Project Details
Greening the Margins: NUS for Mediterranean Agroecosystems
Project Date: 2024-04-01
Description:
Desertification and freshwater scarcity are major challenges for agriculture in the Mediterranean region. To address this, there's a need to introduce crop species more tolerant to drought and capable of growing in degraded, marginal lands. Neglected and underutilized species (NUS), adapted to arid climates, offer higher resilience and can improve soil water balance and carbon storage. These crops provide small farmers with economic opportunities by turning abandoned lands into productive areas. The VENUS project aims to showcase the environmental and economic benefits of cultivating low-water-demand NUS in dry, saline, and nutrient-poor conditions.