Who we are

MAIN PARTNERS

Centro de Biología Molecular e Ambiental de la Universidad do Minho (CBMA)

UMinho develops research at regional, national and international levels. It is one of the Portuguese higher education institutions with the most registered patents, hosting two of the largest Academy-Industry projects (Sensible Car and Easy Rider) led by BOSCH. Of the 31 research units, 7 were rated as excellent and 19 as very good. The research units cover all fields of knowledge and include 1,033 teachers, 360 researchers and 19,632 students. UMinho has more than 600 ongoing projects and a direct economic impact of €72 million. UMinho offers master’s and doctoral courses in biology, with 100% of the teaching staff holding a doctorate.

CBMA is a research unit that integrates researchers with experience in plant functional biology, botany and ecology. Its researchers develop partnerships with stakeholders such as municipalities, environmental agencies and companies.

Conservatoire d’espaces naturels d’Occitanie

The CEN L-R is a non-profit association, created in 1990 and institutionally recognised by the 1976 law on nature protection and by a joint State-Region L414-11 CE approval. It owns 630 ha and manages 18,000 ha in the former Languedoc-Roussillon, through partnership agreements involving both public and private owners, farmers, users and citizens. The CEN L-R – 35 employees, 100 members, a scientific council – promotes the integration of biodiversity into public policies. It implements several conservation programmes to support agroecological management. Numerous activities have already involved managers, farmers, collective agricultural organisations, communities and institutions, with the aim of capitalising and then promoting best practices in biodiversity and landscape, soil conservation and the improvement of water quality in the catchment areas.

Centre d’Initiatives pour Valoriserl’Agriculture et le Milieu rural Garrigues de Thau (FAB’LIM)

Our corporate purpose is to promote the emergence, coordination and involvement in partnership projects of participatory research in Occitania and the Mediterranean territories, in favour of a territorial agriculture, respectful of ecosystems and resilient to climate change, and of a greater economic cooperation between the actors of the local sectors. Through our action, we encourage the decompartmentalisation of research and society and strengthen the role of innovation of local actors (farmers, processors, distributors, citizens, local authorities, associations, companies, etc.) in order to invent and co-produce solutions. We stimulate participatory approaches and collective constructions. Through our expertise, we have supported around ten projects in the sector. Skills: monitoring of emerging research and social issues, engineering of multi-actor projects, training engineering, capitalisation and dissemination of knowledge.

Fundación Global Nature

We are a non-profit foundation dedicated to the protection of nature. Our work is based on technical rigour, ethical commitment and innovation. Since our inception in 1993, we have combined theory and practice: we combine strategy and plan development with field work and applied projects. In recent years, we have received more than 20 awards for our work.

Our activity is divided into three main blocks: habitat and species conservation, agri-food sustainability and business sustainability. The actions and projects that make up each theme are linked in order to create synergies, increase efficiency in the use of resources and give continuity to each line of action.

Wetlands have always been part of our main line, with their restoration and conservation being the main objective. Our activities have directly benefited more than 100 Spanish wetlands, covering an area of over 14,000 hectares. Wetlands are one of the most important ecosystems for biodiversity conservation.

Vision
To be a reference for innovation in the promotion of sustainable development.

Mission
To make a significant contribution to the protection of nature and biodiversity, promoting sustainability policies and conservation strategies that create value for all sectors involved.

Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária – Serviço desconcentrado deElvas (INIAV)

Long experience in the evaluation and conservation of plant genetic resources: INIAV has been carrying out for many years, following international guidelines, missions of prospection and collection of spontaneous and cultivated germplasm in different pedoclimatic regions of Portugal, some of them in partnership with other national and international institutions. Samples of the populations collected are kept in the Banco Português de Germoplasma Vegetal (BPGV) in the medium and long term and in the working collections of INIAV-Elvas, which integrates them in its characterisation and evaluation programmes as well as in its genetic improvement and agronomic study programmes. The BPGV registers information on the collected genetic material, preserves, morphologically and agronomically evaluates each sample and preserves it whenever possible to improve the valorisation of genetic resources and agricultural systems.

Instituto Politécnico de Bragança

The IPB hosts the CIMO, a research centre in natural and social sciences and engineering aimed at promoting sustainable development based on endogenous resources and the creation of value chains. CIMO brings together 132 researchers (77 integrated PhDs, 40 non-integrated PhDs and 15 collaborators). CIMO has obtained the maximum ranking (EXCELLENT), conferred by the FCT. CIMO is organised in 2 research groups. The “Socio-ecological systems” group deals with human-managed ecological systems based on the interactions between socio-economic and ecological components. Floristics, ecology and agronomy of pastures and vegetation cover have been one of the main research topics of this group for more than two decades. The relevance and impact of the IPB’s research activity is reflected in its top positions in international rankings such as SIR, U-Multirank and Shanghai.

Semillas Silvestres

Semillas Silvestres specialises in seed production technologies from the Mediterranean basin. For almost thirty years, it has been generating knowledge by participating in R&D projects on the use of underused Iberian and wild plant genetic resources to meet the new demands of agro-ecosystem sustainability and environmental restoration.

Semillas Silvestres has been involved in different research projects since the beginning of its activities, generating knowledge for the scientific community published in high impact journals, and for the users of these new resources.

In addition to research activities at the highest level, it has extensive experience in the practical application of native seeds in technical projects for the implantation of these resources by farmers, landscapers and environmental restorers.

BENEFICIARY PARTNERS

Diputación de Córdoba España.

Foro de Redes y Entidades de Custodia del Territorio España

Subdirección General de Biodiversidad Terrestre y Marina. Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica España

Generalitat de Valencia – Dirección General Desarrollo Rural – Consellería de Agricultura España

Asociación Española de Municipios del Olivo España

Conservatoire botanique national des Pyrénées et de Midi-Pyrénées France

Conservatoire Botanique National Méditerranéen de Porquerolles France

Conseil Départemental de l’Hérault France

Conservatoire d’Espaces Naturels Auvergne France

Agence Régionale de la Biodiversité Occitanie France

Associação para o Desenvolvimento da Viticultura Duriense Portugal

Fertiprado – Sementes e Nutrientes, Lda Portugal

Associação Nacional dos Produtores e Comerciantes de Sementes Portugal