FIREPOCTEP+
FIREPOCTEP+ – Resilient landscapes facing large forest fires: emergency response, improvement of interoperability, and operational and social training in the face of climate change (PO2022-0139_FIREPOCTEP_MAS_6_E)
This Project is focused on the Spanish-Portuguese cooperation for the management of extreme wildfire events. The main activities are aimed at mitigating fire impacts on ecosystem services (tangible assets, environmental services, and landscape goods) and global warning. According to the budget limitations, technical efforts should be directed towards specific areas, known as Strategic Management Zones or Potential Control Locations. This idea of concentrate efforts on fire management is underlined by the existence of a new legislation (2022) in forest fires. Furthermore, the project is supported by a previous project (known as “FIREPOCTEP (0756_FIREPOCTEP_6_E”) using the same pilot site.
General objectives
FIREPOCTEP+ aims to improve climate change adaptation and forest resilience through the implementation of a comprehensive management under ecosystem-based approaches.
Universidad de Córdoba participation
Although the main activities of the University of Cordoba (UCO) focus on the first work-package, where it leads three important deliverables
- Guide of potential wildfires and operational and management implications using public web support (ArcGIS Online or Google Earth Engine).
- Good Practices Guide to the creation and design of Potential Control Locations.
- Dynamic and georeferenced fire risk using the adaptation and test of Fire Weather Index (Visual Danger).
UCO is responsible or collaborative for various activities in the rest of the packages. UCO participates in the monitoring of forest fire behavior, the analysis of normative and legislation and implementation of administrative protocols to find a comprehensive management, the valuation and development of endogenous resources, the design of cost-effective and safe fuelbreaks, and the organization of the second Iberian Workshop about Strategic Management Zones in fire management.
Contact information:
Principal investigator (IP): Juan Ramón Molina Martínez
email: jrmolina@uco.es
Project website: currently under development
WALTHAM
Development of a protein based diagnostic test for equine metabolic syndrome: application in the prevention of laminitis
In the present project we used mass spectrometry-based proteomics to discover and quantify protein biomarkers for the diagnosis of equine metabolic syndrome, a process with unknown pathophysiology. Equine metabolic syndrome has been related to the predisposition to laminitis, a disturbance of the digit that can result in permanent disability and, in severe cases, lead to euthanasia. The objective of the project is to help clinicians to better manage the disease and prevent laminitis.
Objetivos generales
The aim of this project is to find a panel of protein markers easily measurable in a single sample, simple to obtain, to develop low-cost immunoassays for field diagnosis.
Papel de la Universidad de Córdoba
UCO is the coordinator of the project.
Datos de contacto:
Investigador Principal: Guadalupe Gómez Baena
Correo electrónico de contacto: v52gobag@uco.es
LIFE LYNXCONNECT
Creating a genetically and demographically functional Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) metapopulation (LIFE19 NAT/ES001055)
The project LIFE 19NAT/ES001055 LYNXCONNECT ‘Creating a genetically and demographically functional Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) metapopulation (2020-2025)’ is the fourth European Commission LIFE project for the Iberian Lynx conservation.
The previous LIFE project IBERLINCE ‘Recovery of the historical distribution for the Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) in Spain and Portugal (2011-2018)’ was focused on the recovery of the historical distribution for the Iberian Lynx in the Iberian Peninsula, on its reintroduction in Portugal, Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha, and on the consolidation of the reintroductions carried out by previous LIFE projects in Andalusia. After the achievements of IBERLINCE, LYNXCONNECT’s main challenge is to make the Iberian Lynx population self-sustainable and genetically viable in the long term. This will be done by connecting the six existing nuclei and creating two new ones. All this will help to reduce the risk of extinction of this species.
LYNXCONNECT’s main goal is to connect the existing Iberian Lynx nuclei into a functional self- sustainable viable metapopulation where gene flow between every nuclei is guaranteed. To do so a series of genetic-management actions will be carried out.
In addition, the project aims to achieve other specific objectives as decreasing the species’ risk of extinction, to improve its population status, to reduce remaining threats, to implement conservation and habitat improvement measures via land stewardship tools and social involvement, and to update the Iberian strategy for the species.
