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H2020Staff exchange2015–2019

BeFOre · Bioresources For Oliviculture

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2015-02-01 → 2019-01-31
EU contribution
€1,296,000
Participants
17
Scheme
MSCA-RISE

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

Bioresources For Oliviculture

The olive is one of the first domesticated trees in the Mediterranean, more than 5,500 years BP and is one of the few tree crop species that has preserved a significant genetic and phenotypic variability. More than 2,000 varieties are known, excluding the cases of minor ecotypes, pollinators, ancient trees, and other forms, which would increase the number to more than 4,000 genotypes. Olive germplasm is particularly rich and represents an invaluable source of variation to be used directly or for new breeding programs. Up to now, qualified researchers, technical assistance services, local authorities and numerous other stakeholders, promoted excellent activities related to olive germplasm collection, and documentation. But germplasm management is hampered by the lack of common protocols for prospection, sample collection, identification and phenotypic characterization, as well as by the restrictions on the access to resources from all countries. The genetic and phenotypic variability of the olive varieties has to be scanned, evaluated and preserved, in a perspective of variability conservation for future applications. Furthermore, the Protected Denomination of Origin for extravirgin olive oils provided by the EU, encourages defining the genetic and phenotypic characteristics of regional varieties. Within the context of climate change and the urgent need to reduce the environmental impact of olive cultivation, lower chemical inputs and increase product quality, BeFOre project has given an important contribution to mobilizing capacities to participate in, and benefit from, global efforts to manage and use olive genetic resources for a sustainable oliviculture and olive oil production. Experienced and early stage research staff, belonging to academic and non academic organisations, has actively been exchanged among European and Third Countries, ensuring a good scientific transfer of knowledge and training for a fruitful common effort on olive germplasm conservation, evaluation, and utilization.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

The project aims at establishing a multi-lateral network of research and innovation staff active in olive germplasm access, conservation, evaluation and exploitation, strengthening research capacities through the exchange of knowledge and expertise on a shared research programme focused on developing integrated common protocols to phenotype and characterize plants at molecular, morphological and physiological level, and evaluating the olive oil quality related to varieties. The scientific results of the project will contribute at improving the potential of the olive germplasm collections, repositories and banks as main sources of variability and of the evaluation tools to be used to increase oliviculture sustainability. Particular attention will be paid to issues concerned to international intellectual property rights for conserving, exchanging and using the olive genetic resources. Another aim is to create a long lasting network among partners also promoting new common projects in the frame of Horizon2020 and other international funding sources. The joint exchange programme will involve 9 beneficiaries and 6 partners belonging to AC and NAC sectors and will be performed through a series of short and long term staff exchanges and workshops among European (Italy, Spain, Greece and France) and third countries (Morocco, Lebanon, Jordan, Argentina, Chile and Mexico). The International Olive Council (IOC), represented by IOC Executive Director, Jean-Louis Barjol, expressed its strong support to “BeFOre” planning to play an important role in dissemination activities. Experienced and early stage researchers, technicians and managers, are expected to be exchanged between EU and TC to ensure a good scientific transfer of knowledge and training. Enhancement of careers for the staff involved is expected. The project coordination and management will be ensured by the contribution of a well established coordination group and a Steering Committee.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE · RomaCoordinatorItaly
  • CONFEDERAZIONE ITALIANA AGRICOLTORI REGIONALE UMBRIA · PerugiaItaly
  • GEOPONIKO PANEPISTIMION ATHINON · ATHINAGreece
  • INSTITUT NATIONAL D'ENSEIGNEMENT SUPERIEUR POUR L'AGRICULTURE, L'ALIMENTATION ET L'ENVIRONNEMENT · ParisFrance
  • INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE AGRONOMIQUE · RabatMorocco
  • INSTITUT NATIONAL DE RECHERCHE POUR L'AGRICULTURE, L'ALIMENTATION ET L'ENVIRONNEMENT · ParisFrance
  • INSTITUTO ANDALUZ DE INVESTIGACIONY FORMACION AGRARIA PESQUERA ALIMENTARIA Y DE LA PRODUCCION ECOLOGICA · SevillaSpain
  • INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE TECNOLOGIA AGROPECUARIA · Buenos AiresArgentina
  • LEBANESE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE · RayakLebanon
  • MEDITERRANEAN AGRONOMIC INSTITUTE OF CHANIA · CHANIAGreece
  • NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTER, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE · AmmanJordan
  • OPTIMUM QUALITY SL · CARCABUEYSpain
  • PARC NATIONAL DE PORT-CROS · HyeresFrance
  • SYNDESMOS BIOMHCHANON TYPOPOIHTON EXAGOGON ELAIOLADOY · ATHINAGreece
  • UNIVERSIDAD AUTONOMA DEL ESTADO DE BAJA CALIFORNIA · BAJA CALIFORNIAMexico
  • UNIVERSIDAD DE LA FRONTERA · TemucoChile
  • UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PERUGIA · PerugiaItaly

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union