THE 'CERERE' PROJECT: A MULTIDIMENSIONAL APPROACH TO ENHANCE CEREAL SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE AND VIABILITY

The CERERE (CEreals REsiliency REvolution for agile supply chain management in the Mediterranean) project is funded by the PRIMA Programme 2023 Section 1 – Food Value-chain 2023 – Topic 1.3.1 (RIA) – Increasing resilience of agri-food supply chain (cereal) in the MENA region. CERERE focuses on 3 specific species at the basis of Mediterranean cuisine andcultural roots (bread and durum wheat and barley). Current vulnerabilities and market risks from external factors and stressors influencing Mediterranean food systems (biological hazards, extreme weather events, land degradation, economic crises and political conflicts) must beconsidered to generate strategies and evidence-based recommendations helping to mitigate the adverse effects of these stressors and guide the progress towards resilient Mediterranean societies. In this context, CERERE’s overall objective is to contribute to enhancing the resilience and viability of the cereal intertwined supply network (C-ISN) and local food systems in MENA countries (and, by large, in the Mediterranean area) through a combined approach of basic and industrial research, technological development, social/business innovation, and capacity building. After an accurate mapping of the current scenario in terms of agronomic, social,economic aspects and disruptions recognition, an open-source platform designed to support smart agriculture including a starter kit based on Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and an AI-based intelligent nerve center to orchestrate the cereal ISN with agility and flexibility, will begenerated. Moreover, a list of suggestions on performing varieties and good agricultural practices adapted to MENA countries will be available for small/medium farmers and various actors in the chain