Cagliari, Sardinia | 2 October 2026
Expanding the use of bioreactors and demonstrating better irrigation and fertilisation practices were the focus of a meeting held in Cagliari on 2 October 2026. Dr Mario Lorrai and Dr Massimo Aiello, representatives of the Regional Agency for the Sardinia River Basin District (ADIS); Dr Serafino Meloni, representative of the Oristano Land Reclamation Consortium (CBO); and Prof Antonio Coppola, Dr Francesca Lobina, Dr Antonio Maria Sessini and Dr Shawkat B.M. Hassan, representatives of the University of Cagliari, explored how experience gained in the four pilot field-scale bioreactors installed in Arborea could support wider adoption of solutions to agricultural nitrate pollution. The discussion reflects NPP-SOL’s approach to protecting Mediterranean water resources: combining best management practices adapted to local farming conditions with technologies that intercept and remove pollutants.
Expanding bioreactor technology
Prof. Coppola explained the opportunities to install additional woodchip bioreactors, by adopting a new system to intercept groundwater; instead of installing a subsurface drainage network, a drainage trench is proposed to be installed at the field border and collect the drainage water to the bioreactor.The aim is to make the technology easier to integrate into working farms.
The area already hosting the first bioreactors was identified as the preferred location for further installations. Concentrating more systems in this area would allow researchers and water managers to assess their combined effects on groundwater quality. Joint site visits and consultations with farmers will help identify suitable locations and ensure that the proposed installations fit routine agricultural operations.
Demonstrating best management practices
The meeting also explored establishing demonstration fields at the Panetto and Magnani farms, where bioreactors are already installed. Each field would compare conventional management with optimised irrigation and fertilisation. Monitoring would help show how the different practices affect water use and nitrate losses, providing practical evidence for farmers considering changes to their own management.
Together, the proposed fields and additional bioreactors would demonstrate the value of combining measures that reduce nutrient losses at their source with treatment of polluted water. This could help guide wider application across the Arborea area, with practices adapted to each farm’s conditions.
Sharing knowledge and supporting wider adoption
The proposed demonstration fields could also provide opportunities for knowledge transfer. Farmers, consortium technicians and researchers could discuss the results together, relate them to everyday farming decisions and identify what is needed to apply the solutions elsewhere. Collaboration with ADIS would connect this field experience with planning for water protection at district level. The next steps in Arborea include site selection with farmers, further design work and preparation of monitoring activities to support future decisions on expansion.
Learn more about NPP-SOL: https://npp-sol.iamm.ciheam.org/