LIFE LYNXCONNECT is a transnational cooperation project covering the entire distribution range of the species, participated by environmental and road-conservation administrations of two countries and four Spanish regional governments (Spain, Portugal, Andalusia, Castilla la Mancha, Extremadura and Murcia); environmental non-governmental organization (Adenex, WWF-España and Fundación CBD-Hábitat); hunters representatives (Fundación Artemisan); private companies (Fotex and Fomecam Terra) and with the scientific support of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas – Doñana Biological Station.
The participative and transnational nature of the project, and the experience gained in previous projects, foster the cooperation between management administrations and other stakeholders involved in land planning, nature conservation and economic development.
Objetivos generales
To increase both the overall population size and the connectivity among Iberian lynx nuclei to assure a functional self- sustainable and viable metapopulation.
Papel de la Universidad
We are responsable for the action A10: Development of a new technique to enhance connectivity between subpopulations of Iberian lynx.
Datos de contacto:
Investigador Principal: Guadalupe Gómez Baena
Correo electrónico de contacto: v52gobag@uco.es
Página web del proyecto: https://lifelynxconnect.eu
GreenDigiPharma
Green and digital continuous-flow pharmaceutical manufacturing (HORIZON-MSCA-2021-DN-01-101073089)
This project called «GreenDigiPharma» is funded by the EU and focuses on furans as pharmaceutical intermediates. Furfural, furfurylamine and furfurylamide are important intermediates in the production of various pharmaceuticals. The development of new catalytic methods and materials for the production of this class of intermediate compounds from lignocellulosic residues will have significant economic and environmental benefits. Lignocellulosic wastes are abundant and renewable resources that can be used as a source of valuable chemical products. The conversion of these materials into pharmaceutical intermediates using continuous flow chemistry is an important field of research that has attracted a great deal of interest in recent years. Flow chemistry is an important step towards sustainability and digitalization of pharmaceutical industry. Continuous flow processes enable the utilization of advanced technology and green chemistry, leading to faster, safer and more sustainable APIs (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) production. Under this context, the development of new active and selective catalysts is essential for the efficient conversion of these wastes into high-value products. The objectives of the project are aligned with current trends in green chemistry, which aims to develop sustainable processes that minimize waste generation and reduce environmental impact. Thus, this project aims to develop new catalytic materials for the conversion of lignocellulosic wastes into pharmaceutical intermediates with particular interest in the catalytic deactivation mechanism. This research has significant potential to contribute to the development of sustainable processes for the production of high value chemicals in industry.
Project mission
To transform pharmaceutical manufacturing with green and digital methods, creating eco-friendly drug production routes, and adopting innovative technologies. We will do this by collaborating with 7 universities, 1 research center, and several industry partners during our secondments
Objetivos generales
• To develop a new field of research combining green materials science from functionalized biomasses with other nanostructures and continuous flow heterogeneous catalysis to obtain pharmaceutical compounds through alternative environmentally friendly routes.
• Develop new active and selective catalysts for the conversion of lignocellulosic waste products (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) into high value-added pharmaceutical intermediates.
• To discover the main catalytic deactivation mechanisms for their minimization during the conversion of these compounds through the study of fundamental catalysis.
• Develop new protocols for the use of flow chemistry in combination with heterogeneous catalysis in REDOX reactions by optimizing reactors operating under continuous flow.
• To propose optimal conditions during the obtaining of specific pharmaceutical intermediates focused mainly on the process (physicochemical parameters) and the catalyst, to achieve maximum yields during the reaction.
• Establish processes for obtaining and purifying the main lignocellulosic waste products (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) from different sources capable of being coupled to industrial catalytic processes.
Papel de la Universidad de Córdoba
University of Cordoba’s role in the project is the fractionation and upgrading of lignocellulosic biomass, as well as the transformation of biomass-derived chemicals into high value-added building blocks and scaffolds. The student selected for the execution of this project together with the research team will participate with expertise in biomass/waste valorization (including selective fractionation and transformation into platform molecules for further upgrading), heterogeneous catalysts and Green Chemistry.
