Location of Pilot Area 

Our Spanish pilot area is situated in the Campo de Cartagena, a coastal plain in the Region of Murcia in southwest Spain. This collaboration includes local growers, the Irrigation Community of Campo de Cartagena, the Federation of Agrarian Cooperatives from Murcia (FECOAM), and the National Association of Irrigators Communities in Spain (FENACORE).

The lead for the Spanish pilot area is Francisco Pedrero from CSIC-CEBAS. Additional partners include local growers, the Irrigation Community of Campo de Cartagena, FECOAM, and FENACORE.

Stay tuned for updates on the innovations being tested in this pilot area!

> Land Use

Despite its dry conditions, Campo de Cartagena is a major hub for agricultural production both nationally and internationally. Agriculture here is a key economic activity, with around 30% of the land dedicated to highly water-efficient irrigated farming. Farmers in the region grow crops like carob trees using a mix of traditional and modern water management practices. Water consumption for agriculture in this region reaches approximately 180 Mm³ per year, sourced from six different supplies.

> Key Stakeholders

Key stakeholders in this pilot area include:

• Juan Andrés Jimenez Muñoz, a representative carob tree grower.
• The Integrated Centre for Agricultural Training and Experiences of Torre Pacheco (CIFEA).
• The Murcian Almond Cooperative.

> Key Challenges

The primary challenge facing Campo de Cartagena is severe water scarcity. This issue is exacerbated by the abandonment of land due to insufficient water and a lack of sustainable agricultural solutions. The region’s structural water deficit exceeds 400 mm annually, posing significant risks to its agricultural productivity and sustainability.

> Existing Approaches to Combat Desertification

Efforts to combat desertification in this area have included various research projects and initiatives:

• COASTAL: Focuses on sustainable coastal and rural development.
• DESERTNET: Managed under the Community Initiative Programme (CIP) Interreg III B-Western Mediterranean.
• LIFE AMDRYC4: A project aimed at climate change adaptation of dryland agricultural systems in the Mediterranean.

Additionally, the PRIMA project CICLICA is employing precision agriculture using advanced smart sensing tools. Local farmers also adhere to ecological planting practices, which will be compared with the innovations proposed by the Desertification Innovation Partnership.

> Tested Innovations

Agrobiogel – A gel made from 100% wood that mimics humus. It absorbs and stores water from rain or irrigation in the soil and then slowly releases it back to the plants during dry periods.

Agrodit – Soil sensors that provide real-time data on moisture, salinity and temperature. They allow users to respond immediately to sub-optimal environmental and soil conditions before visual symptoms appear.

Imflorestal produce Ecochar – a biochar-compost mixture that restructures soil, adds carbon and reduces the need for reduces the need for water and fertilisers. It is inspired by “terra preta do indio”, or Indian black earth  – a very fertile dark soil found in the Amazon basin.

Almond shells are applied as a soil cover around young plants to create a protective layer over the soil surface. It is locally available as an agricultural by-product and aligns with circular economy principles.

Plastic mulching with inverted ridges  (caballones invertidos) designed to optimise rainwater harvesting. This practice is widely used by farmers in semi-arid Mediterranean regions to cope with water scarcity.