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Urgent: An existing consortium is seeking research organizations with expertise in analytical chemistry, toxicology, and/or agronomy to join a proposal under the PRIMA 2025 call, Thematic Area 2-Farming systems in the Nexus.

Summary

Profile Type
  • Research & Development Request
POD Reference
RDRGR20250627004
Term of Validity
27 June 2025 - 27 June 2026
Company's Country
  • Greece
Type of partnership
  • Research and development cooperation agreement
Targeted Countries
  • France
  • Spain
  • Croatia
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General information

Short Summary
A consortium is preparing a proposal under the PRIMA 2025 call, Thematic Area 2-Farming systems in the Nexus, TOPIC: 1.2.1-2025. The aim is to promote the reuse of pesticide-contaminated agricultural drainage water through photocatalytic treatment, ensuring its safety for land cultivation. The consortium urgently seeks French, Spanish or Croatian research institutions with relevant expertise in chemistry, pesticide degradation, water analysis, crop safety assessment, or environmental toxicology
Full Description
The project addresses the urgent challenge of pesticide contamination in agricultural drainage water by developing and applying advanced photocatalytic materials capable of breaking down harmful residues. These materials, including carbon and metal oxide-based photocatalysts, will be synthesized from agricultural and electronic waste to ensure both environmental and economic sustainability.

A solar-powered treatment system will be used to apply the photocatalysts to contaminated water, with ongoing monitoring to assess the breakdown of pesticides and verify the safety of the treated water. Following treatment, the water will be used for irrigation to evaluate its effects on soil quality, crop health, and food safety. Analytical protocols will be developed to detect any residual contaminants, and both water and soil will be tested for chemical and microbiological safety to ensure suitability for agricultural reuse.

The consortium brings together leading expertise from Egypt, Tunisia, and Greece in materials science, environmental chemistry, toxicology, and agronomy, and is committed to producing a replicable and scalable solution for water reuse in agriculture. The project directly supports EU strategies for sustainable resource use, environmental protection, and food system resilience.

The consortium seeks research partners from France, Spain, or Croatia with expertise in pesticide degradation, analytical chemistry, toxicology, or crop safety. The selected institution will contribute to water and soil analysis, validate treatment protocols, and participate in field trials to assess the safety and effectiveness of recycled water for agricultural use.
Advantages and Innovations
This project offers a sustainable solution for agricultural water reuse by combining solar-powered photocatalytic treatment with low-cost materials derived from agricultural and electronic waste. The approach not only degrades pesticide residues efficiently but also supports circular economy principles.
What sets this project apart is its integration of advanced chemical analysis, toxicological validation, and field trials to ensure treated water is safe for crops and soil. It aligns with EU priorities and its multidisciplinary design—spanning materials science, environmental chemistry, and agronomy—makes it scalable and adaptable across Mediterranean farming systems.
Technical Specification or Expertise Sought
The consortium is seeking higher education institutions or research centers based in France, Spain, or Croatia with demonstrated expertise in pesticide degradation, analytical chemistry, environmental toxicology, agronomy, or microbiology. The selected partners will support the scientific validation of a photocatalytic water treatment system designed for the degradation of pesticides in agricultural drainage water.

Key responsibilities include conducting chemical analysis of water before and after treatment, identifying degradation byproducts using chromatographic and spectroscopic methods (e.g., HPLC-MS, GC-MS, FTIR, UV-Vis), and validating treatment efficiency under semi-pilot conditions. Partners will also be involved in evaluating soil and crop safety following irrigation with treated water, including the detection of pesticide residues, metabolite profiling, and assessment of toxicological and microbial risks through methods such as genotoxicity and cytotoxicity testing.

Experience with environmental and food safety monitoring, as well as a strong track record in EU-funded research in the fields of sustainable agriculture, water treatment, or ecotoxicology, will be highly valued. The partner should be prepared to engage in collaborative research, field evaluations, and the development of standardized analytical protocols relevant to pesticide degradation and agricultural reuse.
Stage of Development
  • Under development
Sustainable Development Goals
  • Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
  • Goal 4: Quality Education
  • Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
  • Goal 13: Climate Action
IPR status
  • No IPR applied

Partner Sought

Expected Role of a Partner
Research organizations, higher education institutions or universities in France, Spain, or Croatia with expertise in analytical chemistry, environmental toxicology, agronomy, or microbiology are urgently sought to join the consortium (deadline of the call 15/07/25).

The partner will contribute to key scientific tasks, including the analysis of pesticide-contaminated water before and after treatment, identification of degradation byproducts, and validation of chemical and biological safety. They will also support field trials to assess the effects of treated water on soil health and crop safety. Participation will focus on applied research and data interpretation, aligned with the project’s goal of enabling safe and sustainable agricultural reuse of drainage water.
Type and Size of Partner
  • University
  • Other
  • R&D Institution
Type of partnership
  • Research and development cooperation agreement

Call details

Framework program
  • Access to finance
Call title and identifier
PRIMA – Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area
Submission and evaluation scheme
Thematic Area 2-Farming systems in the Nexus
TOPIC: 1.2.1-2025 Enhancement of Sustainable Farming Systems within Mediterranean Wetlands for Conservation and Coexistence.
Coordinator required
No
Deadline for EoI
Deadline of the call
Project duration in weeks
156
Web link to the call
https://prima-med.org/submit-your-project/farming-systems-in-the-nexus/

Dissemination

Technology keywords
  • 03004001 - Agro chemicals
  • 010002009 - Water Pollution / Treatment
  • 06002010 - Toxicology
  • 08002002 - Food Microbiology / Toxicology / Quality Control
  • 10002011 - Soil and Groundwater Pollution
Market keywords
  • 08001022 - Agricultural chemicals
  • 09005 - Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, Animal Husbandry & Related Products
  • 08004003 - Water treatment equipment and waste disposal systems
  • 05009004 - Plant health
  • 09008002 - Water, sewerage, chemical and solid waste treatment plants
Targeted countries
  • France
  • Spain
  • Croatia