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Mediterranean Environment and Modelling of Agroecosystems

The aim of the scientific project of the unit is to develop tools for analysing and predicting the functional dynamics of Mediterranean  ecosystems at landscape level. The ultimate aim of this research is to quantify the environmental impact of global changes (changes in climate, agricultural practices and land use) on the quantity and quality of subterranean resources, soil degradation and agricultural production potential, principally in the Mediterranean zone. This research focuses on natural and anthropic Mediterranean biotopes.

Research themes

• Interactions between water balance, crop growth, agricultural practices and land use changes;
• Characterization of aquifers functioning using isotopic hydrochemistry, hydrogeophysics, remote
sensing and modelling;
• Modelling of reactive mass transport, energy and wave propagation in the critical zone;
• Characterization and modeling of Soil-Plant-Microfl ora Interactions in relation to the nutrition of plants
and the evolution of soil water properties;
• Characterization and modeling of the impact of agricultural practices and climate change on meso-
and macro-fauna and soil functions;
• Development of measurement systems and algorithms for environmental characterisation (phenotyping
from remote sensing images, plant and soil dynamics, land use, hydric and mechanical soil properties...);
• Environmental evaluation of wastewater reuse in agriculture.

Research objectives

• To develop tools for monitoring, analysing and forecasting the biophysical response of Mediterranean
ecosystems and aquifers at the territorial scale to global changes;
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• To predict yields, the evolution of agricultural potential and the availability of groundwater resources
in relation to agro-pedoclimatic dynamics;
• To identify leverages for adapting agrosystems to global changes, in particular by using nature-based
solutions;
• To develop tools for decision support and resource management at different scales;
The research work of the EMMAH unit is part of the «Risks and Adaptation to Global Change» research
cluster of the INRAE Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur centre.