On the 16th of September, WaterMellon project was presented at the SPIE sensors + Imaging International Conference in Madrid. Our partner Prof. Emmanouil Psomiadis, from the Agricultural University of Athens presented a poster with the title “Integrating Earth Observation for the precise monitoring of novel farming systems and water harvesting techniques to address extreme drought in the Mediterranean region, including saline and drought-resilient species”.
Water scarcity is emerging as one of the most pressing challenges in the Mediterranean basin, where climate change intensifies drought frequency, raises temperatures, and reduces freshwater availability. These stressors severely impact rainfed farming systems, contributing to low productivity, farmer vulnerability, and increasing land abandonment. The WaterMellon project addresses this challenge by combining ancestral hydro-technologies with modern irrigation strategies and state-of-the-art Earth Observation (EO) and Geographic Information System (GIS) applications to strengthen agricultural resilience in dryland environments. The approach builds on the restoration of traditional water-harvesting practices, complemented by nature-based interventions and precision agriculture techniques. These include the adoption of drought-resilient varieties, the valorization of underutilized crops, and the deployment of energy-efficient irrigation systems. EO and GIS serve as the analytical backbone of the project, enabling spatial assessments of water dynamics, suitability mapping for harvesting infrastructures, and continuous monitoring of crop and soil conditions across pilot sites.
The SPIE Sensors + Imaging Exhibition is a leading European showcase for state-of-the-art sensor, photonics, and imaging technologies, particularly in the realms of remote sensing, environmental monitoring, security, and defence. Held in conjunction with the SPIE Sensors + Imaging conference, the exhibition brings together industry, academia, and government stakeholders to explore advances in detectors, lasers, imaging systems, and integrated sensor architectures. Visitors can engage directly with innovators and solution providers over two full days of free exhibition access, offering unique opportunities for networking, technology scouting, and collaboration. In 2025, the event was scheduled for 15–18 September at IFEMA, Madrid, with the exhibition portion taking place on 16–17 September.
Image1: Prof. Emmanouil Psomiadis, from the Agricultural University of Athens presented a poster with the title “Integrating Earth Observation for the precise monitoring of novel farming systems and water harvesting techniques to address extreme drought in the Mediterranean region, including saline and drought-resilient species”
Image 2: Poster of the research “Integrating Earth Observation for the precise monitoring of novel farming systems and water harvesting techniques to address extreme drought in the Mediterranean region, including saline and drought-resilient species”
Image 3: Prof. Emmanouil Psomiadis, from the Agricultural University of Athens at the SPIE sensors + Imaging International Conference in Madrid
