From September 8th to 10th, 2026, partners of the AgriPV-Nexus project gathered in Évora, Portugal, for the project’s official kick-off meeting, marking the formal transition from planning to regional implementation. Hosted at the University of Évora, the three-day event brought together multidisciplinary experts from across the Mediterranean to align on shared objectives for climate-smart agriculture and agrivoltaics.
Day 1: Setting the Strategic Vision
The opening day focused on establishing a shared roadmap across all core project dimensions. Consortium partners reviewed plans to co-design site-specific agroecological practice bundles tailored to Mediterranean smallholders. Discussions highlighted key technological and analytical pillars, including the operationalisation of a Digital Twin and e-Living Lab platform, the deployment of a simplified, low-cost methodology for monitoring Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) sequestration, farm-level socio-economic viability assessments, and policy mapping to create enabling regulatory pathways.
Day 2: Technical Protocols and Living Lab Field Visit
Day two plunged into technical methodologies, defining standardized protocols for environmental sensors, monitoring frequencies, and data collection across project sites. A key highlight was the field visit to the Portuguese Living Lab at the University of Évora’s Polo da Mitra campus. Partners toured the site where a 60 kWp overhead agrivoltaic structure is currently under installation. This field site will serve as a real-world testing ground for assessing how panel shading moderates microclimates, improves water-use efficiency, and protects crops under drought-prone Mediterranean conditions.
Day 3: Communication, Dissemination, and Community Impact
The final day linked scientific coordination with project management, communication, and ecosystem-building strategies. Consortium members detailed how research findings, decision-support tools, and capacity-building workshops will be actively shared with farmers, policymakers, extension services, and local communities throughout the project lifespan.
Looking Ahead
With four Living Labs operational in Portugal, Morocco, Tunisia, and Türkiye, AgriPV-Nexus is poised to demonstrate how combining renewable solar energy with regenerative agroecology can strengthen food security, empower smallholders, and build long-term climate resilience across the Mediterranean basin.
Join our online community and stay updated with the latest developments.
Stay informed about AgriPV-Nexus’ progress by visiting our website and following us on social media.
