Fostering WaterAgriculture Research and Innovation in Malta

MCAST hosted the closing conference of the project ‘FOWARIM – Fostering Water-Agriculture Research and Innovation in Malta’ on Wednesday 12 December at the Carlson Suite, Radisson Blu Resort, St George's Bay St. Julian's.

The conference’s aim was to highlight the project’s focus on strengthening the research capacity of the Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology’s Water Research and Training Centre in four crucial themes related to the field of water use in agriculture:

(a) Decreasing water demand;

(b Making use of alternative sources of water;

(c) Renewable desalinization, on-farm desalinization and utilization of

saline water;

(d) Decreasing negative environmental externalities caused by nutrient

rich farm waters.

During the closing conference, the research results were presented by the various project partners including Centre International de Hautes Etudes Mediterraneennes – CIHEAM (Italy), Europe for Business Ltd (UK), Cranfield University (UK), ID Consulting (Belgium), and Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (Spain).

The research results focused on: a) Promoting innovations and best practices in agricultural water man

agement; b) Outline of scientific and management training courses provided dur

ing the project; c) Showcasing irrigation water governance and economical models; d) Adaptation and mitigation measure of water use in agriculture in a

changing climate; e) Making use of saline water- the case for salt-water agriculture; f) Overview of the practical sessions provided to the local agriculture community on how to make more efficient use of water in the agriculture.

Minister for Education and Employment Evarist Bartolo and Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights Clint Camilleri addressed the conference.