Deadline: 15-May-2026
The PRIMA Programme 2026 supports projects that improve water-use efficiency and expand sustainable irrigation in Mediterranean agriculture through innovative, low-energy desalination solutions. The call targets scalable, renewable-powered systems for smallholders and peri-urban farmers, emphasizing environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and economic feasibility.
Program Overview
The PRIMA Programme encourages innovative solutions to address water scarcity and climate pressures in Mediterranean agriculture. The initiative focuses on developing sustainable, decentralised irrigation systems that reduce dependence on overexploited freshwater sources while promoting resource efficiency and circular approaches.
Key Highlights:
- Total indicative budget: EUR 10.815 million
- Eligible entities: Organizations from PRIMA participating countries, including EU Member States, selected associated, and non-associated Mediterranean countries
- Focus: Low-energy brackish water desalination, renewable-powered irrigation, and climate-resilient water management
- Approach: Multi-Actor Approach with Living Labs for co-design and real-world testing
Objectives and Scope
The call supports projects that:
- Improve access to sustainable and cost-effective irrigation for smallholders
- Demonstrate scalable, low-energy desalination technologies suitable for rural and peri-urban contexts
- Advance climate-neutral and resource-efficient agriculture through by-product recovery and reuse
- Support policy development for non-conventional water use and integrated water resource management
- Establish validated business models and market uptake pathways for long-term scalability
Projects are expected to:
- Develop and pilot decentralised desalination systems tailored for agricultural reuse
- Integrate renewable energy solutions to reduce carbon footprint and operational costs
- Assess environmental, economic, and social lifecycle impacts, including soil health, energy efficiency, and cost–benefit analysis
- Produce practical guidelines, toolkits, and business models for adoption across diverse Mediterranean farming contexts
Who Is Eligible?
Eligible applicants include:
- Legal entities from PRIMA participating countries, including EU Member States, associated, and selected non-associated Mediterranean countries
- Research organizations, SMEs, technology providers, and public authorities participating in the project consortium
How to Apply
- Confirm eligibility of your organization and consortium partners
- Prepare a Stage 1 proposal addressing:
- Technical description of proposed desalination and irrigation solutions
- Renewable energy integration and environmental sustainability measures
- Multi-Actor Approach with farmer, researcher, SME, and authority involvement
- Market uptake, business models, and scalability plans
- Include lifecycle assessment plans, participatory frameworks, and socio-economic analysis
- Submit Stage 1 proposals by 15 May 2026 through the PRIMA application portal
Key Requirements
- Solutions must comply with the Do No Significant Harm principle
- Brine management and energy efficiency must be addressed
- Projects should include co-design and testing in real-world contexts using Living Labs
- Integration of social sciences and humanities is required to address governance, behaviour, and societal adoption factors
Benefits
- Access to funding for innovative sustainable irrigation projects
- Support for climate-resilient agriculture in Mediterranean regions
- Guidance on scaling, policy alignment, and market uptake
- Opportunities to collaborate with multi-sector actors including SMEs, farmers, and public authorities
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting solutions without environmental compliance or lifecycle analysis
- Ignoring the Multi-Actor Approach or participatory co-design requirements
- Overlooking economic feasibility or market adoption strategies
- Neglecting renewable energy integration and brine management
- Failing to align project objectives with PRIMA thematic priorities
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is the total budget for this call?
EUR 10.815 million is allocated for projects under this call. - Who can apply?
Legal entities from PRIMA participating countries, including EU Member States and selected associated and non-associated Mediterranean countries. - What type of projects are supported?
Projects developing sustainable, low-energy desalination and irrigation systems with scalable, renewable-powered solutions. - What is the application deadline?
Stage 1 proposals must be submitted by 15 May 2026. - Are environmental and social impacts considered?
Yes, all proposals must comply with the Do No Significant Harm principle and assess environmental, economic, and social impacts. - Can SMEs participate?
Yes, participation of SMEs in the consortium is encouraged, especially for market uptake and business model validation. - Is co-design with stakeholders required?
Yes, participatory frameworks like Living Labs are strongly recommended to ensure real-world applicability.
Conclusion
The PRIMA Programme 2026 call offers an opportunity to develop sustainable irrigation solutions that strengthen climate resilience and resource efficiency in Mediterranean agriculture. By integrating low-energy desalination, renewable energy, and multi-actor collaboration, projects will support smallholders and peri-urban farmers while fostering scalable, environmentally responsible water management practices.
For more information, visit PRIMA.
