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Project Topic
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The aim of the MORFeuS project is to operationalize the mainstreaming and dissemination of Nexus cross-sectoral combined solutions (technical, organizational and in terms of policy) towards resilient and sustainable territories. It will tackle three challenges: i) identify and assess the specific combination of solutions needed to increase the resilience of the considered territory regarding all WEFE resources; ii) rely on local stakeholders’ knowledge and needs to combine technical, organizational solutions, and policy instruments; iii) assess the potential of scaling up such approaches and solutions in the Western Mediterranean area. To tackle these challenges, MORFeuS consortium gathers researchers, SMEs driving innovation, and extension services in the five different territories and countries.
MORFeuS proposes a territory-based resilience approach to engage stakeholders, local communities and decision makers to operationalize and co-assess WEFE combined solutions towards their dissemination for long-term WEFE management. Mobilizing a Nexus resilience framework, MORFeuS will co-design and operationalize combined solutions in large irrigated Demonstration Sites. Demonstration sites, located in Algeria, France, Morocco, Portugal and Tunisia, all experience severe crisis on WEFE resources. MORFeuS solutions will combine existing small-scale and exogenous ones. Small-scale solutions include different types of solutions: i) technical (e.g. agroecology, nature-based solutions, Reuse), ii) organizational (e.g. integrated water management, local food transformation, renewable energy for collective pumping), and institutional (policy frameworks). Exogenous solutions will rely on i) innovative experiences in Exploratory Sites in the different countries; ii) technological innovations (hydro sensors, on-farm digital solutions) promising for water management and agricultural sustainability. Their combinations and implementation will be performed in each Demonstration Site, by largely engaging sectoral stakeholders, farmers, and the local communities. Solutions’ implementation and impact assessment will be capitalized and up scaled, through modeling and creation of the MORFeuS innovation network.
To hybridize different types of knowledge, we will develop an operational Cross-Sectoral Nexus participatory approach towards territorial resilience and sustainability. MORFeuS will build territorial living laboratories, in each Demonstration Site, to co-design and operationalize combinations of solutions that build resilient, parsimonious and shared use of WEFE resources, while analyzing and solving lock-ins. Upscaling tools will highlight the potential of cross-sectorial solutions, clarifying drivers and impacts at large scale towards policy recommendations.
MORFeuS will develop two business models in the different Demonstration sites: Digi-Advice at farm scale, and short supply chain. Their development and sustainability will be facilitated by trainings and the mobilization of local entrepreneurs, towards their large dissemination and exploitation relying on MORFeuS network and International Stakeholders’ Platform.
MORFeuS will highlight key information for the implementation of the Nexus approach. First, an initial and final analysis of the roles and actions of WEFE stakeholders committed in the living labs will highlight sector specificities hampering their collaboration. Second, an analysis of the policy frameworks, currently sector-driven, will nurture the living labs’ design of cross-sectoral policy recommendations. Third, these will be crossed with the local choices and implementation of cross-sectoral solutions. MORFeuS will issue recommendations for effectively implementing the Nexus approach towards sustainable use of resources. They will be largely disseminated through existing networks, and with specific events, i.e. MORFeuS Final Policy conference.
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