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integration into farm management practices and the off-farm constraints, require an additional
effort in improving the exchange of information and dialogue between end-users, farmers, policy-
makers and research teams, to facilitate the transfer of new knowledge and technologies and their
practical implementation at field-level. Where irrigation modernization has already started through
the replacement of surface irrigation with drip or trickle systems, new irrigation scheduling
programmes to better match water application with real crop needs should be investigated and
proposed. Regulated deficit irrigation strategies will have to be implemented in those countries
where chronic paucity of summer rainfall allows supplemental water to act as a major controller of
growth, yield and fruit quality. Conversely, in some countries of the North Mediterranean basin
(namely part of Italy and France), now frequently experiencing temporary, yet still fairly occasional,
summer drought, the major challenge is having physiological and/or agronomical decision-making
tools to assess if the severity of water stress might justify supplemental watering. Presently,
irrigation technical change in the Mediterranean has mostly taken place on large farms with the
support of large-scale public subsidies. Smallholders, which represent hundreds of thousands of
hectares of irrigated land, face considerable difficulties to access such subsidized programmes and
to adopt standardized new technologies. However, some of have indeed adapted these new
irrigation techniques to their own needs, involving local entrepreneurs and creating new jobs. This
innovation process responds to small farmers’ objectives mainly focused on labour and crop
productivity rather than water-saving issues. Furthermore, these technical changes are often not
sensitive to the related actual water footprint, and are sometimes based on new sources of water
(open access groundwater or treated or non-treated waste water reuse) that could lead to serious
environmental hazards (groundwater overexploitation, water pollution, health issues). From a users’
perspective, the PRIMA approach should promote the acquisition of knowledge on the local
experiences of Mediterranean countries, enhance this (informal) innovation process, and connect it
to official national programmes dealing with water saving issues.
3.
In arid and semi-arid areas, soil, water and vegetation need to be viewed as a whole. The way soil,
plant cover and vegetation are managed is crucial in regulating water resources and this is currently
not properly done. The mechanisms of soil erosion should be taken into consideration at different
spatial and temporal scales. Soil microbiology and mineral nutrient cycles are also important issues.
Degraded soils create a need for remediation solutions to be found. Integrated management of
watershed systems in order to achieve higher sustainability should be implemented. Attention
should be paid to designing innovative land use and crop management systems to optimize
agricultural practices while protecting land and water systems in order to reduce soil degradation
and salinization. Within this more holistic approach, studies on soil fertility could also be taken into
account. A new approach addressing soil and underground water degradation accompanied by land
and water monitoring mechanisms must be promoted. The factors impacting on soil and water
quality must be reduced with a mix of policy measures and innovation actions in order to develop
more sustainable land and water use. This might include designing land management practices to
maximise on-site resources and determining how soil inherent properties and cropping practices
affect the soil’s ability to supply minerals and trace elements to plants.
4.
Sustainable, integrated water resources management should ensure efficient multiple use in
irrigation, drinking and industrial activities as well as the preservation of natural ecosystems through
consideration of the quantity and quality of water needed for the functioning of aquatic ecosystem
services. That requires efficient governance at different levels: watersheds, districts, national. PRIMA
intends to improve water governance, taking into consideration both the socioeconomic context and
meteo-climatic trends of the Mediterranean basin. Both are seen as important drivers of current and
future water resources management. The development of innovative governance strategies,
advanced planning methodologies, and monitoring tools are necessary that take into account the
huge number of physical, technological and socio-economic variables in water management. This is
required to address the ever-growing need for water and food. Drought analyses and water
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accounting at regional scale should integrate the outputs of monitoring and forecasting systems at
the Mediterranean level (downscaling global meteorological models and CC scenarios) in order to
plan and manage water supply systems taking into consideration climatic and anthropogenic changes
and the need to cope with water scarcity.
5.
Use of alternative water sources, e.g. treated waste water or water from desalination, through
efficient and competitive technologies (particularly in terms of energy content), is increasingly
considered necessary to provide a complementary source of water in certain zones of the
Mediterranean. Thus, integrating new resources (desalination and treated waste water) into water
management systems should be studied and promoted taking into account the technical and
environmental impact, economic efficiency, water governance rules and the local socio-economic
context. PRIMA will address the problem of using non-conventional water resources through a
holistic approach stimulating the joint collaboration between water treatment technology providers,
water governing bodies, end-users and soil and water scientists. This will enable the consideration
of water systems as part of a ‘circular economy approach’.
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