VALorization of MEDiterranean ALMond orchards: first economic results of the use of intercrops and cover crops

Mediterranean agriculture is increasingly challenged by “a series of environmental challenges such as water and soil pollution, erosion or biodiversity loss, especially in monoculture systems” (Alcon et al., 2020). In response, cropping system diversification, through practices such as crop rotation, cover crops, and intercropping, has been promoted as a key strategy to improve resource-use efficiency, enhance agroecosystem resilience, and stabilise farm income (Rodriguez et al., 2021; Viguier et al., 2021). Within the Mediterranean Basin, intercropping perennial fruit trees with annual crops or aromatic and medicinal plants has attracted growing scientific attention, mainly for its agronomic and ecological benefits (Marotti et al., 2023). However, despite the expanding literature, empirical evidence on the economic performance of these systems remains scarce, particularly under heterogeneous Mediterranean conditions. The ValMedAlm (VALorization of MEDiterranean ALMond orchards) project addresses this gap by adopting an integrated sustainability framework that jointly considers economic, environmental, and social dimensions in the assessment of intercropping practices in almond orchards across five Mediterranean countries.