WP1 is led by the lead applicant, responsible to ensure the smooth execution of the project in terms of day-to-day management, the administrative infrastructure of each partner, steering of the project, and interaction with the donor entity. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) a) quarterly PP meetings, b) progress reports.

There is an urgent need to present reliable empirical data on rodent pests and their impact on agroecosystems. The baseline furthermore will serve as a reference for impact monitoring. KPIs: a) Country baseline inventory, with an in-depth review of existing data, quantified and qualified data on key proxies, b) >100stakeholders capacitated and >20 involved in baseline studies and monitoring.

Smart modern technologies will be used in order to understand and assess how rodents behave in relation to the EBRM applications. These technologies will be applied at living labs, e.g. greenhouses in Cyprus and Greece and in lab trials in Morocco and Turkey. Technologies will be applied both before, during and after the interventions, see Figure 6, (EBRM-WP4 and eco-friendly bio-rodenticide-WP5), to examine how rodents behave in different areas and regions, as well as how their behaviour changes in relation to the interventions used. It is important also to see whether the rodents return to prior behaviour after the interventions are removed. KPIs: a) >95% precision in detecting/identifying rodents from infrared cameras and small microwave/ultrasonic radars, b) of technologies adopted by stakeholders outside the project.

The EBRM approach is already fully operational in a diverse set of countries, from South-East Asia to sub-Sahara Africa. In this project we will adapt current EBRM methods tailored to the specific context, we will add other proven ecological methods and will showcase and monitor EBRM methods at scale. For this project we are at TRL 3, there is a proof of concept, with the aim to reach TRL7. Noting that EBRM must be demonstrated at scale, e.g., with a cluster of 100 farmers in each of the ‘field-labs’. KPIs: a) >200 attendees in stakeholder workshops, b) feasibility study on collated EBRM methods effectiveness, c) customized EBRM toolkit for Mediterranean region, d) feasibility study on socio-economic impact.

For the development of a bio-rodenticide we will analyse potential plant species, upon which we conduct lab trials on select rodent species. MVUR has done previous research on developing bio-pesticides based on plant extracts, and in Ethiopia, a prototype BR has been developed based on two synergetic local plants. Therefore, the protocols and procedures for developing a prototype BR are known and tested, Dr Meheretu Yonas13 will capacitate and guide partners on the same. The BR is currently at TRL1, and we aim to develop it at TRL7, a system prototype demonstration in operational environment. The large share of work will be done in the lab, while we have a co-creative experimental process that involves farmers and developers from the outset. In this way we build readiness for application with the end-users simultaneously and improve the applicability and user-friendliness of the final product. KPIs: a) ID of at least 5 local botanicals or combinations, with BR potential, b) test-results of BR in lab and field, c) proven BR prototype based on set of parameters, d) testing, production, and application – protocols, e) market analysis.

INRA will develop a platform for the facilitation of a ‘Community of Practice’ (CoP) that will engage multi-disciplinary stakeholders that align around PRIMA’s three core objectives and targeted around the interventions and applications of the EBRM results. To do this and build the community, INRA will facilitate an engaging give-and-take between participants by, for example, hosting discussions / Q&As from leaders in the field, media posts on online platforms (online content that translates the specific agenda of EBRM and relating it to big-picture items such as PRIMA’s objectives around water scarcity, enhancing agroecological practices, and increasing the resilience of small-scall farms to global issues). Opportunities to build online trainings related to project subject matter, as well as providing assistance to project members for the development of research articles and related publications are also a possibility. Through the CoP, the local as well as global impact of individual country programs will be communicated to general and scientific/research audiences. This can be facilitated by the development of a toolkit that aids in translating the key and transferable frameworks utilized in specific contexts and/or country consortiums. KPIs: a) open sharing digital platform >100 monthly visitors, b) of webinars, online events, policy briefs, knowledge products, c) of new games as communication tool for EBRM.