Our work
harvesting, processing, storage, and marketing
for local farmers, wild herb collectors and rural entreprenuers
Achieve a highly trained and technology-ready
workforce in the botanical sector
To produce high-quality Open Educational Resources (OERs) to facilitate sustainable Wild MAPs collection and processing and enhance ICT uptake in education and training is our priority! By creating tailored innovative training materials, the project aims to upskilling of MAPs collectors, farmers and processors promoting a highly trained and technology-ready workforce in the botanical sector.
Validate skills and qualifications of Wild MAPs professionals with a complete Certification Scheme
To ensure the validation of skills and qualifications of Wild MAPs collectors and producers, the project will create the first AgroCertification (AgroCert), and an assessment methodology, adding a new high value for the agricultural sector. This will also enhance the value of the final product, certifying the sustainability of the whole process (from collection to production) of Wild MAP.
Promote sustainable methods
and new income methods
Each project task is aligned with promoting sustainable practices in the Wild MAPs sector and enhance the welfare of local and regional professionals and their communities in the long term. To achieve this, we will analyze the current behaviours and expectations of individual Wild MAPs professionals, the skills and competencies emerging from a more sustainable approach, as well as market and legislative analysis of Wild MAP collection and production.
Digital innovation to achieve more sustainable
processes in the botanical sector
The project team will develop a GIS-enabled tool for the identification and geographical allocation of climatic and ecological Data associated with target MAPs. This tool aims to foster sustainability by providing accurate information about Wild MAPs in local areas. This GIS tool will be designed as a user-friendly web app, facilitating easy and open access to any stakeholder.
Boost the local development of the
MAP sector and engage stakeholders
We go local! The project aims to activate the local and regional communities involved or interested in the Wild MAPs sector, creating the right conditions for it. Building Wild MAP communities, engaging and enriching actions, as well as a continuous interaction flow will allow creating the path to Wild MAPs local development.
Ensure knowledge transfer
to the sector and to new initiatives
We will generate concrete actions for knowledge transfer, such as workshops, training, and peer-to-peer learning for wild herb collectors and rural entrepreneurs. Facilitate project methodologies transfer to other agriculture sectors (e.g., mushroom cultivation) is a cut-crossing issue for each activity, result and output of the project.
Partners
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND
UCD is one of Europe’s leading research-intensive universities; an environment where undergraduate education, masters and PhD training, research, innovation and community engagement form a dynamic spectrum of activity. UCD is Ireland’s most globally engaged university, made up of six colleges and their constituent schools, specialised in different disciplines spanning the full academic spectrum, and with over 33,000 students drawn from 144 countries. The university has a strong track record in leadership and participation in EC Framework Programme projects, with researchers having secured over €1.1 billion in research grants from national and international funding entities.
UCD will lead the Intellectual Output 1: Training needs analysis and development of a pathway for the sustainable wild MAP collection process and participates in all the project’s activities and outputs. The key person involved in the project is:
Dr Dimitrios Argyropoulos is Assistant Professor in the School of Biosystems and Food Engineering at UDC in Ireland. His research focuses on the design, development, and testing of sensors and control systems for optimal management of specialty crops including medicinal & aromatic plants. He has broad knowledge of the medicinal plant value chain including productivity, sustainable harvest, post-harvest processing and exploitation of wild plant species, safety and quality. He has participated as principal investigator and led several national and EC Framework Programme projects. He is also the Managing Editor of the Elsevier Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (JARMAP) and member of several European agri-food networks and associations (e.g., EIP-AGRI by the DG-Agri, as coordinating expert of Focus Group 35 on Plant-based Medicinal and Cosmetic Products). Read more here.
Contact: dimitrios.argyropoulos@ucd.ie
AKMI KATARTISI EKPAIDEUSI
AKMI is certified as a National Centre for Vocational Training, having over 25 years of experience in the field of Vocational Education and Training. It is a pioneer of lifelong learning, with presence all over Greece. It has established international cooperation with organisations such as ITEC and Pearson Edexcel, and operates projects in continuing vocational training programs funded by the ESF, training programs for personnel by Manpower Employment Organization, Transnational Programs, among others. Its strong background in education and highly-trained staff guarantee the successful adaptation of the projects plans to a well-designed, multi-dimensional educational experience, broadening the horizons of participants through combining digital applications, traditional methods and scientific research and data provided by experts on the field.
AKMI leads Intellectual Output 2, and will create the curricula and user-friendly and appealing Open Educational Resources (OERs) for the training of both collectors and processors of Wild MAPs. The key person involved in the project is:
Myrto Siapardani holds a Bachelor and Integrated Master Degree in Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH). She has a long experience in facilitating groups using non-formal education methods and in the past she has cooperated with several NGOs and also with the Youth Department of Council of Europe. Currently, she is working as a project manager for EU funds in AKMI Group of Companies and she is in charge of different European and International projects.
Contact: siapardani@akmi-international.com
ÇANAKKALE ONSEKIZ MART UNIVERSITESI
ÇOMU has over 50,000 students participating in a wide variety of programs taught by 1630 academic staff in 14 faculties, 2 polytechnic colleges and 13 vocational colleges. The teaching vision of ÇOMU is emphasizing on general techniques in Agricultural and Educational areas. It has different quality systems applied in several sectors (Agriculture, Medical, Food, Management) such as ISO 9000, 22.000 and HACCP. The wide experience in research and transfer of knowledge make staff and students prepared to anticipate and effectively respond to changes and challenges in agriculture and higher education by partnering with agriculture stakeholders.
