The objective of AGRICYGEN is to establish a world class Centre to conduct high-throughput Agricultural Genomic studies in order to support the advancement and sustainability of the livestock and feed production sectors in Cyprus. The project addresses the specific scope of the H2020 CSA-Teaming call by aiming to provide, currently lacking, broad-range technological and scientific foundations for a Centre of Excellence to support activities of huge economic value to Cyprus. AGRICYGEN also has multifaceted alignment with the Smart Specialisation Strategy of Cyprus. The Centre development shall increase Cyprus' international visibility and competitiveness in cutting edge agricultural research, by enhancing research capacity in the area of genetics and genomics and through its applications within the livestock and agricultural production industries. It will also strengthen collaborations and initiate new collaborative links for sharing expertise and knowledge in areas associated with Agricultural Genomics, and will create an ever-expanding, well-educated task-force of researchers in this area. The Centre establishment and consolidation will be achieved by capitalizing on existing local research capabilities of three Cypriot Institutions, and through effective collaboration with three advanced European institutions that are world leaders in animal, plant and microbial genetic and genomics research. This long-term partnership will create the conditions for innovative research, and for extensive service and training provisions to animal, plant and other production chains. The Centre’s excellence will be strengthened through collaboration with the advanced partners for the development of a Cyprus-based postgraduate programme in Agricultural Genetics and Genomics, affiliated to advanced partners. The long-term aspiration is for the Centre to become sustainable and to continuously expand its activities through investment in research, industrial engagement and education.

Climate Smart Research (CSR) is a research & innovation project involving 29 Experimental Research Stations (ERS) across Europe. It will accelerate the transition to climate neutral agriculture. CSR contributes to EU climate goals by developing new Climate Smart Farming (CSF) knowledge and innovations and boost the potential of ERS in realising these goals. More specific CSR will: 1) Co-develop a conceptual foundation for Climate Smart research on agricultural ERS and uncovering implications on system level to assess effectivity, synergies and trade-offs of CSF; 2) Develop cutting edge CSF approaches on selected ERS across 4 pedo-climatic zones with significant mitigation of GHG emissions (-55% to climate neutral) and adaptation to climate change; 3) Collect and compare climate tool-kits, services and decision support systems also for possible use on average farms across the EU and scientifically validate emerging solutions coming from practice; 4) Foster the capacity of research station actors through various knowledge exchange and networking activities amongst ERS and identify pathways for effective climate research and climate research design processes. This supports the development of practice-oriented climate smart knowledge, skills and innovations; 5) Maximise the impact of CSR by ensuring that project results are effectively embedded within EIP-AGRI and national/regional AKIS networks by developing and implementing a strategy for effective Dissemination, Exploitation and Communication. The networks of pilot demonstration farmers and climate smart advisors established in sister projects CFD and CSA will be leveraged to ensure that CSR practice-oriented solutions are widely accessible to farmers across Europe.