On 13 November 2025, the WaterMellon project held a successful regional workshop in Aliartos, Central Greece, bringing together local farmers, agricultural experts, public authorities and community members to explore innovative solutions for climate-resilient agriculture.
The event combined indoor presentations with a visit to the project’s demonstration field, creating an opportunity for participants to discover how new technologies and sustainable farming practices can help address the challenges of water scarcity and climate change in Mediterranean drylands.
A total of 34 participants attended the workshop, including farmers, agricultural engineers, advisors, representatives from the Municipality of Aliartos–Thespies, an environmental scientist, an agronomy educator, an SME representative and members of the local community. This diverse group encouraged open discussions and the exchange of practical knowledge, technical expertise and local experience.
The workshop also highlighted the important role of women in agriculture. Eleven participants were women, including eight agronomists, demonstrating the growing contribution of female experts to sustainable and innovative farming practices.
Image 1: participants attended the workshop
Throughout the day, participants learned about the WaterMellon project and its mission to promote adaptive cropping systems that improve water-use efficiency and increase resilience to climate stress. Discussions focused on innovative technologies, sustainable farming practices, new value chains and practical solutions that can help farmers improve productivity while protecting natural resources.
To increase the project’s visibility and share its objectives with a wider audience, STAR CHANNEL (local media) covered the event, helping spread information about WaterMellon and its activities to farmers and other stakeholders across the region.
Image 2: Ass. Professor E. Psomiadis presenting the WaterMellon Project on STAR CHANNEL.
Image 3: Dr. Eleni G. Papazoglou presenting the WaterMellon Project on STAR CHANNEL.
One of the highlights of the workshop was the live demonstration of precision agriculture technologies. Assistant Professor E. Psomiadis and his team showcased the use of drones, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Earth Observation tools to monitor crop conditions and support more efficient farm management.
Using multispectral drone imagery combined with GIS analysis, the team demonstrated how advanced digital technologies can help farmers monitor water stress, improve irrigation management and support the adoption of drought- and salinity-tolerant crops. These innovative approaches aim to strengthen sustainable cropping systems while improving productivity under increasingly challenging climate conditions.
The demonstration also built on the team’s long-standing experience in the Aliartos region through previous initiatives such as AgroSense, reinforcing strong collaboration between researchers, farmers and local stakeholders and supporting the long-term adoption of precision agriculture in the area.
Image 4: The experimental site in Aliartos as it was mapped from a Mavic 3M drone in October 2025
Image 5: The experimental site in Aliartos as it was mapped from a Mavic 3M drone in October 2025
Image 6: Assistant Professor E. Psomiadis and his team demonstrates drone and GIS advanced machinery.
The workshop included a questionnaire that provided valuable insights into the needs and expectations of local stakeholders. The results confirmed that water management remains one of the biggest challenges for farmers in the region, where irrigated agriculture plays a central role. Most participants reported experiencing yield losses caused by drought in recent years, highlighting the urgent need for practical climate adaptation solutions.
The survey also revealed a growing interest in digital agriculture. Although only a limited number of participants had previous experience with drones, most expressed a willingness to adopt drone-based monitoring and other digital tools if technical guidance and financial support are available. Many farmers also showed interest in introducing drought-tolerant crops, provided that suitable markets and economic incentives are in place.
The positive response from participants confirms that local farming communities recognise the value of precision agriculture and are ready to embrace innovative solutions that support sustainable production and climate resilience.
the Aliartos workshop successfully strengthened collaboration between farmers, researchers, advisors and local authorities while creating a valuable platform for knowledge exchange. By listening to local needs and combining them with innovative technologies, WaterMellon continues to develop practical solutions that support more sustainable and resilient agriculture across the Mediterranean.