Lead Chestnut blight caused by the fungus Cryphonectria parasitica is an introduced disease responsible for a widespread decline of European chestnut forests. In this project, we aim to provide the scientific basis for biological control of this devastating tree disease. Background Biological control is a highly desirable means of pest and disease management in natural and managed forest ecosystems. This control method depends on the invasion of a pest population by a biocontrol agent (e.g. a hyperparasite), which ideally can spread and establish in a self-sustainable way. The Cryphonectria hypovirus1 (CHV-1) infects the chestnut blight fungus C. parasitica and has the potential to be used as a biological control agent of this pathogen. The invasion of C. parasitica populations by the hypovirus appears to be highly influenced by the population biology of the fungus. Spread of the hypovirus is favoured by low diversity of vegetative compatibility (vc) types and limited sexual reproduction. Therefore, the information and understanding of the population structure and epidemiology of C. parasitica and the hypovirus is important for the success of biological control of chestnut blight. Objectives The project has two main objectives, (1) to investigate the population structure and colonization history of the chestnut blight fungus C. parasitica in Georgia and the Balkans by using different types of genetic markers, and (2) to evaluate novel application methods and perform practical biological control experiments in collaboration with end users. Significance European chestnut is an important multipurpose tree species grown for fruit and wood production in many rural areas of Europe. Our project will contribute to a better understanding of a serious disease of chestnut trees and will help to restore and protect infested chestnut orchards and forests. This multilateral project will also allow the continuation and strengthening of partnerships among research groups from Switzerland, Macedonia, Croatia, and Georgia.
GreenCook is aimed at reducing food wastage and to make the North-West Europe a model of sustainable food management, by in-depth work on the consumer / food relationship thanks to a multisectoral partnership. Food wastage is a challenging problem, directly linked with the question of waste, consumption and climate change. A quarter of the food produced in the world each year ends up in the dustbin, without having been consumed. Food wastage, a reflection of our overconsumption society, also reinforces social inequalities and is ethically unacceptable. The negative impacts of this wastage are real: for households (useless expenditure), for local authorities (overproduction of waste to be treated, increased costs), for the environment (pointless use of resources and pollution), and for the economy (falling prices). There is a pressing need, for consumers to respect food and food producers again, to enjoy the pleasure of healthy and tasty eating again, to rediscover culinary know-how, and to optimise food presentation, storage and conservation. Lately, tools and methods are under experimentation to help consumers to improve their food management while controlling their purchasing power. They aim at changing behaviour or altering the offer (at the supermarket, in the restaurant or in the canteen). It is alas hard for them to be generalised, because of the complexity of the levers that have to be activated. GreenCooks ambition is to create this lever effect, by generating a dynamic that motivates all of the food players and by throwing pathbreaking bridges with the fields of health, welfare and economic development. Its diversified partnership intends to show the added value of united, transversal action, and to influence EU policies, in order to get a new European sustainable food model to emerge. Prime Contractor: Espace Environnement asbl; Charleroi; Belgien.
In Südamerika sind Millionen von Menschen von Wasserressourcen abhängig, die in der hoch gelegenen Paramo Graslandschaft sowie den tropischen Bergwäldern der Anden und an der Atlantikküste gebildet werden. Diese Wasserressourcen stehen unter zunehmenden Druck, hervorgerufen durch Landnutzungsänderungen und Klimawandel. Investitionen in wasserbezogene Dienstleistungen in Wassereinzugsgebieten (Investments in Watershed Services, IWS) sind starke, wenn auch bislang nicht ausgeschöpfte Maßnahmen, die eine einmalige Gelegenheit bieten, die Auswirkungen von Landnutzungsänderungen und Klimawandel auf Wasserressourcen in diesen sensiblen Bergregionen zu bewerten. ClimateWIse will den Erfolg der jetzigen Investitionen in wasserbezogene Dienstleistungen überprüfen und ihre Wirksamkeit unter Klimaänderung bewerten. Auf diese Weise werden Forschungsergebnisse erlangt, die die weitgefassten Fragen hinsichtlich der hydrologischen Auswirkungen durch Landnutzungs- und Klimaänderungen in den tropischen Bergwäldern Südamerikas adressieren. Zunächst werden wir untersuchen, ob Investitionen in wasserbezogene Dienstleistungen gegenwärtig die Situation der Wasserressourcen in den Einzugsgebieten verbessern. Dazu werden wir 1.1) die von den IWS Interessengruppen erwarteten Ergebnisse evaluieren; 1.2) neue Daten zur IWS-Überwachung erheben und 1.3) vorhandene Simulationsmodelle zu Ausarbeitung und Bewertung von IWS-Maßnahmen verbessern. Um aber die Anpassungsfähigkeit von IWS-Maßnahmen an zukünftige Klimaveränderungen zu ermitteln, werden wir 2.1) die Berücksichtigung von Klimaaspekten in IWS Planungen überprüfen; 2.2) die Prognosen der Auswirkungen von Klimawandel und weiteren Veränderungen verbessern, sowie 2.3) die Möglichkeiten prüfen, Angaben zu Klimaänderungen in IWS zu integrieren, was zu einer Verbesserung der Widerstandsfähigkeit von IWS-Maßnahmen führt und darüber hinaus auch zur Anpassung an den Klimawandel beiträgt. ClimateWIse baut auf die Forschungsarbeiten beteiligter Projektpartner auf: diese reichen von Forschungsaktivitäten im Bereich hydrologische Konnektivität in den tropischen Bergregionen Südamerikas im Allgemeinen, bis hin zur Beurteilung von IWS-Maßnahmen im Speziellen. Diese Expertise wird erstmalig in diesem Projektantrag zusammengebracht. In diesem Zusammenhang werden wir auch die existierenden Beziehungen zum Latin American Water Funds Partnership und Brazilian Water Producer Program nutzen. ClimateWIse will die Bewirtschaftung der Wasserressourcen verbessern, die wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnisse über die Auswirkungen von Landnutzungs- und Klimaänderungen auf den hydrologischen Kreislauf in tropischen Bergregionen erweitern, die wissenschaftlichen Grundlagen im Bereich ökosystemorientierter Bewirtschaftung ausbauen sowie Ergebnisse für die Wassernutzer in der gesamten Region fördern. Die mit ClimateWIse erzielten Erkenntnisse werden für die Wasserwirtschaft innerhalb Südamerikas aber auch über den Kontinent hinaus von direktem Nutzen sein.
