On February, researchers from the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT) presented the initial results of the European Life Triplet project at the headquarters of the Campo de Cartagena Irrigation Community in Cartagena. The project is developing technologies to optimize irrigation digitalization for 14 different crops located in the Segura, Guadiana, and Júcar river basins.
The project has already installed sensors on all the plots where trials are being carried out in irrigation communities in Campo de Cartagena, Totana, Pliego, Pulpí (Almería), the Vicario reservoir (Ciudad Real), Mancha Occidental II (province of Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca, and Toledo), and Acequia Real del Júcar (Valencia). Table grapes. The techniques applied have already achieved savings of 30% in table grape irrigation in Totana, and researchers expect similar results in the remaining plots in the upcoming crop cycles. “The first step of the project is to obtain reliable data from all crops; the next step will be to create predictive models so that farmers can know how much to irrigate through an Artificial Intelligence application connected to the Triplet platform we are developing,” explains Alejandro Pérez Pastor, professor at the UPCT and project leader.
Researchers from the UPCT’s Agronomy, Industrial and Business Departments are developing, together with IMIDA, Aquatec, AZUD, and FMC, a digital platform for sustainable crop fertigation. Other project partners include Agbar, Cetaqua, the Community of Users of the Western Mancha II Groundwater Body (CUAS II), and the National Federation of Irrigation Communities of Spain (FENACORE).
The midterm evaluation meeting was attended by approximately 30 people, including researchers from the UPCT, IMIDA, and representatives of the National Federation of Irrigation Communities, SCRATS, the Community of Users of Groundwater of Western Mancha II, the Tajo-Segura Transfer Irrigation Community of Totana, the Pliego Irrigation Community, and representatives of the companies AQUATEC, AZUD, CETAQUA, and FMC. The European Commission is funding this project with almost three million euros. Its full name is ‘Digitalization of efficient fertigation management for sustainable agriculture’. The project will run until August 2026.
Photos: European Life Triplet
