Digital Drought Risk Management enabling the drought mitigation and adaptation strategies for the restoration of the ecosystem equilibrium in Mediterranean European Countries

The Euro-MED0200878 – Germ of Life project is an initiative developed and jointly implemented by 10 entities from six Euro-Mediterranean countries: Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, France, and Cyprus.
Co-financed by the Interreg Euro-MED Programme, the project develops an innovative system based on technological tools and data-driven approaches to improve the preventive management of drought risks.
The use of commonly defined data sources and indicators will support the prediction of drought risk for integration into territorial monitoring systems and the issuance of alerts.
The project will conduct trials in pilot areas, where solutions targeting specific drought risk mitigation challenges in the Mediterranean region will be implemented.
These solutions will be based on both direct observations of drought phenomena and numerical prediction models. The project includes a vulnerability assessment tool that enhances coordination and cooperation among stakeholders, as well as an innovation acquisition platform for nature-based solutions (NBS) and technologies that support risk adaptation strategies.
It promotes climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention through resilience-building, incorporating ecosystem-based approaches.
The project’s mission is to protect, restore, and enhance the environment and natural heritage.
The Euro-MED0200878 – Germ of Life project aims to “develop, test, and implement a preventive drought risk management approach” based on a set of jointly developed and adapted solutions. These rely on the most up-to-date available data, drought risk predictions for territorial monitoring systems, and the timely management of drought condition alerts.
The project addresses identified challenges and opportunities by offering a preventive approach to drought risk management, grounded in adapted and innovative solutions capable of supporting regional stakeholders in the following areas:
- Drought risk prediction: Preventing drought impacts through the adoption of early warning systems powered by artificial intelligence models and data from remote sensing, as well as other relevant sources for detecting and quantifying drought effects.
- Collaborative vulnerability and risk assessment: Enhancing coordination and cooperation in joint management, risk evaluation, and decision-making—such as planning, performance monitoring of nature-based solutions, result sharing, and impact assessment through data analysis.
- Acquisition of innovative solutions: Supporting public authorities in the effective implementation of strategies and action plans, incorporating both technological innovations and nature-based solutions suitable for mitigating drought impacts.
These objectives align with the overarching goal of Interreg Euro-MED Program RSO2.4: promoting climate change adaptation, disaster risk prevention, and resilience, while incorporating ecosystem-based approaches.
The cross-border dimension of the project enables stakeholders to collaborate in assessing the vulnerability of territories through a shared risk assessment framework and comparable data. It also facilitates the exchange of evidence on innovative Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and technological solutions addressing drought risk mitigation challenges.
The participating consortium comprises ten partners from six EU Member States:
- University of Patras (Western Greece, Greece) (Lead Partner)
- Region of Western Greece (Greece)
- Foundation Euro - Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (Viterbo, Italy)
- LAMORO Development Agency, Consortium of municipalities and other public entities (Piedmont, Italy)
- Ubitel, Engineering Company (Seville, Spain)
- Atos, Company with expertise in artificial intelligence (Languedoc-Roussillon, France)
- The Development and Infrastructure Company of Alqueva (Alentejo, Portugal)
- Consejería de Sostenibilidad y Medio Ambiente de la Junta de Andalucía (Spain)
- DOTSOFT, Integrated Information Technology Solutions (Central Macedonia, Greece)
- Infotrend, Innovation Company (Cyprus)
The Consejería de Sostenibilidad y Medio Ambiente, (Regional Ministry of Sustainability and Environment) is deeply aware of the growing challenges that drought poses in Andalusia. To address this, it carries out extensive monitoring through REDIAM - the Andalusian Environmental Information Network.
As part of REDIAM’s work in generating and sharing environmental data, it includes the Integrated Drought Monitoring System, which provides monthly regional-scale reports under the title “Drought Analysis in Andalusia.” These reports are based on continuous monitoring that combines meteorological station data and satellite imagery to assess both rainfall and vegetation stress.
Through its participation in the Interreg Euro-MED project Germ of Life, the Regional Ministry reaffirms its commitment to innovation and collaboration. This initiative strengthens its expertise in: drought risk prediction, vulnerability and risk assessment and innovative nature-based and technological solutions for drought mitigation and better governance
The project will be carried out over a period of 33 months, from January 1, 2024, to September 30, 2026.
- Total project budget: €2,998,600
- Interreg funding: €2,398,880 (80% of the total budget)
- Budget for Consejería de Sostenibilidad y Medio Ambiente (as project partner): €173,500, funded 80% by the Interreg programme.