Datos de contacto:
Investigador Principal: Alina M. BALU
Correo electrónico de contacto: qo2balua@uco.es
Página web del proyecto: https://www.greendigipharma.eu/
SUSPHARMA
MERGING SUSTAINABLE AND DIGITAL CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF GREENER-BY-DESIGN PHARMACOLOGICAL (HORIZON-HLTH-2021-IND-07-01-101057430)
The EU-funded SusPharma project plans to design safe- and sustainable-by-design chemicals for use in pharmaceuticals. Researchers will use renewable carbon as the building block of scaffolds and motifs for drug synthesis and clean synthetic methodologies for C–X bond formation. Focus will also be placed on developing new continuous purification methods and performing technoeconomic and life cycle assessment analyses to assess the impact of the proposed pharmaceutical production methods. Ultimately, researchers will develop autonomous flow platforms for drug molecule synthesis using photocatalytic and electrochemical methods.
To address the challenge of green and digital transition and proper supply of health technologies and products, SUSPHARMA will focus on research and innovation activities that aim at integrating five breakthrough concepts: CAT-to-PHARMA, WASTE-to-PHARMA, FLOW-to-PHARMA, PUR-to-PHARMA, and DIGITAL to PHARMA. This will deliver results that are directed to pharmaceutical industries, researchers, and innovators, prompting them to develop and produce greener pharmaceuticals that are either greener by design, intrinsically less harmful for the environment, or use greener and economically more sustainable manufacturing processes and technologies.
Objetivos generales
- To develop greener routes to prepare halogenated drugs, such as therapeutics and diagnostics and repurposing of known drugs for new therapeutic indications.
- Use of renewable (bio-based) carbon for the pharmaceutical building blocks of scaffolds and motifs for drug synthesis; KPI: ˃ 30% more than benchmark (85% yield).
- Cleaner methodologies for C-X bond formation (that is, C-H functionalization to obtain C-C, C-F and C-I bond formation); KPI: new flow protocols, new reactions discovered, high productivity, high TOF.
- Development of new benchtop continuous purification methods, to remove impurities and recycle synthetic solvents.
- The project will thus derive benefits from interdisciplinary domains, involving recent advances in biomass conversion for drug synthesis; 3D printing of nanocatalysts, integration of digitalization methods employing automation and machine learning.
- Breaking through new developments in heterogeneous catalysis by means of cutting-edge flow chemistry technologies (including synthesis and purification)
- Repurposing of known medicines to reduce the impact of pharmaceutical production: digital and technological solutions will be applied to the production of new NSAID formulations for new therapeutic uses. KPI: at least two new co-crystals identified and produced on medium scale.
Papel de la Universidad de Córdoba
The role of University of Córdoba in the project is fractionation and upgrading of lignocellulosic biomass as well as transformation of biomass-derived platform chemicals into high-added value building blocks and scaffold.
The research team will be involved in the first three tasks (leading the WP2) with expertise in biomass/waste valorization (including selective fractionation and transformation to platform molecules for further upgrading), heterogeneous catalysts and Green Chemistry.
Datos de contacto:
Investigador Principal: Alina M. BALU
Correo electrónico de contacto: alina.balu@uco.es
Página web del proyecto: https://www.suspharma.eu/
BONEX
Boosting Nexus Framework Implementation in the Mediterranean (PRIMA-S1 NEXUS-2021-2141
BONEX es un proyecto que congrega 16 entidades (universidades, centros de investigación, pymes y una organización internacional) de 8 países (España, Portugal, Italia, Alemania, Líbano, Marruecos, Túnez y Jordania) que trabajan colaborativamente para avanzar hacia una gestión eficiente e integrada del nexo agua-energía-alimentación-ecosistema (WEFE, por sus siglas en inglés), de modo a generar simultáneamente beneficios económicos, sociales y medioambientales (incluida la reducción de gases de efecto invernadero) en la región mediterránea.
Objetivos generales
El proyecto BONEX tiene como objetivos generales:
• Desarrollar herramientas prácticas de diagnóstico para aplicación en el nexo agua-energía-alimentación-ecosistema;
• Evaluar soluciones innovadoras implementadas en 7 proyectos de demostración cuidadosamente seleccionados y abarcando una diversidad de contextos, retos y tecnologías de la Región Mediterránea (España, Portugal, Italia, Líbano, Marruecos, Túnez y Jordania);
• Generar conocimiento que permita mejorar las políticas y la gobernanza, así como facilitar la toma de decisiones en el nexo de modo a conseguir un equilibrio entre los impactos económicos, sociales y medioambientales.
