Transfer of innovative techniques for sustainable water use in fertigated crops.
Summary and Objectives
Caté participated from 2016 to 2018 in the European project FERTINNOWA, which concentrated on the sustainable management of water in fertigated systems for both soilless and soil-grown crops. The consortium was composed of 23 partners, including applied research centers, advisory bodies, universities, industry, and SMEs, spanning across 10 countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, United Kingdom, Slovenia, and South Africa). The project was coordinated by Proefstation voor de Groenteteelt in Belgium. FERTINNOWA was a project funded under Horizon 2020, selected under the call WATER-4b-2015: Water innovation: boosting its value for Europe.
Across European countries, the cultivation of fertigated crops faces water scarcity, and the intensity of cultivation poses significant risks to water quality. The network’s primary objectives were to provide information and actively disseminate innovative technologies and practices for fertigation in diverse horticultural crops. Specific objectives included the creation of an extensive database on innovative technologies and practices and the development of an effective knowledge exchange platform for diverse stakeholders (advisors, growers, industry, researchers, policymakers, environmental groups, etc.) regarding farm management, regional, socio-economic, and regulatory issues.
Caté initiated its involvement by conducting interviews with tomato, strawberry, and ornamental growers in Brittany concerning their fertilization and irrigation management systems, including water source management, water and nutrient use efficiency, and drainage water management. The analysis and comparison of collected information across European regions aided in identifying the most promising technologies and Best Management Practices (BMPs) to be tested by partners during the project’s second phase. These interviews also revealed existing bottlenecks, prompting the project to propose solutions to bridge the gaps between available knowledge and growers’ practices. The thematic network ensured extensive dissemination of collected information and data, particularly concerning BMPs and the most promising technologies (practice abstracts), aiming to assist growers in their implementation.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 689687
