Strengthening technical and scientific skills in the sustainable management of water resources in agriculture and enhancing the resilience of agri-food systems to climate change. This is the objective of the Training and Capacity Building Course organized by the Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IPSP) and CIHEAM Bari within the framework of the Climate Smart Water Management and Sustainable Development for Food and Agriculture in East Africa (WATDEV) project, an international initiative operating in East Africa and Egypt to promote more sustainable and adaptive agricultural models.
The WATDEV project is funded by the DeSIRA Programme of the European Union, the technical coordinator is the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), whereas the scientific coordinator is the CIHEAM Bari. The Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection of the National Research Council of Italy is partner of the project together with research institutions and universities across Europe and Africa. Project activities integrate advanced research, modelling, technological innovation, and capacity building, with the aim of improving agricultural water management and supporting the adoption of innovative solutions by institutions, technical professionals, and rural communities.
Training course contents
The course, structured into three intensive training modules, focuses on the use of advanced technologies for monitoring and optimizing crop performance, with particular attention to efficient water resource management and precision agriculture.
- High-capacity research platforms
Introduction to digital infrastructures for field and controlled-environment phenotyping, data management according to FAIR principles, and the use of artificial intelligence tools to support analytical processes and decision making in agriculture. - Field instrumentation and data collection
Practical demonstrations of portable instruments and sensors for the validation of remote and proximal sensing data, image processing techniques, and the use of vegetation indices for crop and water resource monitoring. - Statistical analysis, predictive models, and wastewater reuse
Application of statistical methods and machine learning models to support phenotyping and precision agriculture, together with strategies and operational demonstrations for the safe reuse of treated urban wastewater for irrigation.
The training pathway combines theoretical lectures, practical exercises, and demonstration activities, fostering the transfer of knowledge and best practices and supporting the adoption of Best Management Practices in local contexts.
Target audience
The course is aimed at researchers, technologists, and professionals engaged in water management, sustainable agriculture, and rural development, particularly from Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Sudan. Beneficiaries include early-career researchers, PhD students, and technical operators who play a key role in implementing innovative and sustainable solutions in their respective countries.
The program adopts a Training of Trainers approach, with the objective of amplifying the impact of the training and promoting the dissemination of acquired skills within institutions and local communities. At the end of the course, participants will receive a certificate of attendance recognizing the training completed and the competencies acquired.
Through this initiative, the WATDEV project strengthens its commitment to promoting innovation, scientific cooperation, and sustainable development, contributing concretely to food security and climate resilience in agricultural systems in East Africa and Egypt.
The course will take place from 21 to 23 January. Training activities during the first two days will be held at the Metaponto site in Bernalda (MT) of the Lucanian Agency for Development and Innovation in Agriculture. Activities on the third day, Friday 23 January, with a specific focus on the promotion of innovative solutions and technologies to improve efficiency and optimize agricultural water management, will be held at the council chamber of the Municipality of Ferrandina.
The training course will conclude with a round table on the Mattei Plan for Africa, aimed at highlighting opportunities for cooperation with African countries on the themes addressed during the training program. The round table will involve national and local policy makers.
Contacts:
For further information on the training course and WATDEV project activities:
Mauro Centritto (mauro.centritto@cnr.it)
Vincenzo Montesano (vincenzo.montesano@cnr.it)
Francesca Alderotti (francesca.alderotti@cnr.it)
Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection – National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IPSP)
The program can be downloaded here.
