AQUAHUB - Optimización Del Uso Del Agua Y Suelo Para La Gestión Sostenible De Cultivos Tradicionales En Regiones De Montaña

The AQUAHUB project emerges as a response to the challenges imposed by climate change in the cross-border mountain regions between Portugal and Spain, where water availability has been decreasing due to drier summers and reduced annual rainfall. This situation particularly affects traditional mountain crops of high economic, social, and cultural value, such as cherry trees, almond trees, vineyards, and olive trees, which are essential for the sustainability of rural areas threatened by depopulation and the lack of generational renewal.

The project promotes cooperation between regions in Portugal, namely Terras de Trás-os-Montes e Douro and Beira Interior, and regions in Spain, including Arribes del Duero and Cáceres, with the aim of developing innovative and multidisciplinary solutions for sustainable water management in agriculture. The proposed strategies include the introduction of alternative crops, the creation of water harvesting structures, the use of mycorrhizae and biostimulants, as well as the implementation of technologically advanced irrigation systems aimed at smart and resilient agriculture.

As a central coordination mechanism, a Cross-Border Working Unit (UTT) will be established, involving partner institutions and agricultural associations. This structure will foster the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and specific needs of each territory, while also supporting the development of tools specifically adapted to local realities.