Official launch of the ERPAD project
The kick-off meeting was held with the participation of the Managing Authority of the Interreg Italy–Tunisia Programme (Sicily Region) and the Tunisian National Authority (Ministry of Development, Investment and International Cooperation).
October 2025
The kick-off meeting of the ERPAD – Eau ressource pour l’agriculture de demain project, co-funded by the European Union under the INTERREG Italy–Tunisia Programme, was held on 2 October. The online meeting brought together all project partners, along with representatives of the Managing Authority and the institutional bodies involved.
Opening session and institutional remarks
The meeting started with an introduction of the participants and the opening remarks delivered by institutions from both countries. Vincenzo Petruso, officer of the Managing Authority of the INTERREG Italy–Tunisia Programme, emphasised the importance of strengthening cross-border cooperation to jointly address the growing vulnerability of Mediterranean agricultural systems.
This was followed by an intervention from Fethi Ben Mimoun, representative of the Tunisian National Authority (Ministry of Development, Investment and International Cooperation), who presented the Programme’s framework and the key elements that will guide the implementation of the project.
Presentation of the project and its objectives
During the meeting, Katia Raguzzoni, financial inclusion expert within Microfinanza, provided an overview of the ERPAD project, its strategic objectives and the water-related challenges faced in Sicily and Tunisia, regions affected by four consecutive years of severe drought.
With the involvement of 30 agricultural enterprises across Sicily and Tunisia, the project will focus on:
- sustainable planning of water resources;
- development of long-term investment plans;
- support for agricultural SMEs in adopting more efficient technologies and practices;
- creation of cross-border partnerships among enterprises, research centres and service providers.
The current status of preliminary activities and the operational roadmap for the upcoming months were also shared.
Agricultural enterprises at the core of the transformation
One of the project’s central components is the direct engagement of agricultural enterprises. The selected companies will have the opportunity to:
- assess and calculate their water balance;
- analyse investment scenarios aimed at efficient water management;
- enhance their economic, environmental and social sustainability within the Italy–Tunisia cooperation framework.
A clear understanding of water consumption is a fundamental step toward valuing water as a resource, reducing waste, protecting the environment and, at the same time, achieving economic benefits. The dissemination of good water-saving practices is essential for all agricultural enterprises, on both sides of the border.
A shared path toward more sustainable water management
The kick-off meeting marked the operational start of the project and confirmed strong alignment among partners, institutions and stakeholders on the strategic relevance of ERPAD for the future of Mediterranean agriculture.
Microfinanza, together with the project partners — University of Catania, Institut Chott Meriem and Foris — will contribute to the development of innovative technical and financial tools, promoting a cooperative model that supports the resilience of agricultural enterprises and a more responsible management of water resources.
