Eastern Macedonia & Thrace Region (DR5) - Pilot Activities Overview
The Eastern Macedonia & Thrace Region (DR5) is implementing four pilot actions responding to the main climate change challenges of the territory. These pilots are designed as knowledge hubs for testing Nature-Based Solutions (NbS), low-cost technologies, and climate-resilient production systems.
Pilot Action 1 – Smart Irrigation for Water Saving in Agriculture
The primary objective is to implement Precision Irrigation (PI) technologies to meet the specific requirements of individual plants while minimizing environmental impacts. The pilot aims to save up to 35% of water and improve crop quantity and quality in water-demanding crops, particularly under increased drought conditions.
The pilot utilizes a multi-layered technological approach to optimize farm-level water use:
- Monitoring Network: Deployment of a meteorological station network and in-situ soil moisture sensors.
- Advanced Modeling: Coupling crop growth models with the downscaling of synoptic meteorological models to develop accurate Irrigation Scheduling (IS).
- Remote Sensing: Monitoring crop growth using Sentinel 2 satellites and drones.
- Soil Enhancement: Integration of biochar during ploughing to increase soil water-holding capacity.
- Increased water-use efficiency and significant reduction in irrigation energy costs.
- Enhanced crop productivity through precise application of water at the right place and time.
- Development of locally adapted sustainable water management practices for farming.
