Strategy

MED’s strategy is to promote interdisciplinary and problem-solving research at different scales (global, regional, local).

The research in MED and its heterogeneity are explored in 7 Thematic Lines (TL) driven by MED’s Mission and organised to achieve, in a complementary and holistic way, the R&D Unit central Goals, focused on Agriculture, Environment, Climate and Development.

The TL are organised in two complementary dimensions:

a) a dimension centred in production activities:

  1. Sustainable Crop Production;
  2. Animal Production & Health;
  3. Mediterranean Food & Diet;
  4. Montado & Forest Systems.

b) a dimension centred on cross-cutting themes, transversal and crucial for the sustainability of the Mediterranean ecosystems and landscapes:

  1. Biodiversity & Conservation;
  2. Environmental & Climate Changes;
  3. Governance & Development.

This TL structure is focused on creating knowledge that enhances sustainable production and safe food, nature conservation and restoration and societal engagement. This will increase resilience, mitigation and adaptation to climate (global) changes, minimising the footprint generated by different production systems. The boundaries between the domains in each TL are not clear-cut, and multiple productive interactions among TL are foreseen.

Each TL has a coordinator who will ensure consistency in the contributions and motivate researchers to address questions that inform the TL.

Each researcher belongs to only one Research Group (RG). Groups are formed in two ways:

  1. around scientific areas and related methodological approaches.
  2. around study objects combining diverse and complementary disciplines.

Within the RG, researchers are organised in a flexible structure of competence clusters, which often correspond to teams working together on a regular basis. Interaction and integration within the competence clusters is encouraged in order to develop stronger teams. RG are encouraged to orient their research towards feeding into the TLs by contributing to one or more of them. Experienced researchers will mentor younger colleagues, promoting their international careers through training and scientific guidance, in close collaboration with MED doctoral programmes and/or in partnership with national and international institutions. The RG coordinator, elected from among the integrated researchers, represents the group and regularly consults or informs them as needed to ensure a consistent flow of information between the Board of Directors and all MED members.

Flexibility and interaction are key concepts and integration towards common goals (in the TL) is a strategic positioning.