MED-WET project

As a conclusion to the MED-WET project, the project has demonstrated the effectiveness of innovative water irrigation technologies across diverse agricultural settings in Malta, Morocco, Egypt, and Portugal. By employing sustainable practices such as constructed wetlands, solar desalination greenhouses, and efficient irrigation systems, the project achieved significant reductions in water consumption while maintaining crop yields. These results underscore the potential of tailored, eco-friendly technologies to enhance irrigation efficiency, promote water conservation, and support sustainable agriculture in Mediterranean regions. As the project concludes, the insights gained provide a valuable framework for scaling these solutions to other regions facing similar water scarcity challenges. #Medwet #mediterranean #agricultureandfarming #irrigation #WaterConservation #waterscarcity #watersustainability

The Self-regulating, Low Energy, Clay based Irrigation (SLECI) technology, an innovative micro-irrigation system, was installed for comparison with conventional drip irrigation in test fields in Morocco, Portugal, and Malta, between late 2022 and 2023. The SLECI technology relies on the use of porous clay emitters, which effectively release water into the surrounding soil depending on the soil moisture. In Malta, the SLECI system was used to irrigate citrus trees and vines. For citrus trees, SLECI achieved comparable results to traditional drip irrigation in terms of fruit weight, length, and juice volume, while also delivering a significant water saving of up to 86.2% compared to the drip irrigation system. For the MED-WET project, the "branch-line" installation method was used, requiring minimal effort. Similarly, for vines, SLECI produced comparable bunch weights and juice volumes to those obtained with drip irrigation, demonstrating its effectiveness and efficiency. #Medwet #agricultureandfarming #irrigation #waterconservation #waterscarcity #watersustainability

The second technology used during the Med-Wet project is the Solar Desalination Greenhouse (SDGH). It converts saline water into freshwater for irrigation by harnessing the natural properties of halophytes (plants adapted to saline environments) to humidify the air inside the greenhouse. Freshwater is then produced through a combination of passive dehumidification and active condensation. This purified water can be used to irrigate glycophytic crops, which require non-saline conditions, grown in a separate compartment within the SDGH. Despite the desalination compartment's relatively low efficiency of 22.09%, the SDGH successfully demonstrated consistent freshwater collection throughout the data collection period (July – August 2024), indicating reliable operation. Portulaca oleracea, the halophyte used in the vertical farming system, thrived in increasingly saline water (over 3.5 mS/cm by the end of the period) while increasing humidity through evapotranspiration . Additionally, over 8 kg of P. oleracea, known for its nutritional and medicinal value, were harvested. #Medwet #mediterranean #agricultureandfarming #irrigation #waterconservation #waterscarcity #watersustainability

? As we are reaching the end of this project, we would like to present key findings and highlights of this Med-Wet project. ?? The MED-WET project has implemented constructed wetlands (CWT) at Sekem Farm, El-Wahat El-Bahariya, Egypt, to treat wastewater using natural processes involving plants, soil, and microorganisms. ? Weekly water quality monitoring from August 2023 to July 2024 shows significant reductions in turbidity, ammonia, and over 60% reduction in faecal and total coliform. Treatment efficiency has improved due to system maturity, achieving a pollutant removal rate of over 91%. ? The treated water meets Egyptian standards (ECP No. 501 for 2017) and is currently used for irrigating non-fruitful trees and vegetation. #Medwet #mediterranean #agricultureandfarming #irrigation #SaveWater #WaterConservation #waterscarcity #watersustainability

Today, the MED-WET Maltese partners, hosted a MED-WET event in which speakers from several sectors, were invited to share their insights and knowledge regarding aspects related to the environment, natural resources and the results of the project. We would like acknowledge the presence of: - Mr. Malcolm Borg (MCAST) introduced and chaired this event. - Ing. Abigail Cutajar from the Climate Action Authority provided an insight on the importance of ensuring food and water, in the face of climate change challenges and opportunities. - Dr. Francesca Busuttil (MCAST) gave an overview on the objectives and key findings of the MED-WET project - Mr. Joseph Piscopo (Eco-Gozo) presented information on the application of the MED-WET technologies, and provided an update on local water management-related projects. - Ms. Sandrine Borg (Xjenza Malta) presented information on funding opportunities for sustainability projects. - Dr. Sarah Camilleri (MCAST) provided information on modernisation of agriculture through knowledge and innovative systems. - Dr. Lorna Bonnici West (MCAST) provided insights on the Waterline Project - Ms. Carmen Frendo (MCAST) presented the UNIMED project. - Mr. Manuel Sapiano (The Energy and Water Agency) provided an insight on the policies related to sustainable use and development of local water resources. We would like to thank the speakers and the participants for the fruitful discussions and insights provided throughout this event. #Medwet #mediterranean #waterconservation #WaterScarcity #watersustainability #agricultureandfarming #irrigation

The Med-Wet partners participated at the Fund?o Agricultural Innovation Fair during October 2024, in Portugal. During the fair, the MED-WET partners presented the project during a conference, and through the dissemination of information at the MED-WET stand. It was an informative experience, during which the MED-WET partners had the opportunity to discuss the project and its outcomes with the different stakeholders! #Medwet #mediterranean #agricultureandfarming #irrigation #waterconservation #WaterScarcity #watersustainability #watersaving

Med-Wet project explores innovative technologies for sustainable water management in Mediterranean agriculture, addressing water scarcity and ensuring a secure agricultural future in the region. How does this project achieves this? View the video below regarding the actual technologies which were used throughout the period of conducting this project. What do you think about these technologies? #agricultureandfarming #waterconservation #WaterScarcity #watersustainability #irrigation

The MED-WET partners participated in the Euro-Mediterranean Innovation Marketplace in Cairo, presenting the Med-Wet project! During this event, the partners starting by introducing the aim of the project, and presented the technologies involved and the results which had been achieved by the technologies. #Medwet #mediterranean #waterconservation #watersaving #WaterScarcity #irrigation #agricultureandfarming

World Environmental Health Day is celebrated annually on the 26th September. The event was initiated by the International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) with the aim to bring attention to the vital link between human health and the environment. The 2024 theme for World Environmental Health Day is “Environmental Health: Creating Resilient Communities through Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation”. This theme brings into perspective the necessary link between climate changes and the human health. In fact this is an important link as basis of the MED-WET project, since, the impact of climate change on water scarcity will have an impact on our food sources. We encourage you to read more by clicking on this link: https://www.ifeh.org/wehd/ #ifeh #waterconservation #watersaving #irrigation #agricultureandfarming #Medwet #mediterranean #savewater

As we are becoming more aware, there is an ongoing increasing pressure on water pressure. Can reuse of naturally treated wastewater be a solution? A research carried out by Med-Wet partners aimed to conduct a cost–benefit analysis (CBA) of an investment project, reusing treated wastewater in irrigation compared to other modes of water irrigation projects. The CBA results revealed that the cost of the initial investment for the production of treated water used for irrigating green non-fruit trees, Bamboo trees, and Cactus in Sekem El-Wahat, is economically efficient with 88% compared to the exploitation of aquifer groundwater for irrigating the same crops. We encourage you to read more on this study through the following link: https://lnkd.in/dvPQcywd #Medwet #agricultureandfarming #irrigation #waterconservation #WaterSaving #savewater