The Cyprus Phassouri Plantations Co. Ltd. (CPPC) participates in the GEORGIA project through Pilot 5, contributing extensive expertise in citrus cultivation and sustainable orchard management under Mediterranean conditions. As one of the leading citrus producers in Cyprus, CPPC has many years of experience in irrigation management, crop nutrition, plant protection, and the implementation of innovative farming practices.
A distinctive feature of the company is its long-standing use of treated reclaimed wastewater for irrigation, demonstrating how alternative water resources can support agricultural production in water-scarce regions. Through GEORGIA, CPPC combines this practical experience with scientific research to evaluate innovative solutions that improve water efficiency, soil health, and long-term agricultural sustainability.
The pilot focuses on integrating Nature-Based Solutions (NbS), precision agriculture technologies, and circular water management practices into commercial citrus production. The overall objective is to reduce freshwater consumption and synthetic fertiliser use while maintaining productivity and improving the resilience of Mediterranean agriculture.
Pilot Site Overview
Pilot 5 is implemented in the commercial orchards of CPPC in the Phassouri area of Limassol, Cyprus, one of the country’s main citrus-producing regions. The area is characterised by a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers, mild winters, and limited annual rainfall, making irrigation essential for successful crop production.
Water scarcity and climate change represent major challenges for agriculture in the region. The site was therefore selected because it provides an excellent opportunity to evaluate sustainable water management practices under real commercial farming conditions. CPPC’s experience with reclaimed wastewater irrigation, together with its commercial-scale orchards, makes the pilot highly representative of the challenges faced by Mediterranean citrus production.
Crops under Study
The pilot focuses on commercial citrus orchards, including Chislett Navel, Valencia, Navelina, and lemon varieties. These crops are economically important for Cyprus and require efficient water and nutrient management to maintain both productivity and fruit quality.
The selected orchards include different varieties, tree ages, irrigation systems, and planting conditions, allowing the proposed solutions to be evaluated under a wide range of practical farming scenarios. This diversity increases the robustness of the results and supports their transferability to other Mediterranean citrus-producing regions.
Solutions to be Implemented
Pilot 5 evaluates a combination of Nature-Based Solutions and innovative water management practices through four different management strategies:
- Conventional fertilisation (100%) as the control treatment.
- Reduced fertilisation (70%) combined with biochar e sludge.
- Reduced fertilisation (70%) combined with the Half Moon Nature-Based Solution to improve water retention and soil conditions.
- Reduced fertilisation (70%) without additional amendments to evaluate the effects of reduced fertiliser inputs.
In addition, two dedicated experimental plots compare irrigation with freshwater e treated reclaimed wastewater, allowing the project to assess the performance of both water sources under commercial citrus production.
The pilot also includes a greenhouse-based atmospheric water condensation system, exploring the potential of harvesting atmospheric humidity as an additional water resource for agriculture.
Together, these activities demonstrate how circular water use, Nature-Based Solutions, and innovative technologies can contribute to more resilient agricultural systems.
Equipment and Technology
The pilot combines conventional irrigation infrastructure with modern monitoring technologies. Soil sensors will continuously monitor soil conditions, while irrigation water sensors will compare the performance of freshwater and treated reclaimed wastewater.
Crop monitoring will be carried out using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) equipped with thermal e hyperspectral cameras, providing detailed information on crop condition, plant vigour, and spatial variability across the orchards.
Regular soil sampling and laboratory analyses will complement field observations by assessing changes in soil fertility and quality throughout the project. Together, these technologies provide an integrated understanding of the soil–water–plant system and support science-based decision making.
Challenges and Opportunities
Pilot 5 addresses some of the most important challenges facing Mediterranean agriculture, including water scarcity, climate change, soil degradation, and the need to reduce agricultural inputs while maintaining crop productivity.
The integration of Nature-Based Solutions, reclaimed wastewater reuse, precision agriculture technologies, and innovative water harvesting creates a unique demonstration platform that can support the transition towards more sustainable citrus production.
The knowledge generated through the pilot is expected to be directly applicable to other citrus-growing regions facing similar environmental and climatic conditions.
Action Plan and Next Steps
Over the coming months, all experimental treatments and monitoring systems will become fully operational. Data collected from soil sensors, irrigation water sensors, UAV surveys, and laboratory analyses will be used to evaluate the performance of the different management strategies.
The project will also assess the operation of the atmospheric water condensation system and continue comparing freshwater and treated reclaimed wastewater irrigation.
As the pilot progresses, CPPC will share its experiences and results through the GEORGIA dissemination activities. The knowledge generated will support farmers, researchers, and policymakers in adopting more sustainable agricultural practices and demonstrate how Nature-Based Solutions and innovative water management can strengthen the resilience of Mediterranean agriculture.
