Innovative practices for water stress management and dry farming in perennial crops

The Mediterranean region is known for its warm climate and limited water resources, making it vulnerable to water stress and the impacts of climate change. Various innovative practices have been developed and implemented in the region to address these challenges for water stress management and dry farming. Dry farming relies on the natural moisture retained in the soil and specific farming techniques to ensure crops receive enough water to grow and produce. However, it requires a high level of skills and experience, as farmers must be able to evaluate the soil status and adapt the techniques to changing weather conditions. Key strategies include regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) and partial root-zone drying (PRD), which optimise water use by targeting critical growth stages or alternating root-zone hydration. Soil management techniques, such as mulching, adding organic matter and planting cover crops, enhance soil moisture retention and structure. Advanced technologies such as soil moisture sensors, remote sensing and real-time monitoring systems improve precision in water application. Farmers are adjusting their practices to cope, but many of these solutions remain confined to specific regions or agricultural sectors. The EU-funded CLIMED-FRUIT project is working to bridge this gap by collecting and sharing innovative, climate-adaptive practices from various European agricultural groups to enhance resilience and promote effective climate change adaptation and mitigation.This article presents a non-exhaustive list of experimental results from projects carried out across Europe and identified in the framework of CLIMED-FRUIT project.