The UfM Climate Week is an occasion to gather a wide range of actors (UfM members’ representatives, civil society, IFIs, scientific experts…) around different topics, all related to climate action in the Mediterranean region. By organising this event, the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean provides a discussion and networking framework aiming to create and enhance synergies among the different climate‑related actors, and to enrich their exchanges.

The Seventh Meeting of the UfM Climate Change Expert Group (UfM CCEG), which was chaired by the UfM Co‑Presidency, Jordan and the European Union, and opened by European Commission DG NEAR Director General Christian Danielsson and the UfM Secretary General Nasser Kamel. Among other issues, this meeting included the presentation of the CLIMA‑MED – EU Climate Action in the Southern Neighbourhood project, and the update on the scientific report Risks associated to climate and environmental changes in the Mediterranean region, carried out by the MedECC network (Mediterranean Experts on Climate and Environmental Change).

A dedicated workshop on the impact of climate change on the agricultural sector, during which the study "An assessment of the impact of Climate Change on the Agricultural sector – foreseen developments and policy measures" was presented. BSC and UT SEMIDE both participated at the session and present VISCA project as an example of innovation projects with the application of climate services in the agriculture sector.

Check out the new publication of the European Commission: Climate Change Adaptation - Research, Science and Innovation which is featuring VISCA project  among other EU-funded research projects which are using climate information to assess the effects of future warming on industries as diverse as farming to insurance!

Climate Change Adaptation: Research, Science and Innovation

Organised by Mastroberardino and the University of Naples (Department of Agricultural Sciences), VISCA project - which is developing climate services to make the wine industry resilient to climate change - held its 2nd General meeting on 10th-11th December 2018 followed by the 2nd Stakeholders Workshop on 12th December 2018 in the premises of Mastroberardino and the Department of Agriculture – Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II who are part of our consortium.

Organised by the Regional Chamber of Agriculture in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and a multi-sector committee on 16 - 18  October 2018 in Avignon, France, the MED'Agri trade faire was entirely dedicated to the  agricultural production and the agri-technology.

A lot of showcase of innovative techniques were presented during the event. MED'Agri is aimed at professionals of all the agricultural production sectors and farmers and in particular those represented in the South of the France: market gardening, arboriculture, viticulture, olive growing, breeding and also horticulture, beekeeping, truffle, aromatic and fragrant plants, etc. VISCA project was presented at a dedicated stand by SEMIDE as well as the projects involved at the Common Dissemination Booster: WEAM4i and OpIRIS.

For further information, check the official website.

The 2^nd edition of the Climateurope Festival was organised in Belgrade from 17^th to 19^th October 2018 in order to support the exchange of knowledge and cultivate efforts for climate change adaptation and mitigation informed by science. The event brought researchers, suppliers, and funders with an emphasis on participants from Central and Eastern Europe. Varied programme was offered including lectures, discussions and networking to explore the state-of-the-art of climate information, and its uses and value in decision-making.

VISCA project was presented during the Climateurope Festival 2018 in 2 different sessions, one on the “Future of wine: Round table / Impulse talks” on October 18^th and the other on “Climate information at your services I. Agriculture: Storytelling session & Round table” on October 19^th.

VISCA was selected among the winners in the International Call for Solutions on innovation in the agrifood sector: Global Innovation Camp and  Made in Puglia Conference.

The call selected 10 ideas or projects – including VISCA - gathered in Bari & Foggia (Italy) from 7^th to 10^th May 2018. The winners had several training sessions and they will have the access to an acceleration or incubation process for the duration of 3 months in the selected partners’ organisations.  For more information, check the official website: link.