INNOCER Operational Group: Promoting more sustainable cereal systems; cultivation, processing and valorization of Thinopyrum intermedium as an eco-innovative perennial cereal

R1-Summary for Professionals: This guide aims to provide practical recommendations on how to establish and manage a perennial cereal under real-world conditions, including sowing dates, weed control, nutrient management, and crop maintenance. The main benefit for farmers will be guidelines that reduce labor, optimize input use, and improve soil fertility, while minimizing risk in decision-making. Technicians can use these recommendations to assess their suitability for crop rotations, plan crop management, and support their implementation in the field. Applying these guidelines will improve production efficiency, reduce operating costs, and advance towards more resilient and sustainable cereal farming systems.

R2-Benefits in soil and water use: It is expected that the crop can improve soil structure, increase organic matter, and optimize water use compared to annual cereals. The results will provide useful information for adjusting management practices that promote soil conservation and productive stability under drought conditions. For farmers, this represents an opportunity to improve farm resilience and reduce climate risks. Technicians will be able to use this data to recommend strategies that improve sustainability and productivity in the medium term.

R3-Finalization Feasibility: It is expected that confirmation will be given that the grain can be processed in conventional milling facilities, identifying optimal conditions and potential operational adjustments. This will allow cooperatives and industry to evaluate its incorporation without significant investment. For producers, it opens the possibility of accessing new markets and value chains. Professionals will be able to use the information to plan grain marketing and establish agreements with industry, reducing uncertainty about its destination and value.

R4-Flour Quality and Use: This study aims to characterize the technological and nutritional quality of flour and validate its use in bakery products. The resulting recommendations will enable processors and producers to understand its applications and limitations, facilitating its positioning in value-added markets. For farmers, this represents an opportunity for diversification and differentiation. Technicians will be able to use this information to guide production and marketing strategies based on quality and market demand.

R5-Environmental Indicators: It is expected that environmental benefits such as soil improvement, resource use efficiency, and contribution to climate change mitigation will be quantified. This information will allow farmers and advisors to justify sustainable practices and anticipate environmental requirements or incentives. The main value will be having evidence to support the adoption of the crop within sustainability strategies, improving the farm's environmental image and facilitating its alignment with agricultural policies.

R6-Economic Viability: This study aims to analyze the costs, yields, and profitability of the crop compared to conventional systems, providing clear economic benchmarks for decision-making. For farmers, the main benefit will be understanding the potential for cost reduction and income diversification. Technicians and cooperatives will be able to use these results to evaluate its integration into farming plans and design more stable and competitive production strategies.

R7-Digital Tool: A digital tool is expected to be developed that will allow users to consult agronomic, environmental, and economic indicators to support decisions regarding crop establishment. Farmers and advisors will be able to use it to evaluate scenarios, estimate benefits, and plan management based on their specific conditions. The added value will be to facilitate informed decisions, reduce uncertainty, and improve the technical and economic planning of the farm.

R8-Transfer and Dissemination: The adoption of the crop is expected to be facilitated through workshops, technical materials, and outreach activities that bring the results closer to the sector. Farmers and professionals will be able to learn about real-world experiences, resolve doubts, and evaluate its practical application. The main benefit will be having access to clear and readily available information that allows for more confident decision-making and the opportunity to take advantage of new production and market opportunities.

RD1-Communication Plan Design. Effective and Efficient Internal Communication. A structured Communication Plan is expected, defining objectives, target audiences, responsibilities, and tools to ensure effective dissemination of the project. This will include corporate identity, materials design, web strategy, and action plans tailored to each target audience. The main benefit will be ensuring that farmers, industry, government agencies, and other stakeholders receive clear, consistent, and useful information about the project's progress. Well-organized internal communication will optimize coordination among partners and improve the quality of knowledge transfer activities, ensuring that the results effectively reach the agricultural and agri-food sector.

RD2-On-site Dissemination and Transfer Activities: On-site activities are planned to demonstrate the performance of the perennial cereal in the field, including visits to demonstration plots in at least three regions and participation in industry events such as the AETC workshops. These activities will facilitate direct contact between farmers, technicians, and project partners, allowing for the evaluation of the crop under real-world conditions and the resolution of practical questions. The main benefit will be to reduce the uncertainty associated with introducing a new crop and to promote informed decisions regarding its establishment, management, and productive viability in different geographical contexts.

RD3-Virtual Dissemination Activities: A digital strategy is expected to be developed, including a dedicated GO website, social media outreach, electronic newsletters, and audiovisual materials, ensuring continuous access to project information. This initiative will broaden the project's territorial and sectoral reach, enabling farmers, industry, and other stakeholders to consult results, recommendations, and materials at any time. The main benefit will be improved accessibility and transparency of information, support for decision-making, and enhance the visibility of perennial cereals as a sustainable and competitive alternative.

RD4-Publications and Media Communication The results are expected to be disseminated through press releases, technical publications, and communication in specialized media, ensuring that the information reaches both the agricultural sector and society at large. These actions will allow the project's progress to be communicated in an understandable way and highlight the diversification and sustainability opportunities associated with perennial cereals. The main benefit will be to broaden the project's impact beyond the direct participants, generating sectoral knowledge and promoting the gradual adoption of innovation.

RD5-Promotion of Innovation and Diversification. Training Workshops. The aim is to promote the adoption of the innovations generated through training workshops, dissemination of success stories, and collaboration with training institutions, cooperatives, and agricultural associations. These actions will showcase opportunities for production diversification and efficiency improvements, facilitating the practical transfer of results. The main benefit will be to boost the actual implementation of perennial cereals on farms, strengthening the sector's competitiveness, sustainability, and adaptability.