Papel de la Universidad de Córdoba
Coordinador científico y responsable por el diseño e implementación de métodos de análisis socioeconómico en todas las fases del proyecto:
• Paquete de trabajo 1: Conceptualización de un marco de análisis del nexo WEFE.
• Paquete de trabajo 2: Desarrollo de herramientas para el diagnóstico y evaluación del nexo WEFE.
• Paquete de trabajo 3: Desarrollo de proyectos de demostración y recolección de datos a partir de su implementación. Testeo del marco de análisis del nexo WEFE.
• Paquete de trabajo 4: Diseño y aplicación de la estrategia de comunicación y difusión, ampliación y explotación de los resultados del proyecto BONEX.
• Paquete de trabajo 5: Gestión y coordinación del proyecto
Datos de contacto:
Investigador Principal: Julio Berbel Vecino
Correo electrónico de contacto: berbel@uco.es
Página web del proyecto: https://bonex-prima.eu
BESTROPS
Biodiversity and ecosystem services variability across the El Niño gradient in the Peruvian and Brazilian forests. (EULAC-2022-124, PCI2023-143415) “Proyecto con referencia PCI2023-143415, financiado por MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 y por la Unión Europea»
The main goal of the project BRESTROPS is to investigate the changes in biodiversity and ecosystem services, promote a fair distribution of resources, and preserve the Natural Capital in rural communities of tropical forests. Combining experimental and modelling approaches, it will study plant and soil biodiversity and ecosystem services across an elevation and climate gradient in the main area of largest impact of ENSO (Dryland coast, the Andes mountains, and the Amazonian rainforest). The main outcome of BESTROPS is to provide new open knowledge on the cultural and social dimension of tropical ecosystems, and insight in policy making without risking the natural capital under the forecasted climate change scenarios.
Objetivos generales
- To analyze plant biodiversity (taxonomic and functional) across a climate and elevation gradient in agroforest areas (WP 2).
- To generate a database of soil biodiversity in agroforestry systems as indicators of soil functioning (WP 3).
- To study the potential impacts of climate change, specifically ENSO, under IPCC projected RCP (representative concentration pathways) scenarios on species distribution & biodiversity (WP 4).
- To evaluate, the supply and demand of ES in the present and future scenarios and its relationship with plant and soil biodiversity. Assessing the ES trade-offs and identify best-practices and policies for landscape management (WP 5).
- Strengthen the participation of local actors in consultative or deliberative spaces to access and use of biodiversity and ES information and knowledge (WP 6).
Papel de la Universidad de Córdoba
Project coordination and management (WP1)
- General administrative and financial management
- Scientific management and monitoring
- Design and Implementation of Mid-term / Final assessment Meetings
- Deliverable tracking, reporting and publication
Datos de contacto:
Investigador Principal: José Luis Quero Pérez
Correo electrónico de contacto: b62qupej@uco.es; b52zasap@uco.es
Página web del proyecto:
https://www.eucelac-platform.eu/project/biodiversity-and-ecosystem-services-variability-across-el-nino-gradient-peruvian-and
MASTER
Mastering Electrode Surface to Achieve Ultra-High Reversible Capacity (M-ERA-Net-2022-PCI2023-143355) “Proyecto con referencia PCI2023-143355, financiado por MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 y por la Unión Europea»
The MASTER aims to advance a new concept for the surface design of electrode materials to achieve reversible capacities that approach the theoretical ones. The proof-of-concept will be validated by the construction of a full Na-ion battery. This battery is targeting to reach the EGD’s goals for introducing of affordable large-scale energy storage technology. The most innovative output is the MASTER database, by which the lead candidates as electrodes will be selected. The consortium comprises multidisciplinary teams from Bulgaria, Spain and Turkey and it covers the full value chain from TRL2 to TRL4.
Objetivos generales
The specific objectives are:
(i) to understand the reactions at the electrode surfaces that currently prevent achieving the theoretical capacity;
(ii) to exploit this knowledge to facilitate the elaboration of high-performance electrodes;
(iii) to integrate the surface-modified electrodes into a full Na-ion battery;
(iv) to maximise the impact of the project beyond the Na-ion batteries.
Papel de la Universidad de Córdoba
Role in the project:
UCO will take the lead for WPs on Surface Engineering (WP2) and Electrochemical Properties (WP3) and contribute to WP2-7, as follows:
– Synthesis of electrode materials by soft-chemistry reactions.
