PROmoting Sustainable Irrigation management and non-conventional water use in the Mediterranean (PROSIM)

In Mediterranean countries, water use for irrigation accounts for more than 70% of water consumption and an important hydric stress is registered due to increasing population and climate change. Water losses due to non-efficient irrigation systems, limited reliance on non-conventional water (NCW), scarce capacities of institutions to enforce effective water management plans and lack of awareness of modern solutions at farm level, are the most common issues to deal with.

PROSIM will face these challenges focusing on both water demand and supply for irrigation. The project will bring innovative solutions combining water use efficiency and NCW and build local capacities to adopt/upscale them. Cross-border capacity building and roadmaps and plans for improved water management based on project results will be carried out while enhancing public-private cooperation will be fostered together with investments for the adoption/upscale of the proposed solutions.

The project will enhance adaptation pathways, reducing pressure on water resources in the concerned areas of Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia and Spain. At pilot farm level, the project will increase water usage efficiency by 30% and substitute clean water by non-conventional water up to 100% thanks to new/tailored solutions to optimise water consumption.

The project also hopes to boost by 5-10% the investments in sustainable irrigation from governments, financial institutions and farmers.