The conservation on the abundance and diversity of insect pollinators is a decisive action to avoid the negative impact that the lack of these insects can produce on agriculture, on food production and security, and on environmental sustainability. More than one third of the world's agricultural production depends on Apis mellifera pollination. During the last years there is an alarming increase in the collapse of honey bee colonies where bee pathogens like Varroa destructor mites, the microsporidia Nosema ssp. and viruses participate actively. Colony decline might compromise not only food security but also present and future income to the growers. The aim of this project is to determine the phenology and interaction of the microsporidia Nosema ceranae and viruses including acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV), Black queen cell virus (BQCV) Chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV) and Deformed wing virus (DWV), in four Mediterranean countries: Spain, France, Portugal and Israel. The possible synergisms between N. ceranae and viruses will be also accomplished. These objectives will be developed in the basis of our working hypotheses: - Since Nosema weakens the bee immune system and damages the midgut of the bee it is conceivable that a more virulent strain of virus (including recombinant strains) could emerge from the interaction. - Understanding the phenology of N. ceranae infections and proper management and treatment could ameliorate/ avoid the synergism between Nosema and viruses diminishing the probability of appearance of more pathogenic virus strains improving colony health and survival. To achieve our goals we will first study the prevalence and phenology of N. ceranae in each participating country and we will monitor for the presence of the above mentioned viruses. Then we will investigate the relationship between outbreak of viruses and N. ceranae infections (in colonies treated for Varroa). If we discover positive correlations between a specific-virus outbreak and nosemosis we will identify the virus strain involved in it and compare it with strains of the same virus present at low or asymptomatic levels in the colonies. The possibility to compare among territories with or without V. destructor (vector of viruses) and / or without N. ceranae (if possible) will provide us a broader knowledge on interactions between pathogens. Finally we will examine the impact of treatments against Nosema and pollen supply on the outcome of the virus infections. We are certain that the findings of this project, which involves an active and unique cooperation among partners representing Mediterranean countries covering a wide array of environmental and beekeeping management conditions, will contribute to ameliorate the damage caused by the expansion of N. ceranae through a rational implementation of existing treatments to avoid emergence of synergistic pathogens that accelerate colony collapse compromising food security.

EVOLVEPACK project is framed in the context of innovative sustainable strategies for reducing food waste in the Mediterranean area through the use of sustainable, environmental-friendly, cost-effective and antimicrobial packaging materials to control food hazards by inhibiting microbial growth. The project proposal is a RIA that seeks to contribute to an increased sustainability of the food supply chain, by exploring underexploited agro-industrial, marine residues and antimicrobial enzymes and then develop novel antimicrobial sustainable food packaging and coating materials, aimed at reducing food waste and improve safety in the Mediterranean food supply chain. The overall objective of the EVOLVEPACK project is to design and produce innovative, cost-effective, compostable and/or recyclable food packages based on active bioplastics and cellulosic materials. Trays, flexible films and absorbing pads will be developed considering a circular economy strategy. A thorough analysis of the antimicrobial packaging structures in terms of composition, antimicrobial characteristics, safety assessment and validation in food products will be carried out. These materials will be used to pack fruit/vegetables and fish, which are the basis in the Mediterranean diet, but are prone to rapid deterioration. Migration studies will be performed to assess the food safety of the developed concepts. Quantitative and non-quantitative constraints such as processability, consumer acceptance food safety, among others, will be considered in order to facilitate the design of sustainable packaging structures based on a requirement-driven approach. EVOLVEPACK will also provide an answer to society´s concerns related to food safety, environmental and economic circularity issues of the food industry and food packaging in the Mediterranean region. The project Consortium is composed of 10 Partners from 8 different countries, covering a range of complementary competences and skills, aligned with the European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy from 2018, which seeks to contribute to one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from the United Nations, related to prevention and reduction of marine contamination, promoting the use of more sustainable materials. EVOLVEPACK will be executed over 36 months with a total budget of € 1.998.553,22 requesting a public contribution of € 1.559.053,96. The project will generate broad scientific-technological knowledge (TRL 4) and develop applicable solutions (TRL 6-7), under an overall approach structured in 8 Work Packages.

Emerging plant viral diseases represent a significant burden to plant health, and their highest impact in Mediterranean agriculture is on vegetables grown under intensive horticultural practices. Intensive horticulture is very competitive and one of the most dynamic sectors in Mediterranean agriculture. The emergence of a new viral disease results from a complex interaction among several factors, including ecological changes of host and vector populations, and genetic changes due to the introduction of new crop varieties and the evolution of the viruses and/or vectors. A transnational consortium incorporating 12 research groups from 5 EU and 4 non-EU Mediterranean countries has been gathered to analyse different aspects of the ecology and biology of specific plant viruses, providing measures for the management and control of specific emergent viral diseases in Mediterranean horticulture and, importantly, a better understanding of the phenomenon of emergence itself. We will focus on a few undisputedly important case studies for Mediterranean horticulture, such as whitefly-transmitted geminiviruses in tomato and cucurbits, aphid-transmitted viruses in cucurbits and Pepino mosaic virus in tomato. Specific objectives of the project include (i) identification of host reservoirs for emergent viruses, (ii) development of advanced diagnostic tools, (iii) analysis of host-range determination and host-range modification, (iv) analysis of short- and long-range virus dispersion, including vector transmission and population genetics, (v) analysis of virus evolution, (vi) risks evaluation of virus emergence in a changing environment and (vii) development of sustainable strategies for the control of emerging plant viral diseases.