SICAs in Cooperation - 2 Agriculture, Food and Biotechnology
By Ms. Elke DALL on Dec 23, 2006
Status: Public
In the Workprogramme for the Theme 'Agriculture, Food and Biotechnology' there are 3 topics which will be calling for coopration specifically with the Western Balkan countries. All will be launched with the 1st Call for Proposals (Deadline May 2, 2007).
KBBE-2007-2-1-02: Developing research tools for food consumer science in the Western Balkan Countries (Small collaborative project) > Western Balkans
Call: FP7-KBBE-2007-1
The countries of the Western Balkans (WBC) have little tradition in consumer science related to food, but are showing increasing interest in this field. Research should focus on developing research tools for assessing consumer behaviour of the WBC populations within this area. Capacity building and support to consumer food science should be fostered through an integrated information exchange, technology transfer and education programme. This might include not only support and assistance to the research/education sector but also to consumer organisations in the area. Research should focus on a specific geographical area with homogeneous socio-cultural behaviour.
Funding scheme: Small collaborative project
Additional information: Specific International Cooperation Action (SICA)
Minimum Number of Participants: 2 from different MS or AC (including Croatia and non-EU Black Sea countries) and 2 from the Western Balkan ICPC countries.
Expected impact: Determination of consumer behaviours (drivers and determinants) in the countries of the Western Balkans and Black Sea Region; Contribution to regional and European nutrition and health policies; Increased dialogue between consumers and food producers, including industry, in the area; Enhanced cooperation in the area of consumer science with EU and neighbouring countries; Contribution to consumer policy making, in particular in the areas related to health, nutrition and food safety, relevant to the Health and Consumer Protection Directorate General.
KBBE-2007-1-4-05: Enlargement network - Agro-economic policy analysis of the accession and the candidate states and the Western Balkan countries (Coordination and support action) > Western Balkans
Call: FP7-KBBE-2007-1
In the view of the integration of new Member States, strengthening the accession process for the remaining Candidate Countries and the closer co-operation with other candidate and pre-candidate countries, notably of the Western Balkans, it is important to establish and combine insight and analyses of agricultural developments in the different countries. It is important to include all relevant countries (i.e. Malta, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Serbia (including Kosovo under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244) and Montenegro). The area of expertise and analyses on the individual countries should cover agricultural policies, agricultural markets and food chains, the competitiveness of agri-food products and farms including structural change, the developments of trade and trade relations, as well as developments of rural economies and regions including socio-economic conditions and rural labour markets and agro-environmental situations. Since the agricultural, economic and socio-economic conditions vary significantly between the countries a strong and a wide expertise needs to be established by individual countries as does the capacity to achieve a regional and European perspective in the different analyses.
Funding scheme: Coordination and support action aiming at supporting the KBBE
Expected impact: The project will provide the analytical tools to increase the effectiveness of EC measures in support of agriculture and rural development within the accession process and the new neighbourhood policy
KBBE-2007-1-4-10: Containment of Sharka virus in view of EU-expansion (Small collaborative project) > Western Balkans
Call: FP7-KBBE-2007-1
Sharka (Plum pox virus) is considered one of the most serious diseases of stone fruit. The virus affects all Prunus species, including plums, peaches, nectarines, apricots and almonds. Plum pox causes high yield losses and has resulted in large areas of tree removal in Europe, where it is well established. Central Europe and the Balkans are known as endemic centres of the disease. Epidemics result in large areas of stone-fruit cultivation being destroyed, with consequent economic losses as well as related social and environmental impacts. Research in this project will look at new ways of controlling the spread of this virus, including early warning systems, research networks, use of remote sensing and other techniques that would help contain the disease. The research should focus on three complementary aspects: 1) The spreading of contaminated seedling/nursery materials; 2) Establishing guidelines for cultivation methods to contain the disease; 3) The development of genetic control based on marker assisted selection and biotechnological strategies for breeding for resistance.
Funding scheme: Small collaborative project
Additional information: Partners should include relevant institutions from Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey.
Expected impact: The project will deliver a risk management system for this important plant disease and, thus, minimise the impact of the disease during the accession process.
It is important to note that not only these actions are open for participation from Western Balkan countries - but they are specifically launched in order to promote cooperation with this region! Please refer to the workprogramme for other objectives.