The project MedRESOURCE - Mediterranean initiative to REgenerate wastewater Sludges for Optimal Use towaRd a Circular Economy – offers tangible benefits for hundreds of local farmers in Palestine, Italy, Tunisia and Jordan by improving soil quality and reducing dependence on chimical fertilizers, increasing water access and crop yields, installing sustainable agricultural practices across the Mediterranean region and supports climate change resilience. At the same time policymakers will gain valuable insights and tools to respond to critical environmental issues and enhance agricultural productivity.
Concept
Each country will host a place-based, user-centered Living Lab serving as open platform for environmental innovation, integrated with real-life communities and needs. With dedicated experimental plots, the Living Lab will test and monitor sludge-derived products, facilitate knowledge exchange and best practices transfer, support replication in different settings and circular approach to wastewater management.
Our solutions
In Jericho (Palestine) producing compost with palm pruning waste.
In Arborea (Italy) reducing nitrate pollution with an innovative ammonia stripping process.
In Nabeul (Tunisia) installing a composting unit.
In Al Ramtha (Jordan) producing biochar from sludge.
A Mediterranean partnership
The project will be jointly implemented developed by a partnership of 6 organizations led by the Palestinian Wastewater Engineers Group (PWEG) and includes:
- The Governorate of Jericho in Palestine,
- Centro Ricerche Economiche Nord Sud - Università di Cagliari (CRENoS) and Ente Acque della Sardegna (ENAS) in Italy,
- Institut National de Recherches en Génie Rural, Eaux et Forêts (INRGREF) in Tunisia,
- National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) in Jordan.
The total budget of the project is €2.4 million out of which €2.2 million (89%) financed by the European Union under the Interreg NEXT MED Programme.
The project started on 23/10/2025 and will last until 22/10/2028 (36 months).
For more information and updates on the project, please visit the website
https://www.interregnextmed.eu/projects/medresource
News
(17 December 2025) German–Jordanian delegation visits NARC under MedRESOURCE
On 17 December 2025, the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) hosted a German–Jordanian academic delegation from the University of Duisburg–Essen and the German Jordanian University, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen international scientific cooperation.
The visit included a scientific workshop on circular economy applications in agriculture, organized within the framework of the MedRESOURCE project and the Circular Economy for Citrus Farming project.
The event served as a platform to present NARC’s applied research activities in sustainable agricultural resource management and to explore opportunities for future collaboration. Technical presentations highlighted practical approaches for wastewater sludge reuse and biochar production.
During the workshop, Dr. William Alkhoury presented the MedRESOURCE project, outlining its objectives, partnership, and expected impact on local communities and the Mediterranean region.
The MedRESOURCE project focuses on sustainable wastewater sludge management and promotes the conversion of waste into valuable resources, supporting environmental sustainability and agricultural development.
(14th and 15th of January 2026) MedRESOURCE project officially launched: Providing innovative solutions to water scarcity, land degradation, and waste management in the Mediterranean region
The two days of MedRESOURCE Kick Off Meeting hosted by CRENoS (University of Cagliari) saw project partners from Palestine, Italy, Jordan and in remote from Tunis to discuss and coordinate next phase of project implementation.
The meeting combined the participation of different actors. The agenda included technical presentation, field visit to a wastewater treatment plant (Arenas) and it was concluded with the project Steering Committee. A great opportunity to strengthen the partnership, with a view of full synergy in achieving the set results.
MedRESOURCE will create four territorial Living Lab dedicated to test and monitor sludge-derived products, contributing to better wastewater treatment product management and facilitating the exchange of knowledge, best practices, and innovative technologies across borders.
Lead applicant of the initiative is the Palestinian Wastewater Engineers Group, the project consortium is composed by Governorate of Jericho in Palestine, the italian Ente Acque della Sardegna (ENAS), Centro Ricerche Economiche Nord Sud (University of Cagliari), the tunisian Institut National de Recherches en Génie Rural, Eaux et Forêts (INRGREF) and the jordanian National Agricultural Research Center (NARC).
The project total budget is €2.4 million, with a contribution of 89% through the Interreg NEXT MED Programme 2021–2027. The prject will last duration 36 months.
(3 February 2026) giving presentation on MedRESOURCE on another circular economy project in the Kick off meeting of Orientate project
MedRESOURCE Project at an International Meeting on Circular Economy in Agriculture
MedRESOURCE project was presented during the Kick-off Meeting of the ORIENTATE project held in Amman, Jordan. The meeting brought together project partners, researchers, and stakeholders working to promote circular economy solutions in the agricultural sector across the Mediterranean region.
During the first day of the meeting, Dr. William Alkhoury from the المركز الوطني للبحوث الزراعية National Agricultural Research Center presented the MedRESOURCE project and highlighted how the initiative contributes to the circular economy by transforming wastewater sludge into biochar, supporting soil improvement and sustainable agriculture.
The event provided an excellent opportunity to strengthen collaboration and create synergies between Mediterranean projects funded under the Interreg NEXT MED Programme.
While ORIENTATE focuses on the valorization of citrus and olive agricultural waste, MedRESOURCE addresses the reuse of wastewater sludge, offering complementary circular economy solutions for the region.
(12 February 2026) The MedRESOURCE project participated in the joint training session dedicated to the Jordanian and Palestinian projects financed by Interreg NEXT MED
On 12 February 2026, Amman hosted the seminar dedicated to the Jordanian and Palestinian project beneficiaries of the Interreg NEXT MED Programme.
The training objective was to provide staff involved in the management of approved projects practical guidance and clarifications on key aspects of implementation, including financial management, reporting procedures, procurement rules, monitoring arrangements, communication, and visibility requirements. The one-day course addressed many relevant operational elements useful for the effective implementation of project activities.
Representatives from the Palestinian and Jordanian MedRESOURCE partners, including the Palestinian Wastewater Engineers Group, the Governorate of Jericho & Al Aghwar, and the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) as one of the Jordanian partners, attended the full-day seminar. “It was a highly productive time for our work. At the same time, it was a great opportunity for the projects to exchange views,” the participants commented.
The MedRESOURCE project, involving Palestinian and Jordanian partners as well as Italian and Tunisian partners, aims to promote sustainable and circular solutions for wastewater sludge management in the Mediterranean region. It strengthens integrated water resources management through research, communication, participatory processes, and capacity-building actions
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