Strategy

Our strategy is to promote interdisciplinary and problem-solving research at different scales (global, regional, local).

The Research in MED and its heterogeneity are explored in 8 Thematic Lines driven by the Mission and the 5 overarching Goals.

The Thematic Lines (TL) are organized in two complementary approaches:

a) An approach centred on a value chain or an agroecosystem:

  1. Olive groves and olive oil;
  2. Viticulture and enology;;
  3. Horticulture;
  4. Animal production and health;
  5. Agro-silvo pastoral system montado;

b) An approach centred on cross-cutting themes crucial for the sustainability of the Mediterranean ecosystems and landscapes:

  1. Irrigated agriculture;
  2. Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning;
  3. Rural dynamics and governance. .

Each Thematic Line has a leader that assures consistency in the contributions and motivates researchers to address questions that inform the TL.

Each researcher belongs to only one Research Group. Groups are formed in two ways:

  1. around a disciplinary area and a related methodological approach
  2. around a study object, combining diverse and complementary disciplines.

Most Groups have different competence clusters. The competence clusters often correspond to teams that work together on a daily basis. Interaction and integration in a competence cluster helps creating stronger teams. Researchers are encouraged to orient their investigation to feed into the TLs, and collaborate with researchers inside or outside the Groups. Each Group (and researcher) may contribute to one or more of the TLs. Flexibility and interaction are key concepts, and integration towards common goals (in the TLs) is a strategic positioning.

Research groups contribute to the Thematic Lines objectives as summarized below::

group lines