. It is now recognized the key role of traditional knowledge of indigenous people and local communities for ecosystem management and sustainable use of resources in the light of climate change. AGRI-DRY aims to bring about a significant reorientation of European and African doctoral training in traditional agriculture. The change will involve both substance and approach. The substance is the strong focus on rigorous techniques for interdisciplinary research. The approach is the emphasis on both research and applicative work, through the participation of both academic and advocacy and policy-making institutions. AGRI-DRY represents a unique opportunity for European young researchers to form a "critical mass" and enjoy a wide array of training opportunities that will be competitive with the best programmes offered outside Europe.

Project ID

101120560

Funding period

1 March 2024 - 29 February 2028

EU contribution

€1,915,401.60

Funding programme

Horizon Europe

Call for proposals

HORIZON-MSCA-2022-DN-01

Type of action

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-DN

Type of stakeholder

Academic and advocacy and policy-making institutions

Project contribution to Mission Soil’s:

Specific objectives

  • 1. Reduce land degradation relating to desertification
    Partially targeted
  • 2. Conserve and increase soil organic carbon stocks
    Not targeted
  • 3. No net soil sealing and increase the reuse of urban soils
    Not targeted
  • 4. Reduce soil pollution and enhance restoration
    Not targeted
  • 5. Prevent erosion
    Not targeted
  • 6. Improve soil structure to enhance habitat quality for soil biota and crops
    Partially targeted
  • 7. Reduce the EU global footprint on soils
    Not targeted
  • 8. Increase soil literacy in society across Member States
    Not targeted

Operational objectives

  • 1. Build capacities and the knowledge base for soil stewardship
    Targeted
  • 2. Co-create and upscale place-based innovations to improve soil health in all places
    Not targeted
  • 3. Develop an integrated EU soil monitoring system and track progress towards soil health
    Not targeted
  • 4. Engage with the soil user community and society at large
    Partially targeted

Innovation hotspots

  • 1. Carbon farming
    Not targeted
  • 2. Soil pollution and restoration
    Not targeted
  • 3. Soil biodiversity including the microbiome
    Not targeted
  • 4. Circular economy solutions
    Not targeted

Cross-cutting dimensions

  • 1. Business
    Not targeted
  • 2. Digital
    Not targeted
  • 3. Territorial
    Not targeted
  • 4. International
    Partially targeted

© European Union, 2024. Image sources: Adobe.Stock.com