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Torre guaceto

Balancing sustainable agriculture and wetland protection in a water-stressed coastal landscape

The Torre Guaceto Living Lab focuses on sustainable irrigation, treated wastewater reuse and Nature-based Solutions in one of Southern Italy’s most environmentally sensitive agricultural areas.

Led by CNR-Istituto di Ricerca sulle Acque together with the Consorzio di Gestione di Torre Guaceto, the Living Lab operates within and around the Torre Guaceto protected coastal wetland system, a RAMSAR site where agriculture, groundwater management and ecosystem conservation are tightly interconnected.

The Torre Guaceto Living Lab focuses on sustainable irrigation, treated wastewater reuse and Nature-based Solutions in one of Southern Italy’s most environmentally sensitive agricultural areas.

Led by CNR-Istituto di Ricerca sulle Acque together with the Consorzio di Gestione di Torre Guaceto, the Living Lab operates within and around the Torre Guaceto protected coastal wetland system, a RAMSAR site where agriculture, groundwater management and ecosystem conservation are tightly interconnected.

Photos: ©CNR-IRSA

Reclaimed water, salinity management and Nature-based Solutions

To address these challenges, the Living Lab explores how sustainable water management and ecosystem restoration can be combined at irrigation district and coastal aquifer scale.

Key activities include:

  • treated wastewater (TWW) reuse for irrigation,
  • monitoring and mitigation of groundwater and soil salinity,
  • innovation in irrigation techniques,
  • wetland restoration and Nature-based Solutions,
  • and participatory governance approaches for water management.

A central goal is to support the transition toward a more resilient agro-ecosystem where:

  • groundwater abstraction is reduced,
  • reclaimed water is safely integrated into irrigation systems,
  • salinity risks are mitigated,
  • and farmers and institutions co-develop sustainable water management solutions.

Initial findings show that salinity is already perceived by farmers as an urgent and concrete challenge, while interest in innovation increases when solutions are economically viable and supported by monitoring and advisory services.