It is well-established that the Mediterranean is a climate change hot spot that warms faster than the global mean rates and the frequency of extremes increases. Moreover, climate models often fail to provide sufficient skill in predicting extremes. Extremes are of utmost importance for many socio-economic sectors and activities, including human health, agriculture and water resource management, ecology, and tourism. Most of these activities are dominant drivers of the Mediterranean macro- and micro-economy. The overall objective of PREVENT is to improve the predictability of impact-relevant extremes in the Mediterranean region on timescales from seasonal to decadal using state-of-the-art dynamical, statistical, and machine learning methods. Additionally, PREVENT brings together experts in different disciplines and geographical regions for a comprehensive study of impact-relevant climate extremes in the Mediterranean with the goal to improve their seasonal and decadal predictions in a changing climate. PREVENT intent to 1. Define for local climate extreme hotspot regions, including major urban centers in the Mediterranean. 2. Provide new management tools that can be used in many domains, to guide and direct processes, support monitoring activities, and increase organizational efficiency 3. Develop awareness and competencies by enabling policymakers, industry, farmers, and other producers to understand, promote and practice the inclusion of seasonal and decadal data in their project management. PREVENT has a small flexible consortium consisting of colleagues with great experience in the Mediterranean climate and especially the analysis of extreme climate events and the use of impact models. One of the main PREVENT ambitions is to enhance gender balance in the coordination of EU- funded research programs and give young researchers the opportunity to participate as leaders in the work packages by providing fresh new ideas for research.

PRIMER addresses the escalating threat of climate change on agriculture, specifically the increasing frequency of heatwaves on food security. PRIMER is a network of 10 beneficiaries and 10 associated partners which aims to enhance the resilience of tomato using innovative priming approaches, including genetic, chemical and physiological interventions. PRIMER will train 12 doctoral candidates through projects that utilize multidisciplinary approaches and cutting-edge technologies to generate improved tomato yields and mitigate losses due to heat. In addition to the scientific training, PRIMER aims to (1) generate a single-cell gene expression atlas to decipher intricate cell- and tissue-specific priming mechanisms; (2) explore the genetic basis of priming by leveraging diverse tomato varieties, offering valuable germplasm for breeding; (3) develop computational models to predict plant responses under diverse heat stress scenarios, optimizing novel priming strategies; (4) pioneer interventions (physiological, chemical, and genetic) to bolster plant thermotolerance and enhance crop resilience. Each objective is addressed through dedicated WPs. PRIMER's approach spans from fundamental research elucidating cellular mechanisms to practical interventions aimed at mitigating the detrimental impacts of heat stress on crop productivity. By integrating state-of-the-art technologies like single-cell analysis, advanced genomics, computational biology, novel chemical priming stimulants and modern genetic approaches, the network bridges the gap between fundamental and applied research. PRIMER training on these techniques will empower the doctoral candidates with hands-on experience, fostering expertise at the forefront of plant stress biology. Moreover, the program emphasizes transferable skills such as interdisciplinary collaboration, communication, and leadership, ensuring researchers will address multifaceted challenges in sustainable agriculture.

In response to the increasing problem of water shortage, the reuse of treated urban wastewater is considered the most suitable and reliable alternative for sustainable water management and agricultural development. In spite of the benefits associated with this practice, major concerns currently exist, related to the adverse effects regarding chemical and biological contaminants of emerging concern such as antibiotics and mobile antibiotic resistance elements such as antibiotic resistant bacteria and resistance genes. These are now considered as a serious public health problem by various international organizations and the European Commission, because of their spread in the environment, the food chain, drinking water, etc. To tackle these problems, scientists with an interdisciplinary research/training background are urgently needed. This ETN will train a new generation of ESRs to address the risks associated with such contaminants and wastewater reuse. Innovative chemical, microbiological, toxicological and modelling tools, and novel process engineering will form the scientific and training core of their innovative research projects and training. The project will contribute to understanding the fate and transmission of antibiotics and resistance from wastewater to the environment and humans, through soil, ground/surface water and crops. Relevant ELVs will be determined, essential for the development and implementation of regulatory frameworks. This project directly tackles these aspects, by bringing together a multidisciplinary research team, with the private sector, and policy makers and through communication activities towards stakeholders and the wider public.