MedRESOURCE Project Profile and News
Circular solutions for wastewater sludge management and sustainable agriculture
MedRESOURCE supports practical, circular approaches to wastewater sludge management across Palestine, Italy, Tunisia, and Jordan. Through four Living Labs, the partnership tests locally relevant solutions that can improve soil quality, reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers, strengthen water and resource management, and support climate resilience.
|
Project period
|
23 October 2025 to 22 October 2028 (36 months)
|
|
Total budget
|
EUR 2.4 million
|
|
EU contribution
|
EUR 2.2 million (89%) through the Interreg NEXT MED Programme
|
|
Lead partner
|
Palestinian Wastewater Engineers Group (PWEG)
|
|
Partner countries
|
Palestine, Italy, Tunisia, and Jordan
|
Project website and updates
PROJECT PROFILE
A practical response to shared Mediterranean challenges
MedRESOURCE brings together public bodies, researchers, and local communities to demonstrate how wastewater sludge and agricultural residues can become useful resources. The project combines applied research, field testing, knowledge exchange, and stakeholder engagement to address water scarcity, land degradation, nutrient pollution, and waste management.
Living Labs and local solutions
Each country hosts a place-based, user-centered Living Lab. These open platforms connect experimental work with real community needs, helping partners test and monitor sludge-derived products, share good practice, and support replication in other settings.
|
Location
|
Practical solution
|
Purpose
|
|
Jericho
Palestine
|
Compost from palm-pruning waste
|
Supports organic-material recovery and improved soil quality.
|
|
Arborea
Italy
|
Ammonia stripping process
|
Reduces nitrate pollution through improved nutrient management.
|
|
Nabeul
Tunisia
|
Composting unit
|
Tests local circular approaches to organic-waste management.
|
|
Al Ramtha
Jordan
|
Biochar from wastewater sludge
|
Explores safe resource recovery for soil improvement and agriculture.
|
Mediterranean partnership
The partnership is led by the Palestinian Wastewater Engineers Group (PWEG) and includes the Governorate of Jericho and Al Aghwar in Palestine; Centro Ricerche Economiche Nord Sud at the University of Cagliari (CRENoS) and Ente Acque della Sardegna (ENAS) in Italy; Institut National de Recherches en Genie Rural, Eaux et Forets (INRGREF) in Tunisia; and the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) in Jordan.
17 December 2025 | German Jordanian delegation visits NARC under MedRESOURCE
The National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) hosted an academic delegation from the University of Duisburg Essen and the German Jordanian University, supporting continued international scientific cooperation.
The visit included a scientific workshop on circular-economy applications in agriculture, organized within the MedRESOURCE project and the Circular Economy for Citrus Farming project.
NARC presented its applied research on sustainable agricultural resource management and explored opportunities for future collaboration. Technical sessions highlighted practical approaches to wastewater-sludge reuse and biochar production.
Dr. William Alkhoury introduced MedRESOURCE, outlining the project objectives, partnership, and expected impact on local communities and the wider Mediterranean region.
Related information: Read the full project update
14 and 15 January 2026 | MedRESOURCE launches with a shared implementation agenda
CRENoS at the University of Cagliari hosted the two-day MedRESOURCE kick-off meeting, bringing together partners from Palestine, Italy, Jordan, and Tunisia, including remote participants from Tunis.
The meeting aligned partners on the next phase of implementation through technical presentations, a field visit to the Arenas wastewater treatment plant, and a Steering Committee session.
Participants reaffirmed their commitment to four territorial Living Labs that will test and monitor sludge-derived products, improve wastewater-treatment product management, and enable cross-border exchange of knowledge, good practice, and technology.
The project is led by PWEG and implemented with partners in Palestine, Italy, Tunisia, and Jordan. Its EUR 2.4 million budget is supported by a EUR 2.2 million EU contribution through the Interreg NEXT MED Programme 2021 to 2027.
Related information: Read the full project update
3 February 2026 | MedRESOURCE presented at an international meeting on circular economy in agriculture
MedRESOURCE was presented during the kick-off meeting of the ORIENTATE project in Amman, Jordan. The meeting brought together project partners, researchers, and stakeholders working to advance circular-economy solutions in agriculture across the Mediterranean region.
Dr. William Alkhoury of the National Agricultural Research Center explained how MedRESOURCE supports the circular economy by converting wastewater sludge into biochar for soil improvement and sustainable agriculture.
The exchange strengthened collaboration between complementary initiatives. While ORIENTATE focuses on the valorization of citrus and olive residues, MedRESOURCE addresses the reuse of wastewater sludge, creating related pathways for resource recovery in the region.
Related information: Read the full project update
12 February 2026 | MedRESOURCE partners join Interreg NEXT MED implementation training
Amman hosted a seminar for Jordanian and Palestinian beneficiaries of the Interreg NEXT MED Programme. The training gave project staff practical guidance on financial management, reporting, procurement, monitoring, communication, and visibility requirements.
Representatives from the Palestinian Wastewater Engineers Group, the Governorate of Jericho and Al Aghwar, and NARC attended the full-day session. The event also provided an opportunity for projects to exchange experiences and strengthen implementation coordination.
MedRESOURCE promotes sustainable and circular wastewater-sludge management through research, communication, participatory processes, and capacity-building actions. The partnership links Palestinian and Jordanian partners with institutions in Italy and Tunisia.
Related information: Read the full project update
8 June 2026 | Interview with Dr William Alkhoury
Dr. William Alkhoury discussed Jordan's wastewater-sludge management challenges, the potential of sludge-to-biochar conversion, and the expected contribution of the project's Living Labs to agriculture and environmental sustainability.
Related information: Read the full project update
3 August 2026 | Students visit NARC to learn about MedRESOURCE and circular economy activities
NARC welcomed summer-training students from the Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) to Al Ramtha Research Station. The visit introduced students to MedRESOURCE and to ongoing circular-economy activities in Jordan.
Eng. Ahmad Abu Dalo, Head of the Non-Conventional Water Research Department, and members of the research team presented the project's activities and discussed sustainable resource management, safe reuse practices, and the protection of human health and the environment.
Researchers also demonstrated the research station's role as a platform for applied research, knowledge exchange, and training. Students learned how agricultural technologies and research findings can be adapted for practical use.
The visit supported awareness of sustainable agricultural practices and showed how research can help address environmental and agricultural challenges through circular approaches.
Related information: Read the full project update
15 September 2026 | MedRESOURCE advances field research and stakeholder engagement in Jordan
During July and August 2026, NARC advanced MedRESOURCE activities through field research, technical planning, data analysis, and stakeholder engagement.
Post-harvest soil samples from the Ramtha barley experiment were collected and analyzed, while first-season agronomic data and a technical report were completed. Planning also continued for biochar production, covering equipment, site selection, sludge transport, and regulatory coordination.
Meetings with government officials and local farmers explored safety, regulation, and the future agricultural use of sewage-sludge-derived biochar. These activities contribute scientific evidence to support safe, sustainable resource recovery and future policy development in Jordan.
Related information: Read the full project update
OPPORTUNITIES
Tenders and job announcements
Tender
External Auditor for Expenditure Verification | Application period: 10 March to 31 March 2026 | View announcement
Job announcements
Senior Expert on Sludge Based Biochar Production
Senior Technical and Implementation Consultant