FARMWISE: Future Agricultural Resource Management and Water Innovations for a Sustainable Europe

FARMWISE aims to transform the European agricultural sector by empowering farmers and decision-makers with a state-of-the-art decision support system, combining innovative agriculture technologies, artificial intelligence, and remote sensing. FARMWISE provides new insights into water quality & quantity, agro-ecological impacts, soil health, and nutrient management. Its state-of-the-art framework fosters knowledge sharing between scientists, farmers, and policymakers using a “systems thinking” approach.

At UNINE, Dr. Landon Halloran leads activities related to the evaluation of water usage and risks to water quality in present and future climates. By integrating ensemble modelling, vadose zone physics, GIS data, and field-based case studies, the team will provide valuable quantitative advice on risk scenarios and innovation impacts. FARMWISE is a 6.4M EUR project that brings together 20 partners from across Europe and is funded by Switzerland (SERI) and the European Union (Horizon Europe).

RADMOGG: Resilience and Dynamics of Mountain Groundwater using Gravimetry

In mountain catchments, groundwater is often the source of perennial streamflow during increasingly long periods. Permafrost degradation and decreasing snow accumulation are rapidly altering the annual hydrological dynamics of these systems on which we are increasingly dependent. Groundwater storage quantification is vital for mountain water resource management, yet accurate subsurface water resource monitoring in these catchments is rarely achieved. A highly promising solution to this challenge is time-lapse gravimetry (TLG), a portable and non-invasive geophysical technique wherein mass distribution dynamics (i.e., water storage) are inferred through measurements of imperceptible changes in the value of g.

In RADMOGG, Dr. Landon Halloran and his team develop and apply innovative field and numerical hydrogravimetric methods. RADMOGG investigates subsurface groundwater and permafrost dynamics at multiple field sites, including Réchy (VS), Röthenbach (BE), and Murtèl (GR). The knowledge and tools generated by RADMOGG will enable quantitative applications of TLG and improve our understanding of the resilience of alpine/subalpine hydro-systems in the face of climate change.

WATERWISE – Co-designing sustainable management solutions for resilient Alpine headwaters

Climate change and human activities increasingly threaten mountain headwaters (HW), the primary freshwater sources in the Alpine Space (AS). These pressures challenge water availability, ecosystem services, and the livelihoods of Alpine communities. The WATERWISE project addresses these issues by developing an innovative digital toolbox for local water and land managers. This toolbox, co-designed with scientists, communities, and protected area managers, will facilitate the collection, analysis, and visualization of ecohydrological and climatic data and assess HW vulnerability to climate and land-use changes.

Tested at seven pilot sites, the toolbox will guide the co-creation of sustainable management strategies, enhancing the resilience of water resources, ecosystems, and communities. Its implementation across diverse HW sites and training for end-users will ensure long-term impact.

Through educational materials, storytelling, and outreach, WATERWISE aims to raise awareness and foster collaboration among stakeholders, strengthening transnational efforts to secure the Alpine region’s water resources.

From Sea to Summit

Mountain regions and small islands are particularly vulnerable to climate change, which threatens their freshwater supplies. In mountain areas, glaciers are melting due to global warming, reducing a key source of water. On small islands, rising sea levels are causing seawater to seep into freshwater sources, making them salty and unusable. While some underground reservoirs in rocks can help store and manage water, other types, like “karst” aquifers (made of carbonate rock), are more fragile. For example, in karst areas near the coast, salty seawater can spread far inland, and in mountains, these aquifers cannot hold enough water to last between rainy seasons. Adding to this, changing rainfall patterns and increasing tourism are putting even more strain on water resources.

The “From Sea to Summit” project is studying two areas that face these combined challenges. The Island of Vis (Croatia) depends entirely on its underground water for both locals and tourists. Climate change and seawater intrusion threaten to contaminate the wells that provide drinking water. The main challenge is ensuring clean water for everyone despite these pressures. The Tsanfleuron Glacier and Aquifer (Switzerland) supplies the town of Conthey with drinking water and is partly fed by a glacier. As the glacier melts due to warming, it temporarily provides extra water. However, once it’s almost gone, the town may face water shortages.

To tackle these issues, researchers from the University of Split and the University of Neuchâtel are combining their expertise. Their goals are to 1) monitor these water systems to understand how they work, 2) build computer models to predict how climate change will affect these areas, 3) develop strategies to protect and manage water resources and 4) share their methods and findings to help solve similar problems in other parts of the world.