[Tunis, Tunisia] – [October, 2025]
The water scarcity that threatens the food security of the Mediterranean basin is now at the heart of a major cross-border initiative. The SWAMED project (Sustainable Water Management for Smart Agriculture in the Mediterranean Regions) announces a new approach to agricultural irrigation water management, based on innovative technologies and a multi-stakeholder, participatory approach. The initiative aims to broaden the adoption of rational and sustainable practices by providing tools and training to farmers, decision-makers, and partners, and by strengthening awareness through robust communication and dissemination activities.
Key Objective and Foundational Approach
The Main Objective of the SWAMED project is to reduce irrigation water consumption by 30% at the pilot sites, while increasing the overall sustainability and resilience of the agricultural system.
Its Foundational Approach is guided by the integrated WEFE (Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystems) framework, which serves as the reference for the design, implementation, and evaluation of all proposed water management solutions.
Major Pillars
The SWAMED project is structured around three major pillars to support irrigation water management in the Mediterranean:
- Technological Innovation: SWAMED implements an intelligent irrigation water monitoring system to monitor its use in real time both upstream and downstream of the plots.
- Multi-stakeholder Participatory Approach: SWAMED adopts, within the framework of a multi-stakeholder participatory approach, an irrigation water monitoring and management system, adaptable to local conditions, across 4 demonstration pilot sites in Tunisia, Turkey, Egypt, and Greece, and intended for farmers, agricultural associations, regional water management authorities, hydraulic infrastructure operators, and researchers.
- Sustainability and Evaluation: The project evaluates sustainability through a life-cycle perspective integrating social and environmental dimensions, in accordance with the WEFE approach.
Methods and Activities
- Demonstration and Experimentation: Implementation and validation of an integrated water management approach based on WEFE principles under real irrigation conditions on four pilot sites.
- Technological Deployment: Installation and use of innovative technologies for continuous quantitative and qualitative monitoring of irrigation water, and integration of data into an interactive Decision Support System (DSS) coupled with AI.
- Strengthening Farmers’ Capacity: Establishment of a robust training program for farmers and local actors, including tools, educational materials, and real demonstrations to support their adoption of innovative technologies.
- Communication and Dissemination: Development of a proactive communication strategy to raise awareness among stakeholders, share scientific results, and foster multi-stakeholder collaboration.
By improving the efficiency of water use, SWAMED frees up water for allocation where it is most needed, thereby contributing to regional water security and resilience.
Expected Results
The project contributes to the resilience and sustainability of Mediterranean agricultural systems through intelligent and integrated irrigation water management:
- Adoption of innovative technologies by farmers and water management authorities, for better planning and pricing.
- Improved efficiency and reduced operational cost of irrigation (reduction of irrigation water losses, quality improvement, etc.).
- Strengthened climate resilience, transparency, and governance.
- Technology transfer and knowledge sharing (pilot projects, feedback, dissemination to stakeholders).
Partnership
SWAMED unites five partners from the Mediterranean region:
- Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli (Lead Partner) (Italy),
- Centre Régional de Télédétection des États de l’Afrique du Nord (Regional Remote Sensing Center for North African States) (Tunisia),
- Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University (Turkey),
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece),
- The British University (Egypt) –
and two associated partners:
- Direction de l’Agriculture de la Région d’Alanya (Alanya Region Directorate of Agriculture) (Turkey),
- École Supérieure d’Ingénieurs de Medjez El Bab (Higher School of Engineers of Medjez El Bab) (Tunisia).
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About SWAMED
- Funding: Interreg NEXT MED 2021-2027
- Total Budget: €2,745,200 (89% co-financed by the EU).
- Project Duration: 36 months
- Start Date: 01/08/2025
Media Contacts
- Email: luigi.zeni@unicampania.it
Disclaimer: This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union under the Interreg NEXT MED Programme. The contents are the sole responsibility of University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, CRTEAN – Regional Center for Remote Sensing of North African States, The British University in Egypt (BUE), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University (ALKU), Alanya District Directorate of Agriculture, Medjez El Bab Higher School of Engineering and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union or the Programme management structures.