SmaCuMed - Smart irrigation cube for sustainable agriculture in the Mediterranean region

Following the challenges and scope within PRIMA Topic 2, the SmaCuMed project addesses following problems: - Bridging the gap between actual water balances and optimum irrigation performance - Necessity to use saline water for irrigation to sustain crop productivity without the risk of soil and water salinization - Development of water balances (simulation, experimentation, observations) leading to: optimal water allocation, analysis of long-term scenarios and long-term impacts on soil, water & crops, and optimizing irrigation performance - Design of long-term, large-scale management and governance strategies to prevent and control soil/water salinization - Identifying representative case study areas, characterising the right water balance and availability in dialogue with local stakeholders, and capacity building to improve the long-term impact of the recommended practices.

SmaCuMed will conduct two representative demonstration studies in Morocco with typical Mediterranean ambient conditions (arid and semi-arid) for the use of desalinated groundwater for irrigation. The piloting activities will be carried out in collaboration with local GOs, NGOs and agricultural cooperatives. The use of real-time sensors aims to control groundwater extraction rate and salinity in order to avoid over-extraction and salt intrusion abd target sustainable irrigation. The development of a water balance model based on the conditions of the pilot regions will help farmers improve their irrigation management efficiency. This tool will allow farmers to understand the real water requirements from their crops, promoting the optimization of resources management with focus on water, and energy. SmaCuMed will empower local stakeholders in the agro sectors by: 1) Raising awareness of environmental protection and food security, 2) Providing integral technical solutions for effective water management and irrigation, 3) Knowledge transfer into economic benefit and job creation. 4) Organizing trainings, round tables and panel discussions for local professionals, particularly considering gender equality.

SmaCuMed embraces and addresses the challenges on Adaptation of agriculture to climate change (Topics 2.1.2 & 2.1.1) mostly focusing on water scarcity and climate change conditions, bridging the gap between water balances and optimum irrigation, including dialogs with local stakeholders and aiming at long-term governance strategies to prevent and control soil/water salinization. Following expected impacts can be summarized in: • SmaCuMed will contribute to using at least 30% of brackish water resources for irrigation in Morocco, which is representative for other North African countries, and achieve a water exploitation index (WEI) in Morocco of <10% (which is currently 35%SmaCuMed will increase the irrigated agricultural area in Morocco of about 10% compared to the current area irrigated with groundwater. • SmaCuMed will reduce the irrigation rate by 25% by using real-time water metering and soil moisture sensors and refining a computer-based decision support system for sustainable agriculture based on all collected data during the pilot in Morocco • SmaCuMed will conduct training sessions, workshops and local stakeholder consultation meetings and information sessions for capacity building, exchanging best practices, lessons learned and experiences as well as limitations and drawbacks of the project technologies.