Sustainable irrigation for the Mediterranean: Insights from the MED-WET project

The PRIMA-funded MED-WET project, running from May 2021 to October 2024, brought together eight partners from Germany, Malta, Portugal, Egypt, and Morocco to address water scarcity in the Mediterranean region. This collaborative initiative, comprising higher education institutions and government agencies, sought to enhance irrigation efficiency for small farmers, ensuring lasting food and water security across the region. Malta was represented by Eco-Gozo and the Malta College of Arts, Science, and Technology (MCAST), the latter taking on the role of the lead partner for communication and dissemination.

MED-WET aimed to improve irrigation efficiency for smallholder farmers by testing three innovative technologies: Constructed Wetlands Technology (CWT), the Solar Desalination Greenhouse (SDGH), and Self-regulating, Low Energy, Clay-based Irrigation (SLECI). Each technology was designed to address specific water challenges in the region, conserving resources while supporting crop productivity.

In Egypt’s Western Desert, the CWT system treated agricultural and domestic wastewater through a natural filtration process involving plants, soil, and microorganisms. This approach significantly reduced biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, turbidity, ammonia, and heavy metals. The system achieved over 91% pollutant removal throughout its testing period from August 2023 to July 2024, making it suitable for irrigating non-edible crops, such as bamboo. To expand its use, plans are underway to add a low-cost electrolyzer and UV sterilization, which would make the system viable for irrigating edible crops, highlighting the potential of this low-maintenance approach in arid regions.

In Malta, the SDGH provided a novel way to convert brackish water into freshwater for irrigation by using halophytes—plants adapted to saline conditions—to humidify air within the greenhouse. Freshwater was collected through dehumidification and condensation, yielding 339 liters from July - August 2024. Although the desalination efficiency was 22.09%, the SDGH proved to be a steady source of freshwater, which was used to irrigate crops grown in a separate compartment of the SDGH. Additionally, over 8 kg of Portulaca oleracea, the halophyte used, was harvested for its nutritional and medicinal properties. Future improvements aim to enhance ventilation and increase water output.

The SLECI system was piloted in Malta, Portugal, and Morocco between 2022 and 2024, and was used for the irrigation of various fruit trees. SLECI’s clay-based elements release water directly to plant roots, minimizing evaporation and seepage and reducing water usage by up to 86%. Locally, SLECI was used to irrigate citrus trees and vines, achieving similar results to drip irrigation. For citrus trees, SLECI produced comparable fruit weight, length, and juice volume, while for vines, it delivered equivalent bunch weights and juice volumes, demonstrating the system’s effectiveness for a variety of crops.

As the lead for dissemination and communication, MCAST played a central role in ensuring MED-WET’s findings reached a wide audience. MCAST coordinated hands-on workshops across Malta, Portugal, Egypt, and Morocco, where farmers and stakeholders engaged directly with the project’s technologies. These sessions facilitated knowledge exchange and empowered participants to implement water-efficient practices on their own farms. MCAST also extended the project’s impact through digital outreach and events, raising awareness of sustainable irrigation and water management practices across the Mediterranean.

The MED-WET project showcases the potential of scalable, eco-friendly irrigation solutions tailored to water-scarce regions. By tackling critical regional challenges, MED-WET has shown that sustainable irrigation practices are not only feasible and effective but have the potential for wider application across the Mediterranean and beyond.

by Dr Francesca Busuttil

MED-WET is 100% funded by Xjenza Malta through the PRIMA initiative of Member States, Associated Countries and Participating Countries. The PRIMA Programme is supported by the European Union.