SuWaNu Europe
Research Projects
SuWaNu Europe
Network for effective knowledge transfer on safe and economic wastewater reuse in agriculture in Europe-SuWaNu Europe
Program at a glance
Funding Agency | European Commission, Horizon 2020 |
Program Period | 2019-2021 |
Project Acronym | SuWaNu Europe |
Project Code | H2020-RUR-2018-2020/818088 |
Project Title | Sustainable Water Treatment and Agricultural reuse Options in Europe |
Project Coordinator | Rafael Casielles Restoy, Bioazul S.L., Spain |
Partners | Bioazul S.L., Spain Federacion Nacional de Comunidades de Regantes Asociación Española de Reutilización Sostenible del Agua (ASERSA) Universidad de Cordoba Verein zur Förderung des Technologietransfers an der Hochschule Bremerhaven e. V Abwasserverband Braunschweig Development agency of Thessaloniki s.a. Aristotelio Panepistimio Thessalonikis Agraren Universitet of plovdiv Confederazione Generale dell Agricoltura Italiana Universita degli Studi di Torino Canale Emiliano Romagnolo MEKOROT water company limited CONSULAI-Consultoria Agro Industriatrial IDA FENAREG-Federacao Nacional de Regantes de Portugal Nireas-International Water Research Center, University of Cyprus, Cyprus Agricultural Chamber of Cyprus Ecofilae Confederación (de ámbito estatal) de Consumidores y Usuarios Proefstation voor de Groenteteelt |
Nireas-IWRC Principal Investigator | Prof. Despo Fatta-Kassinos |
Total Budget | 1,999,926 € |
Budget for Nireas-IWRC | 69,384 € |
Project website | https://suwanu-europe.eu |
Abstract
Reclaimed water has a strong potential for complementing conventional water resources. According to the European Commission communication “Closing the loop – An EU action plan for the Circular Economy” (COM(2015)0614): “in addition to water-efficiency measures, the reuse of treated wastewater in safe and cost-effective conditions is a valuable but underused means of increasing water supply and alleviating pressure on over-exploited water resources in the EU”. Water reuse is especially relevant in agriculture as this is one of the main water consumers, having additional benefits for farmers: lower cost compared to other solutions (e.g. desalination), reliability of supply regardless of season, climatic conditions and associated water restrictions, and nutrients contribution of the treated wastewater that can supplement or replace conventional fertilizers.
Based on the results of a previous EU project called “SuWaNu” whose main result was to set research-driven clusters in the field of water reuse in 5 target countries (Malta, Spain, Germany, Greece and Bulgaria), SuWaNu Europe intends to bridge the current innovation gaps and achieve an effective implementation of reuse solutions in agriculture.
SuWaNu Europe aims to extend the geographical coverage of its predecessor and summarize, share and present existing and upcoming knowledge and skills in the field of water reuse in agriculture to the relevant stakeholders such as farmers and farming advisory groups. SuWaNu Europe also aims to create regional working groups for the development of Action Plans. These Action Plans will ultimately set strategies at regional level with the objective of boosting innovation in the agricultural and water sectors, improving best practice development and identifying the most appropriate channels to reach stakeholders. In addition to this, dissemination and training will create the capacity and competencies needed to implement these results.
Objectives
The general objective of SuWaNu Europe is to promote the effective exchange of knowledge, experience and skills between practitioners and relevant actors of water reuse in agriculture, so that direct applicable technological and organizational solutions are widely and balanced disseminated all around Europe resulting in a more resilient agricultural sector to cope with water scarcity and climate change effects.
The project specific objectives include:
- The identification and extraction of existing practical knowledge from projects, networks, success stories and research results with potential application for practitioners, e.g. farmers, agricultural advisory groups, water engineers and operators.
- Setting the basis in a participatory and evidence-based process for the development of implementation strategies in 8 target regions.
- The development of strategies and recommendations to pave the way for the implementation of water reuse solutions.
- The creation of regional networks that combine efforts within and outside the consortium to support implementation and uptake of organizational and technological solutions.
- The development, summary and structure of practical knowledge for practitioners in a way that it is easy to understand.
- The increase of the capacities of practitioners and other stakeholders in water reuse for irrigation.
- The strengthening of the links between water and farming sectors in order to find synergies for water reuse in agriculture.
- The creation of synergies between Regional Working Groups, operational groups and national and international networks (EIP-Agri, ERIAFF, ERRIN, EUFRAS, WIRE, WssTP, etc.) and practitioners, supporting the implementation of water reuse.
- The communication and dissemination of the project results using the most appropriate and well trusted communication channels, and most appropriate formats (audio-visual materials, practice abstracts, fact-sheets).