The FrontAg Nexus project has released its first Demonstration Case Catalogue, bringing together practical examples of innovative agricultural solutions from six Mediterranean countries: Israel, Italy, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, and Türkiye.

Available through the FrontAg Nexus Knowledge Hub, the publication offers a closer look at how approaches such as hydroponics, aquaponics, vertical farming, insect farming and agrophotovoltaics are being explored to address some of the region’s most pressing agricultural challenges.

With increasing pressure on water resources, agricultural land and food production, the catalogue presents different ways of making farming more resource-efficient and resilient, while considering the connections between water, energy, food and ecosystems (WEFE Nexus).

Exploring Frontier Agriculture in Practice

The catalogue introduces the project’s demonstration cases, each exploring agricultural technologies and practices adapted to different local conditions and needs.

In Israel, Ben-Gurion University demonstrates an indoor aquaponics system that combines fish production, vertical hydroponics and fish waste treatment to improve nutrient recovery and water efficiency.

In Italy, the University of Bologna explores controlled-environment food production through vertical farming, alongside insect farming systems that reuse organic waste.

Other examples include an integrated aquaponics and insect farming system in Jordan, hydroponic cultivation combined with solar energy in Morocco, and agricultural trials involving strawberries, dragon fruit and insect farming in Tunisia. In Türkiye, demonstration activities explore the integration of renewable energy with agriculture, as well as different hydroponic production systems.

Together, these cases illustrate how agricultural innovation can be adapted to different environments, from urban spaces to water-scarce rural areas.

A Practical Resource for Farmers, Researchers and Policymakers

Beyond introducing the technologies, the catalogue provides a structured overview of each demonstration case, addressing four essential questions:

• What is being demonstrated? An introduction to the technology and its practical application.
• Why does it matter? An explanation of its relevance to water, energy, food production and ecosystem sustainability.
• Who can benefit? An overview of potential users, including farmers, researchers, businesses, policymakers and local communities.
• What makes it unique? The specific characteristics, opportunities and current status of each demonstration case.

By bringing this information together, the publication makes the project’s work more accessible to audiences interested in exploring climate-smart agricultural practices and their potential applications.

Building on the Demonstration Cases

As FrontAg Nexus approaches completion, a second Demonstration Case Catalogue is planned to document the progress made across the demonstration cases, providing further insights into their development and experiences throughout the project.

The two publications will contribute to preserving and sharing the knowledge generated by FrontAg Nexus, supporting future research, knowledge exchange and the wider exploration of sustainable agricultural solutions in the Mediterranean.

Explore the first Demonstration Case Catalogue through the FrontAg Nexus Knowledge Hub.

About FrontAg Nexus

FrontAg Nexus is a research and innovation project funded through the PRIMA Programme, supported by the European Union. Bringing together 10 partners from eight countries, the project aims to address climate change, natural resource scarcity and food-security challenges in the Mediterranean through climate-smart and water-saving agricultural solutions.

Combining technological innovation with socio-economic research and policy development, FrontAg Nexus promotes an integrated approach to water, energy, food and ecosystem management.

Learn more at www.frontagnexus.eu.