Large-scale operational ocean monitoring and forecasting networks, defined in the international programme Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), are needed to implement many global conventions and agreements signed by the EU and its Member states, including the Convention on the Law of the Sea, International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, Convention on Biodiversity, Framework Convention on Climate Change, Programme of Action for Sustainable Development. GOOS Regional Alliances co-ordinate the efforts of states around the world to implement GOOS. They have different capacities, resources and level of activity, but all seek to establish a global sustained system of observations to predict the state of the marine environment, to fulfil their duties in international agreements and to gain practical benefits for a variety of end-users and for public good. Europe (EuroGOOS, MedGOOS) has world leadership. EC RTD projects such as MAMA, PAPA and ARENA support international co-operation for GOOS, and participate in the initial phase of the Global Monitoring of Environment and Security, the European contribution to global monitoring systems. GRAND brings together all the GOOS Regional Alliances (GRAs) and is supported by the major international organisations related to GOOS (IOC, JCOMM, I-GOOS). The partnership covers all the oceans on Earth to provide a forum, led by Europe, to harmonise the diverse regional systems within GOOS, while advancing the European contribution to the global system. GRAND will facilitate the dissemination of best practice, technology transfer, development of international co-operation, establishment of observing systems in developing countries, application of results of EU projects to the broader international community active in the GRAs. This will help to strengthen the role of the EU on the international stage while contributing to the integration and strengthening of the ERA.
Umweltfreundlich und ohne eigenes Auto mobil zu sein: das ist in ländlichen Räumen oftmals besonders schwierig. Die Gründe dafür liegen im demographischen Wandel, in knappen öffentlichen Kassen und in einer unzureichenden Zusammenarbeit relevanter Institutionen. Das Interreg-Projekt Peripheral Access - 'Transnational cooperation and partnership for better public transport in peripheral and cross-border regions' - will daher die Mobilität in ländlichen Räumen, im Hinterland von Ballungsräumen und in Grenzregionen verbessern. Es sollen mehr Menschen davon überzeugt werden, ihr Auto stehen zu lassen und den öffentlichen Nahverkehr zu nutzen. Um das zu erreichen, setzt das Projekt auf neue Mobilitätsstrategien. So zum Beispiel auf Busse, die auch Fahrräder befördern, oder auf Rufbusse, die die Passagiere per Smartphone bestellen können.
NANOINSULATE will develop durable, robust, cost-effective opaque and transparent vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) incorporating new nanotechnology-based core materials (nanofoams, aerogels, aerogel composites) and high-barrier films that are up to four times more energy efficient than current solutions. These new systems will provide product lifetimes in excess of 50 years suitable for a variety of new-build and retrofit building applications. Initial building simulations based on the anticipated final properties of the VIPs indicate reductions in heating demand of up to 74Prozent and CO2 emissions of up to 46Prozent for Madrid, Spain and up to 61Prozent and 55Prozent respectively for Stuttgart, Germany for a building renovation which reduces the U-value of the walls and roof from 2.0 W m-2 K-1 to 0.2 W m-2 K-1. This reduction could be achieved with NANOINSULATE products that are only 25 mm thick, giving a cost-effective renovation without the need of changing all the reveals and ledges. Similarly, significant reductions in U-values of transparent VIPs (3 W m-2 K-1 to 0.5 W m-2 K-1) are shown by substituting double glazed units in existing building stock. Six industrial & four research based partners from seven EU countries will come together to engineer novel solutions capable of being mass produced. Target final manufacturing costs for insulation board (production rates above 5 million m2/year) are less than 7 m-2 for a U-value of 0.2 W m-2 K-1. NANOINSULATE will demonstrate its developments at construction sites across Europe. A Lifecycle Assessment, together with a safety and service-life costing analysis, will be undertaken to prove economic viability. NANOINSULATE demonstrates strong relevance to the objectives and expected impacts of both the specific call text of the Public-Private Partnership Energy-efficient Buildings topic New nanotechnology-based high performance insulation systems for energy efficiency within the 2010 NMP Work Programme and the wider NMP & Energy Thematic Priorities. Prime Contractor: Kingsplan Research and Developments Ltd.; Kingscourt; Irland.
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