Innovative Farming Across 19 Mediterranean Sites
WaterMellon is developing innovative, climate-resilient farming systems designed to thrive in the dry and challenging conditions of the Mediterranean. The project integrates several smart strategies to enhance sustainability and resilience across 19 sites in 10 countries. Of these, 12 are experimental sites focused on research and testing, while 7 are water-smart farming system sites that showcase practical solutions for farmers adapting to extreme drought and climate change. These 7 sites are planned to be upgraded into living labs, fostering hands-on community engagement and ongoing innovation.
Demonstration areas
The cropping systems are categorized into:
- Novel rotation schemes: where conventional and underutilised crops are included.
- Perennial systems: with improved drought and/or saline tolerance.
Location: Setif
Rotation schemes: Conservation & Rotation with Flexible Water Tank System
Crop: sorghum, triticale
Location: Pafos
Perennial systems: Already established fields on both slope areas and terraces testing soil amendments
Crop: carob tree
Location: Velestino
Rotation schemes: Conservation of agricultural practices and subirrigation
Crop: quinoa, teff, tritordeum
Location: Crete
Perennial systems: Already established fields on slope areas and terraces testing soil amendments
Crop: carob tree
Location: Mesologgi
Rotation schemes: Rotation (including intercropping) combined with subirrigation irrigation system
Crop: lupin, quinoa
Location: Farsala
Rotation schemes: Rotation with Flexible Water Tank System
Crop: quinoa, tritordeum, teff
Location: Foggia
Rotation schemes: Conservation
agricultural practices and subirrigation
Crop: quinoa, teff, tritordeum
Location: Emilia-Romagna
Rotation schemes: Rotation with Surface Flow Constructed Wetland irrigation
Crop: millet, quinoa
Location: Catania
Rotation schemes: Rotation with Sub Water Retention System
Crop: sorghum, quinoa
Location: Monterotondo
Rotation schemes: Already established Flexible Water Harvesting System (WHS)
Crop: sorghum, quinoa
Location: Iaat & Yohmor
Rotation schemes: Conservation agricultural practices and drip irrigation if needed
Crop: quinoa, teff
Location: Fraita – Safi region
Perennial systems: Established field to be irrigated by Atmospheric Water Harvesting (hydropanels) testing soil amendments
Crop: opuntia
Location: Marrakech
Rotation schemes : Rotation & ancient khettaras/seguias irrigation
Crop: triticale, quinoa, lupin
Location: Alentejo & Setubal
Perennial systems: Already established fields on both flat and slope areas (terraces)
Crop: opuntia
Location: Andalusia
Rotation schemes: Rotation including conventional and underutilized species (rainfed)
Crop: quinoa, carob tree
Location: Mallorca
Perennial systems: Already established fields on slope areas and terraces testing soil amendments, or partially irrigated with regenerated water from urban use
Crop: carob tree
Location: Kef
Rotation schemes: Conservation agricultural practices and drip irrigation
Crop: quinoa, teff