Updated on 8 October 2026
UNIMORE partner expertise: agrobiodiversity, crop resilience and field experimentation
Associate Professor of Agronomy and Crop Science | University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE) at University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
Reggio Emilia, Italy
About
The Crop Production research group at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE), Italy, offers complementary expertise in crop genetics, ecophysiology and agronomy to consortia developing Horizon Europe NATURE proposals.
OUR EXPERTISE
• Crop genetic diversity and genetic resource evaluation, particularly in cereals.
• Adaptation to abiotic stresses, including frost tolerance, vernalisation and flowering time.
• Genotype × environment × management interactions.
• Design and analysis of field and controlled-environment experiments.
• Agronomic evaluation of plant biostimulants, plant–microorganism interactions, digestate and biochar.
• Sustainable crop management, with research experience in cereals and horticultural crops.
PROPOSED CONTRIBUTION
We aim to connect biodiversity objectives with agronomic evidence and practical farming needs. We can contribute to experimental design, crop and management comparisons, data analysis, and assessment of trade-offs between crop performance, resource use and environmental outcomes.
For HORIZON-NATURE-2027-02-02, we are interested in agricultural living labs addressing ecosystem restoration through the sustainable use of agrobiodiversity. Potential contributions include genetic resource evaluation, assessment of diversified cropping systems, and co-design and validation of biodiversity-friendly farming practices.
For HORIZON-NATURE-2027-02-05, we can contribute agricultural case studies and agronomic validation of soil biodiversity monitoring approaches. Our role would complement partners specialising in soil ecology, molecular biodiversity assessment and monitoring technologies.
PARTNERSHIP SOUGHT
We are looking to join consortia as a research partner and are available to lead relevant tasks or work packages. We welcome collaboration with coordinators, ecologists, soil biodiversity specialists, breeders, farmer organisations, living lab networks and social scientists.
We are also interested in jointly developing an Italian agricultural case study, with experimental sites, resources and stakeholder participation to be defined during proposal preparation.
The group is led by Prof. Enrico Francia, who also serves as Deputy Director of BIOGEST-SITEIA and coordinates the UNIgreen Joint Research Centre on Plant Breeding.
Primary topic: HORIZON-NATURE-2027-02-02
Additional topic: HORIZON-NATURE-2027-02-05
Topic
- HORIZON-NATURE-2027-02-02: Living labs co-creating solutions for the restoration of ecosystems addressing implementation bottlenecks and improving resilience to risks
- HORIZON-NATURE-2027-02-05: Cost-effective biodiversity monitoring for EU policies
Type
- Partner looking for consortium
Organisation
Similar opportunities
Project cooperation
Cooperation in Horizontal NATURE Topics
- Early stage
- Advanced stage
- Partner looking for consortium
- Coordinator looking for partners
- HORIZON-NATURE-2027-02-05: Cost-effective biodiversity monitoring for EU policies
- HORIZON-NATURE-2027-01-03: Systemic approaches to accelerate transformative change for biodiversity
- HORIZON-NATURE-2027-02-01: Assessing direct and indirect drivers of biodiversity decline of invertebrates
- HORIZON-NATURE-2027-02-04: Innovative solutions to fight wildlife trafficking and to reduce invasion of invasive alien species
- HORIZON-NATURE-2027-01-01: Understanding the nature and the extent of the effects of PFAS on biodiversity and ecosystem services
- HORIZON-NATURE-2027-02-03: Networking to scale up living labs for nature restoration solutions and to address bottlenecks to implementation
- HORIZON-NATURE-2027-03-01: Advancing interdisciplinary, data-driven research at the biodiversity- health interface under a One Health approach
- HORIZON-NATURE-2027-01-02: Better understanding, anticipating and addressing the biodiversity benefits and impacts of the clean and digital industries
- HORIZON-NATURE-2027-04-01: A stronger Global Ocean Observing System to enhance Europe’s strategic autonomy, climate resilience and biodiversity conservation
- HORIZON-NATURE-2027-02-02: Living labs co-creating solutions for the restoration of ecosystems addressing implementation bottlenecks and improving resilience to risks
CHARIS GALANAKIS
R&I Director at Galanakis Laboratories L.P.
Chania, Greece
Project cooperation
Satellite Intelligence for Agriculture and Forest Restoration Living Labs
- Advanced stage
- Partner looking for consortium
- HORIZON-NATURE-2027-02-05: Cost-effective biodiversity monitoring for EU policies
- HORIZON-NATURE-2027-01-03: Systemic approaches to accelerate transformative change for biodiversity
- HORIZON-NATURE-2027-02-01: Assessing direct and indirect drivers of biodiversity decline of invertebrates
- HORIZON-NATURE-2027-02-04: Innovative solutions to fight wildlife trafficking and to reduce invasion of invasive alien species
- HORIZON-NATURE-2027-01-01: Understanding the nature and the extent of the effects of PFAS on biodiversity and ecosystem services
- HORIZON-NATURE-2027-02-03: Networking to scale up living labs for nature restoration solutions and to address bottlenecks to implementation
- HORIZON-NATURE-2027-03-01: Advancing interdisciplinary, data-driven research at the biodiversity- health interface under a One Health approach
- HORIZON-NATURE-2027-01-02: Better understanding, anticipating and addressing the biodiversity benefits and impacts of the clean and digital industries
- HORIZON-NATURE-2027-04-01: A stronger Global Ocean Observing System to enhance Europe’s strategic autonomy, climate resilience and biodiversity conservation
- HORIZON-NATURE-2027-02-02: Living labs co-creating solutions for the restoration of ecosystems addressing implementation bottlenecks and improving resilience to risks
Paolo Paolo
Managing Director at Kolibree-Tech
Rome, Italy
Project cooperation
Seeking Horizon Europe consortium for One Health & biodiversity projects
- Early stage
- Partner looking for consortium
- HORIZON-NATURE-2027-02-05: Cost-effective biodiversity monitoring for EU policies
- HORIZON-NATURE-2027-02-04: Innovative solutions to fight wildlife trafficking and to reduce invasion of invasive alien species
- HORIZON-NATURE-2027-03-01: Advancing interdisciplinary, data-driven research at the biodiversity- health interface under a One Health approach
Benedicte Renaville
coo at Progenus
Gembloux, Belgium