– Surface modification of electrode materials with conductive polymers and electrochemically inactive oxides.
– Structural and spectroscopic characterization of the obtained materials.
– Electrochemical study in sodium test and sodium ion cells.
– Theoretical calculations
– Dissemination and communications.
Datos de contacto:
Investigador Principal (UCO): José L. Tirado
Correo electrónico de contacto: iq1ticoj@uco.es
Página web del proyecto: under construction
Life CO2RK
Slow growing forests management for Climate Change Mitigation (LIFE-2022-SAP-CLIMA-101114049)
The establishment of emission trading systems has promoted ambitious GHG reductions by creating economic incentives to reduce CO2 emissions from many activities. Outside this control system are the diffuse sectors, less intensive in energy use (residential, transport, waste, agriculture, fluorinated gases and other industries) but responsible for around 40% of EU GHG emissions.
Regulation (EU) 2018/842 of the European Parliament and of the Council, shows the interest of the EU in promoting the reduction of emissions from these sectors. To do this, it is necessary to develop regulatory and operational frameworks at the National or Regional level that channel the compensation interest of these sectors towards actions capable of sequestering additional Carbon to that fixed by the natural environment. LIFE CO2RK develops a battery of integrated actions in 3 Member States, at national and regional level, with different starting points in terms of political, legal and operational maturity. The goal is to complete the design and development of legal, administrative, financial and technical tools that allow the certification and registration of the carbon sequestered by forest management practices, enable its exchange in Compensation and channel investments from diffuse sectors in exchange for offset carbon. This private financial flow that can be essential for sustaining the Phagaceae forests in the EU, which due to their slow growth are not being used in CO2 capture policies, despite that scientific evidence ensures that the complex ecosystems they generate have a high capacity for CO2 fixation. The project will be developed in cork oak (Quercus suber L.) forests and replicated in beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests, whose products do not emit CO2 but fixes it for a long useful life (cork in industries, wood in construction). The results can be extrapolated to a family with a large distribution throughout the EU, in complementary habitats in the Natura2000 Net, with a great impact in biodiversity and socio-economy.
Objetivos generales
- Promote voluntary offsetting of emissions and its application to finance actions to recover high-value natural areas.
- Test a regulatory and operational model at regional level and promote its transfer at EU level.
- Develop and disseminate carbon forestry applied to slow-growing species, which will contribute to climate change mitigation.
- Promote the adaptation of natural areas to climate change
- Promoting the consumption of goods whose production increases the carbon sequestration of European ecosystems.
Papel de la Universidad de Córdoba
• Carry out an analysis and diagnosis of the carbon flow measurement systems and silvicultural itineraries of the cork oak forest.
• Modelling carbon fluxes in biomass and soil associated with cork oak silviculture.
• Quantify and monitor the carbon fluxes associated with the implementation of emission compensation projects in cork oak forests.
Datos de contacto
Investigador Principal: Guillermo Palacios Rodríguez
Correo electrónico de contacto: gpalacios@uco.es
Página web del proyecto: en construcción
BEXYL
Beyond Xylella, Integrated Management Strategies for Mitigating Xylella fastidiosa impact in Europe (HORIZON-CL6-2021-FARM2FORK-01-04-101060593)
BeXyl is an EU-funded research project aiming to secure and exploit the research outcomes achieved by advancing and transferring into practice the most promising prevention and containment strategies. BeXyl means “Beyond Xylella”. That suggests the time is ripe to move away from emergency mode to more sophisticated management strategies against Xylella fastidiosa current outbreaks and prevent new introductions in Europe.
Objetivos generales
BeXyl stands for ‘Beyond Xylella’ and means integrating different scientific approaches to propose and test practical solutions to manage Xylella fastidiosa outbreaks in the EU
Papel de la Universidad de Córdoba
Co-Leader of Work Package 5. Active participation in the use of entomopathogenic fungi to manage Xylella fastidiosa vector populations and/or to alter Xylella fastidiosa transmission though entomopathogenic fungi direct infection or via endophytic colonization of the host plants.
Datos de contacto
Investigador Principal: Enrique Quesada Moraga
Correo electrónico de contacto: equesada@uco.es
Página web del proyecto: https://bexylproject.org/about-bexyl-project/