XIII International seminar of the FONCIMED network
Agricultural uses of water and intensification of production systems: what impacts on land resources?
Main topic
Water is a fundamental and limited resource, which induces major risks at the global level. On the scale of the Mediterranean basin, the water constraint is already present and is likely to increase drastically in the coming years, giving rise to environmental and geopolitical tensions. In this context, the modalities of agricultural use of water have an impact not only on the balance between resources – water/soil/biodiversity/landscape – but also on land tenure systems.
In this context, we are witnessing major changes in agricultural systems, whether it be the evolution of traditional systems towards hyper-intensive modes of production, investments by multinational companies or changes induced by public policies in the north and south of the Mediterranean (CAP, Green Morocco Plan, etc.). The dynamics of intensification of traditional systems has been the subject of research, particularly with regard to its effect on water resources. On the other hand, the consequences of these changes on land structures in the strict sense, or territorial structures in the broader sense, by considering the economic, environmental and social dimensions, need to be further documented, taking into account in particular the implementation of regulatory tools and mechanisms.
The expected presentations will therefore aim to analyze the current dynamics of water resources use in relation to their consequences on land resources. The impact of changes on existing agricultural systems, the proposal of indicators or evaluation of changes, the proposal of adapted governance systems or the anticipation of foreseeable consequences, as well as proposals for alternative models of modernization of agriculture, more anchored on the territory, will be addressed.
The main focus of the seminar is on the relationship between water and land resources management, and will be the subject of a thematic publication. In addition, other research topics related to land tenure systems, usually discussed in the framework of the Foncimed network, and likely to offer a contemporary view on changes at work in Mediterranean agricultural systems, are also welcome and will benefit from a particular visibility within the program.
Thematic axes
1 – New land uses and tensions between different profiles of landowners in irrigated agriculture in the Mediterranean;
2 – Impacts of intensification processes and homogenization of production systems on water resources, soil, biodiversity and the environment as a whole;
3 – Impacts of intensification processes and homogenization of production systems on social capital resources, labor, networks and governance;
4 – Analysis of public policies for the management of water and land resources: investment, support measures and regulation;
5 – Innovations in productive systems and forms of governance of resources;
6 – Climate change, scenarios, modeling of impacts and possible solutions;
7 – Governance of common goods in Mediterranean agricultural systems
Submission of abstracts
Proposals will be presented in the form of abstracts (500 words max.) to be submitted before 23 May 2022 at seminaire.foncimed.2022 [at] gmail.com.
They will specify their inclusion in one or two of the above-mentioned axes, as well as their quality of scientific contribution or feedback from experience and land practice.
Date of notification of acceptance: 27 June 2022.
Deadline for registration to the seminar: from the acceptance of the abstract until 19 September 2022.
Organizing Committee
Teresa Pinto-Correia MED-Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development and CHANGE-Global Change and Sustainability Institute, University of Évora
José Munoz-Rojas, MED-Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development and CHANGE-Global Change and Sustainability Institute, University of Évora
Maria Rivera, MED-Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development and CHANGE-Global Change and Sustainability Institute, University of Évora
Luis Gomes, UDIT-MED-Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development and CHANGE-Global Change and Sustainability Institute, University of Évora
Scientific Committee
Stavriani KOUTSOU, University of Thessaloniki, Greece
Claude NAPOLEONE, INRAE, Resarch unit EcoDéveloppement, Avignon, France.
Jean-Christophe PAOLI, INRAE, Resarch unit LRDE-SELMET, Corte, France.
Romain MELOT, INRAE, Resarch unit SADAPT, Paris, France
Orlando RODRIGUES –Polytechnical Institute of Bragança, Portugal.
Stefano TARGETTI, University of Bologna, Italy.
Ruben GONZALES, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Aymen FRIJA, CGIAR, Tunisia.
Aissam ZINEDINE, University of Meknès, Maroc.
Theodosia ANTHOPOULOU, University Panteion of Athens, Greece.
Menelaos STAVRINIDES, Cyprus University of Technology, Cyprus.
Fatmir GURI, University of Tirana, Albania.
Carlos MARQUES, MED-Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development and CHANGE-Global Change and Sustainability Institute, University of Évora
Seminar venue
The seminar will be hosted by the University of Evora, one of the oldest universities in Portugal. The conferences will be held in the central building of the University, Colégio Espírito Santo, built in the 16th century by the Jesuits, located in the center of the city. The city of Evora offers many possibilities of hotel accommodations. It is located 120 km east of Lisbon and is easily accessible by train or express bus (1.5 hour trip).