Coordinates the entire project, ensuring efficient organization, financial management and scientific oversight. WP1 establishes quality, risk and data-management plans, leads the Soil Task Force and the Gender Task Force, and aligns NUSTALGIC with European initiatives like the “Soil Deal for Europe”. It guarantees smooth collaboration among all partners and high-quality delivery of results.

Engages farmers and local stakeholders to co-design, deploy and evaluate water-harvesting technologies tailored to Mediterranean drylands. WP2 identifies suitable techniques, installs them in demonstration sites, monitors their performance and works to ensure long-term adoption and community ownership.

Tests and scales elite crop lines (barley, chickpea, grass pea, faba bean, lentil and cactus) while developing full agronomic packages adapted to dry-farming. WP3 studies stress tolerance, introduces small-scale machinery for farmers, improves soil health through rotations and intercropping, and monitors soil parameters to boost resilience and productivity.

Conducts in-depth nutritional assessment of raw materials from WP3 and develops new food and feed prototypes using NUS crops. WP4 evaluates nutritional value and sensory quality, and explores circular-economy applications such as transforming NUS waste into biocontrol and biopesticide products.

Identifies new market opportunities for NUS products and by-products, comparing their economic and environmental performance with traditional crops. WP5 assesses feasibility for small producers, evaluates consumer behaviour, and supports the creation of inclusive, circular and socially impactful business models that connect farmers with urban markets.

Mobilises farmers, consumers, policymakers and communities through DRIPS platforms to co-create solutions and promote gender-transformative outcomes. WP6 drives communication and dissemination across countries, strengthens women’s leadership in agriculture, and ensures that innovations reach those who need them most.