BENEFIT-Med

Boosting technologies of orphan legumes towards resilient farming systems in the Greater Mediterranean Region: from bench to open field

Webpage: https://www.benefit-med.eu/
PI & Contact: Patrick Laux
Duration: 2022-2025

The BENEFIT-Med project aims to enhance sustainable agriculture in the Greater Mediterranean Region by focusing on orphan legumes—underutilized crops well-suited to extreme soil and climate conditions. The project emphasizes improving seed germination through sustainable 'on-farm' seed biopriming techniques, thereby boosting crop yields and promoting local socio-economic development. Key objectives include developing low-cost, easy-to-use seed priming protocols, creating climate change vulnerability maps, and fostering a multi-stakeholder platform to promote the new farming system.

The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT, IMK-IFU) plays a pivotal role in BENEFIT-Med by leading Work Package 4, which focuses on climate projections. Leveraging its extensive experience in studying climate change in vulnerable regions, KIT contributes to developing climate change suitability and vulnerability maps. Such maps are essential for identifying agroecosystems susceptible to environmental shocks, food insecurity, and malnutrition, thereby guiding the implementation of BENEFIT-Med farming practices in areas where they are most needed.