WATDEV Modelling Working Group Meets at CIHEAM Bari to Advance Integrated Research

Bari, Italy – 24 – 25 September 2025, CIHEAM Bari hosted the modelling working group of the WATDEV Project, bringing together senior researchers to share insights about the applied research on integrated modelling for sustainable water management in agriculture.

The meeting gathered senior researchers and experts from ISRIC – World Soil Information (the Netherlands), SYKE - Finnish Environment Institute (Finland), and CIHEAM Bari, alongside PhD students from Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan. Over two days, participants exchanged and discussed the findings of their applied research on integrated modelling in WATDEV’s target countries: Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Sudan.

Namely, discussions focused on scenarios for the implementation of the best management practices (BMPs) in the four countries, and the post-processing methodologies required to improve model accuracy. On the second day, attention moved to model customisation, to share progress made, refine the user interface, and define a roadmap for the coming months.

The two-day meeting concluded with preparations for the upcoming regional workshops on “Participatory Identification of Best-Suiting BMPs Scenarios”, which will serve as a platform for validating and adapting modelling results with stakeholders.

This collaborative effort marks a crucial phase of the WATDEV project, as it moves closer toward delivering a modelling toolbox. By bringing together expertise from different institutions and regions, the working group is refining models and tools that will support farmers, researchers, and policymakers in strengthening sustainable water management in agriculture

Funded by the European Union, in the framework of the DeSIRA Initiative, WATDEV is committed to enhancing knowledge and management of water management in agriculture. The project develops innovative tools and promotes best management practices that can be scaled across the study areas and beyond, ensuring long-term impact on water security.

Photo Album