ÇOMU will develop an AgroCertification for Wild MAP Collectors (Intellectual Output 3) with the support of all participating organizations, especially the University of Dublin. ÇOMU will prepare a Certification Scheme for Wild Map collectors and processors that have successfully attended the O.E.R Curricula developed within the project. The persons involved in this project are:
Prof. Dr. Harun Baytekin has 30 years of research experience on medical and aromatic plant breeding. He analysed the importance of family farming in rural development and published 60 articles in this field. He has 2 national books and participated in 25 national projects and 12 EU funded projects. Contact: hbaytekin@hotmail.com
Prof. Dr. Kemal Çelik has more than 28 years of experience in research in agricultural areas and nutritional toxicology both in humans and animals. He published over 80 articles and books, including on medical and aromatic plants and health, and participated in 16 national and 21 EU projects in the agriculture field. Dr. Çelik is a member of several editorial boards and the founding editor of Journal of Turkish Food Science, Journal of Nutrition and Scientific Journals International (SJI). Contact: kemalcelik@comu.edu.tr
Assoc. Prof. Dr. H. Fatih Aşgün is a Doctor of Medicine and his special expertise areas is the treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, and the pathophysiology of extracorporeal circulation. Dr. Aşgün has written numerous articles on alternative innovative approaches to treatments, and is active in research on traditional and complementary medicine practices. Contact: hfasgun@yahoo.com
FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE, HAO-DEMETER (ELGO-DIMITRA)
The mission of the Forest Research Institute is to contribute through research to the understanding, restoration, and sustainable management of terrestrial ecosystems such as forests and rangelands and to maintain and enhance plant and wildlife resources for the benefit of people and nature.
Besides project coordination, FRI leads the Intellectual Output 4, focused on the development of a GIS-enabled tool, linked with several geodatabases providing quantitative and qualitative data regarding soils, climatic and land-use variables, to ensure the sustainable collection of MAPs. This procedure will permit the formulation of species‐specific ecological profiles with qualitative and quantitative data for the targeted plants which will facilitate their successful in-situ conservation and the development of propagation and cultivation guidelines.
The key person involved in the project is Dimitris Fotakis, researcher at the Forest Research Institute of the Hellenic Agricultural Organization. He holds an interdisciplinary PhD from the Polytechnic School of Aristoteles University (AUTH), integrating Water Resources Management and Spatial Planning and an MSc degree in Geoinformatics and Water Management. He is postgraduate and doctoral research were funded by the State Scholarships Foundation (IKY) and he has been funded twice by the AUTH Research Committee for postdoctoral research. He has coordinated and participated in several European research projects, and has 16 publications in international scientific journals. He is also a scientific publications’ reviewer, member of various European networks and member of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Scientific Society. Read more about it here.
Contact: fotakis@fri.gr
GALICIAN ENTERPRISE – UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
FEUGA is a private, non-profit foundation with over 30 years of experience in fostering technology transfer among the university, industry and society. FEUGA acts as the Knowledge Transfer Office of the three Galician public universities (University of Santiago de Compostela, University of A Coruña and University of Vigo), working jointly with more than 600 research groups and 200 companies in the region. The high level of commitment and wide expertise of FEUGA’s team, as well as its experience in 30 EU projects, are behind the quality and success of its services, such as communication and dissemination management, multi-actor innovation ecosystems building, engagement and training.
FEUGA leads Intellectual Output 5, working on the engagement of MAPs Community, and towards the establishment of local VET, Business and Intermediate Bodies Partnerships in order to develop a sustainable feedback loop that is going to enhance training for Wild MAP Collectors and processors. The key person involved in this project is:
Nuria Rodriguez Aubo holds B.Sc. in Mathematics and Msc. in Renewable Energy. She is Technology Transfer Manager in EU Programmes, with more than 10 years of experience working in over 20 European projects on preparation and management with specific focus on Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) and R&D&i schemes including stakeholders’ engagement, end-user’s involvement, multi-actor approach methodologies, open calls design & management, among others. Contact: nrodriguez@feuga.es
Being one of the perspective growing NGOs in the Puglia region (Italy) and promoting youth initiatives in Bari and neighbourhood, EuroSud team deeply recognize the responsibility towards the development of future. The organization is made up of several experts looking for the same goal: to offer support, services, and counseling for civil society and democratic institutions development, civil values, and non-formal education for all citizens (especially for young people).
In the project, EUROSUD brings sector relevant expertise and experience in disseminating project results. It participates in skill mismatches research and data collection, provides country-specific information for the development of the training, supports the creation of the first AgroCertification for Wild MAP Collectors/ Producers by reviewing the methodology and the AgroCert Scheme developed, provides inputs for the development of the GIS-enabled tool, and participates in the pilot sessions and the learning activity in Greece. The key persons involved in this project are:
Kristina Vidović, as office coordinator, is actively working on developing and implementing business and management strategy, coordinating Erasmus+ deadlines and helping with logistics during Erasmus+ projects, and providing support for international interns and volunteers.
Adriano Difronzo, president and legal representative, is a youth worker who assists on Erasmus+ projects and delivers a wide range of topics. He eases communication with international partners who are not fluent in English (he speaks 4 languages) and is also in charge of establishing a positive environment and encouraging youngsters to discover the best version of themselves.
Katarina Katuscakova, web administrator for EUROSUD website, social media, and designer of communication materials and other visuals. Using her skills and knowledge, EUROSUD is increasing the visibility, impact and quality of the implemented and ongoing projects from our partner network.
Contact: eurosudngo@gmail.com