PROTECHMED aims to establish a transnational ecosystem for the co-design, testing, and uptake of five eco-innovative solutions for horticultural greenhouses, accelerating the sector’s digital and green transition with a particular focus on water and energy efficiency.

Bringing together more than 300 stakeholders from Greece, Italy, Malta, Tunisia, Lebanon, and Türkiye, the project connects research and innovation actors with agricultural companies and other key stakeholders across the Mediterranean. By fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange, and real-world experimentation, PROTECHMED seeks to turn innovative ideas into practical solutions that can enhance the efficiency, resilience, and sustainability of greenhouse production.

The project will adopt in 5 pilots smart technologies and resource-efficient solutions, including photovoltaic systems and a Decision Support System (DSS) designed to support more informed and sustainable greenhouse management. These solutions will help producers optimise the use of critical resources, reduce environmental impacts, and strengthen the competitiveness of the horticultural sector.

Beyond technology development, PROTECHMED places strong emphasis on capacity building and collaborative innovation. More than 150 technicians will receive targeted training, while an Inception Camp will bring stakeholders together to identify shared challenges, co-create solutions, and accelerate the transfer of knowledge from research into practice.

The project will culminate in a business model roadmap for sustainable greenhouse food production, providing a framework for the wider adoption and replication of successful solutions across the Mediterranean. In this way, PROTECHMED aims not only to demonstrate innovative technologies, but also to create the conditions for their long-term uptake—supporting a more resource-efficient, digitally enabled, competitive, and sustainable horticultural sector.