MACSUR - Second Phase Report

Abstract

In order to overcome the rigorous thematic orientation during the first phase of MACSUR with three groups organized according to academic fields, a new structure was developed for MACSUR2. In cross cutting activities topics were identified that required the interaction and collaboration of researchers from a range of different scientific disciplines. During the second phase of MACSUR new groups of researchers came on board. This made it possible to extend the number of regional case studies. In some larger countries like Italy, Poland und UK more than one group were working on different regions. An overview was presented at the workshop for policymakers in Brussels in May 2016.

Deliverables and milestones

1. Excellent joint research in the particular field to respond to questions in the Strategic Research Agenda:

• Researchers from University of Leeds, Aberystwyth University and Scotland's Rural College have developed a novel method for a spatially explicit estimation of heat stress-related impact of climate change on the milk production of dairy cows in the United Kingdom.
• Researchers from University of Leeds, Centre for Agricultural Research of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (Colombia) and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (Germany) have developed a novel method to estimating the land use changes for maize and soybean production by 2100 on a global scale.

1. Increase and facilitate transnational cooperation and coordination between excellent researchers and research organisations, building a progressive and long-lasting network:

• Collaboration with agricultural, meteorological agencies and Escuela Politécnica Nacional from Ecuador to develop a research line on agricultural impacts and adaptation to climate change, with focus on water resources
• Adaptation in Austrian cattle and milk production (ADAPT-CATMILK). Austrian Climate Research Programme research grant. Partners: WIFO, BOKU, University Cranfield, Thünen Institute
• Coordination of Spanish participation in the Joint Programming Initiative "Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change (FACCE-JPI)". Phase 1 http://www.chil.org/profile/spanish.macsur/main.
• Technical efficiency and challenges of the agricultural sector in Austria and New Zealand. Research proposal submitted to the Austrian Chamber of Agriculture.
• Coordination of a joint proposal in the Joint Programming Initiative "Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change (FACCE-JPI)". Phase 2 http://www.chil.org/profile/spanish.macsur/main (Partners participating: MTT Agrifood Finland, University of Bonn, INRA France, Polytechnical University of Madrid )
• Submission of two research projects with partners involved in MACSUR and private partners to the call FACCE/ERANET+ Climate Smart Agriculture
• JPI FACCE - SURPLUS. Coordination of a joint application “Towards sustainably intensified and resilient production systems in European Agriculture. Prospects for integrating dairy and bioenergy production systems (DAIRYENERGY)”, submitted 04.03.2015. MACSUR partners from Norway, Belgium, Italy.
• "H2020 Call: H2020-SFS-2016-2017; (Sustainable Food Security – Resilient and resource-efficient value chains) Topic: SFS-02-2016. Stage II. DIVERSify: Designing InnoVative plant teams for Ecosystem Resilience and agricultural Sustainability"
• Links created to other EU groups: with the collaboration started with Edwin Haas (Germany) and Stefan Olin (Sweden). There is an Australian link created with Matthew Harrison. In Europe there is also an active contact in Germany (for the Monica model) and in Poland (for Stics).

1. Develop research capacity in the particular field, to join learning/training activities (e.g. mobility) and to share infrastructures.

• Over the reporting period nearly 40 visiting scientists were hosted in MACSUR labs for joint research/ learning/training activities. In total, 31 PhD theses were awarded over the reporting period.
• AgMIP, Memorandum of Understanding signed 2014-02-19
• Global Research Alliance's Animal Health and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Intensity Network and MACSUR's Task on Animal Health and Greenhouse Gas Emissions organising a joint workshop for MACSUR 2
• H2020 SFS42-2016. PEANUTSSA Stage-1-proposal submitted February 2016. MACSUR partners Thünen Institute, ILVO, SRUC, James Hutton Institute and non-MACSUR members.
• FACCE ERAGAS 'CEDERS' (2017-2020)