Abstract
The WATERAGRI vision is to solve agricultural water management and soil fertilisation challenges in a sustainable manner to secure affordable food production in Europe for the 21st century. The WATERAGRI concept aims to introduce a new framework for the use of affordable small water retention approaches for managing excess and shortage of water as well as better recovery of nutrients from agricultural catchments applying a multi-actor approach. The objectives are to (a) Co-develop (multi-actor approach) the links between agricultural land and soil-sediment-water management for improved management of water excess and shortage, maximizing crop production and improving water quality and nutrient uptake by crops; (b) Undertake both technical and sustainability assessments of proposed measures considering tested and reviewed management options; (c) Develop a cloud-based simulation and data assimilation system based on a physically-based terrestrial system model, which is able to assimilate in situ and remotely sensed observations of hydrological and plant variables and meteorological data in near-real time to analyse effects of structures such as drains and dams for improved farm-scale water management and retention; (d) Identify, develop and test affordable and easy-to-implement long-term technical and operational farm solutions such as controlled drainage, regulated deficit irrigation, subsurface irrigation, groundwater recharge, farm constructed wetlands, soil management and nutrient recovery options; (e) Assess the techniques for their potential regarding adaptation to climate change and their impact on ecosystem services for different biogeographic regions using case studies; and (f) Disseminate the implemented innovations to farmers, advisory services and decision-makers as part of a multi-actor approach. The key performance indicators are increased crop production, enhanced nutrient recovery from streams and a simulation and data assimilation system.
Project details
Unibo Team Leader: Attilio Toscano
Unibo involved Department/s:
Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari
Coordinator:
Lunds Universitet (Ulund)(Sweden)
Other Participants:
Inra Cnrgv
(France)
ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - Università di Bologna
(Italy)
Oulun Yliopisto - University of Oulu
(Finland)
Bay Zoltan Alkalmazott Kutatasi Kozhasznu Nonprofit Kft.
(Hungary)
Centrum Doradztwa Rolniczego W Brwinowie
(Poland)
Vultus Ab
(Sweden)
Eden Microfluidics
(France)
Agrogeo Agarfejleszto-Foldtani-Fovallalkozo Korlatolt Felelossegu
(Hungary)
Agricolus S.R.L.
(Italy)
The University Of Salford
(United Kingdom)
Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy We Wrocławiu - Wrocław University Of Environmental And Life Sciences
(Poland)
Inosens Doo Novi Sad
(Serbia)
Ab Gardstanga Nygard
(Sweden)
Regelsberger Martin
(Austria)
Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus Vtt
(Finland)
Universite' De Neuchatel
(Switzerland)
Alchemia-Nova Gmbh
(Austria)
University Of Debrecen
(Hungary)
Consorzio Di Bonifica Di Secondo Grado Per Il Canale Emiliano Romagnolo
(Italy)
Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
(Austria)
Forschungszentrum Julich GmbH
(Germany)
Technische Universiteit Delft - Delft University Of Technology
(Netherlands)
Total Eu Contribution: Euro (EUR) 6.999.986,25
Project Duration in months: 48
Start Date:
01/05/2020
End Date:
30/04/2024
This project contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 858375