The PROTECHMED project works to strengthen innovation in Mediterranean protected horticulture by supporting the co-design and testing of eco-innovative solutions for greenhouse production, with a particular focus on water efficiency, energy saving, digital agriculture, and sustainable production systems.

Bringing together partners and stakeholders from Greece, Italy, Malta, Tunisia, Lebanon, and Türkiye, the project aims to bridge the gap between research, technology providers, agricultural companies, and local innovation ecosystems. Its activities support the development of practical solutions for Mediterranean horticultural SMEs, including smart monitoring tools, decision-support systems, renewable energy integration, and improved resource management.

Within this framework, the Transnational Exchange in Sicily, organized by SVIMED, represented an important milestone for the project. The event built on previous technical activities coordinated by CIHEAM Bari, including the preparation of a repository of Best Management Practices collected across partner countries and the development of a Gap Analysis and State of Play on the protected horticulture sector in the Mediterranean. These preparatory steps helped identify relevant practices, innovation needs, and technical challenges to be addressed through future pilot actions.

During the exchange, partners, companies, researchers, and stakeholders took part in field visits and technical discussions focused on innovation in greenhouse production. Visits to MONCADA OP, CAUSARANO Farm, ISOLA GRANDE, REGRAN, and ALBA BIO O.P. offered concrete examples of how research, technology, and sustainability can be integrated into Mediterranean agriculture.

Participants observed practical applications related to soilless cultivation, hydroponic and aeroponic systems, sensors based systems, agrivoltaics, water management solutions, environmental control, integrated pest management, circular economy approaches, and digital platforms for remote technical assistance.

The event also provided space for exchange between project partners and the private sector. Through B2B corners and stakeholder sessions, participants had the opportunity to discuss technical needs, cooperation opportunities, and innovative business models. Among the companies contributing to the exchange, Fratelli Facchini Farm and Sysman, from the Puglia region, shared practical experiences and solutions connected to innovation in the agricultural sector.

A key output of the Transnational Exchange was the collaborative co-design process carried out during the final workshop. Participants worked in dedicated technical groups to develop preliminary executive blueprints for pilot actions in Sicily (Italy), Greece, Türkiye, Lebanon, and Tunisia. These discussions addressed solutions such as remote assistance, smart monitoring systems, sensors, digital Decision Support Systems, vertical farming, NFT systems, organic production, and improved water resource management.

The exchange also benefited from the contribution of colleagues from the BIOGREENET project — Boosting Innovation in Organic GREENhouses via stronger NETworks — a European initiative dedicated to strengthening organic greenhouse production through knowledge sharing, best-practice dissemination, digital tools, and stakeholder collaboration. This contribution reinforced synergies between the two project communities and supported the development of a broader Mediterranean network for innovation in protected cultivation.

Overall, the Transnational Exchange in Sicily contributed to the validation of best practices, the identification of innovation needs, and the definition of practical directions for future pilot actions. It strengthened cooperation across both shores of the Mediterranean and confirmed the importance of connecting research, enterprises, and local stakeholders to support a more sustainable and competitive horticultural sector.

Through PROTECHMED, Mediterranean partners continue working together to transform cooperation into practical solutions for the future of protected agriculture.