{"word_count": 194, "character_count": 1475}
TRAMed project assesses andanalyses recent evolutions of Mediterranean Europe agro-pastoral systems, andthe problems faced following territorial polarization and sectoralrestructuring the region has undergone in recent decades. In the mountainous areas of Mediterranean Europe,the growing presence ofimmigrants have come to counterbalance the decline and ageing of the localrural population and agricultural workforce. The work specifically examines thepresence, contribution and role of immigrant shepherds, often originated from otherpastoral areas in the Mediterranean, coming to provide skilled labour at arelatively low cost. Despite this phenomenon seems toreproduce mobility patterns that have characterized Mediterranean pastoralismin the last century, problems exist in integrating and upgrading such workforcewith a view to tackle the generational renewal problems that affect the sector,and the EU agrarian world more in general. Immigrants’large presence in such strategic sector attests to the relevance of themigratory phenomenon for keeping mountain territories alive and productive, aswell as to their critical role in maintaining traditional practices andreproducing local identities. The paper suggests that aproactive attitude is needed to facilitate the scaling up of these workers tomore entrepreneurial levels to enhance their long-term integration into thesector – with view to ensure their contribution to the future ofagro-pastoralism in the region. 