Desarrollo de sistemas agrícolas sostenibles basados en la palma datilera preservando su biodiversidad
Nombre/Name
Desarrollo de sistemas agrícolas sostenibles basados en la palma datilera preservando su biodiversidad
Referencia de proyecto/Project Code
PCI2020-112088
Investigador principal/Principal Investigator
Investigadores/Researchers
Fecha de inicio/Start Year
01/06/2020
Fecha de finalización/End Year
31/05/2023
Grupo de Investigación/Research Group
Instituto/Institute
CSIC - Instituto de la Grasa (IG)
Descripción/Description
Context
Date palm has long been one of the most important fruit crops for south Mediterranean countries, where dates are the main income source and staple food for some Mediterranean local populations. Algeria and Tunisia are among the major Mediterranean date producers. However, this fruit crop is currently in danger due to several constraints, such as genetic erosion due to the predominance of the elite cultivar Deglet Noor in modern plantations, anthropogenic spread of disease and pests, and drastic climatic conditions (drought, temperature etc.).
The main objective of this proposal is to conserve the biodiversity and improve the sustainability of Mediterranean date-palm agrosystems by genetic, microbiological and technological approaches.
GreenPalm focuses not only on conservation of genetic diversity of date palm cultivars with high added value, but also considers underexploited and neglected cultivars with culinary, cosmetics or medicinal roles.
Objectives
I. To make a screening of P. dactilyfera varieties in southern Mediterranean basin in order to genetically describe the biodiversity of these endangered agro ecosystems.
II. To study the palm tree rhizosphere and phyllosphere in order to develop and optimize pest and disease bio-control methods that contribute to agricultural sustainability.
III. To obtain high value-added compounds useful as biocontrol agents and food ingredients to improve the socio-economic level of local population.
IV. Transfer of knowledge generated in the project, by implementation of good farming practices that are easily applicable and economically viable in date palm production areas.
Expected impacts
The main beneficiaries of this project must be the agrarian communities growing date palms of Mediterranean countries.
The Database on Genetic Biodiversity of the Palm Agro-ecosystems of the selected oases will be available for local, regional and national administration, and will allow them to plan new date palm plantations adapted to adverse weather conditions and produce higher quality dates. GreenPalm will provide a comprehensive view of microbial communities driving the biological functioning and diseases for enhancing soil sustainability. It will thus contribute to define new agricultural practices aiming at improving productivity in line with environmental policies as well as providing economic alternatives with added value for south Mediterranean countries.
In relation to the circular economy, GreenPalm proposes the valorization of palm byproducts as a source of new food ingredients and phytosanitaries, taking advantage of the tons of waste annually produced from the date palm cultivation.
This technology, nowadays at TRL 3, will reach TRL 6 at the end of the project. It will provide tailored information on good agricultural and sustainable practices by means of product specification sheets, new products catalogue and soil management protocols. All this will be transferred to different stakeholders by means of formation activities.
Date palm has long been one of the most important fruit crops for south Mediterranean countries, where dates are the main income source and staple food for some Mediterranean local populations. Algeria and Tunisia are among the major Mediterranean date producers. However, this fruit crop is currently in danger due to several constraints, such as genetic erosion due to the predominance of the elite cultivar Deglet Noor in modern plantations, anthropogenic spread of disease and pests, and drastic climatic conditions (drought, temperature etc.).
The main objective of this proposal is to conserve the biodiversity and improve the sustainability of Mediterranean date-palm agrosystems by genetic, microbiological and technological approaches.
GreenPalm focuses not only on conservation of genetic diversity of date palm cultivars with high added value, but also considers underexploited and neglected cultivars with culinary, cosmetics or medicinal roles.
Objectives
I. To make a screening of P. dactilyfera varieties in southern Mediterranean basin in order to genetically describe the biodiversity of these endangered agro ecosystems.
II. To study the palm tree rhizosphere and phyllosphere in order to develop and optimize pest and disease bio-control methods that contribute to agricultural sustainability.
III. To obtain high value-added compounds useful as biocontrol agents and food ingredients to improve the socio-economic level of local population.
IV. Transfer of knowledge generated in the project, by implementation of good farming practices that are easily applicable and economically viable in date palm production areas.
Expected impacts
The main beneficiaries of this project must be the agrarian communities growing date palms of Mediterranean countries.
The Database on Genetic Biodiversity of the Palm Agro-ecosystems of the selected oases will be available for local, regional and national administration, and will allow them to plan new date palm plantations adapted to adverse weather conditions and produce higher quality dates. GreenPalm will provide a comprehensive view of microbial communities driving the biological functioning and diseases for enhancing soil sustainability. It will thus contribute to define new agricultural practices aiming at improving productivity in line with environmental policies as well as providing economic alternatives with added value for south Mediterranean countries.
In relation to the circular economy, GreenPalm proposes the valorization of palm byproducts as a source of new food ingredients and phytosanitaries, taking advantage of the tons of waste annually produced from the date palm cultivation.
This technology, nowadays at TRL 3, will reach TRL 6 at the end of the project. It will provide tailored information on good agricultural and sustainable practices by means of product specification sheets, new products catalogue and soil management protocols. All this will be transferred to different stakeholders by means of formation activities.