The Water Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture Research Programme Call 2026 supports research addressing challenges related to agricultural water management in Malta, bringing together research expertise and the practical knowledge and experience of the agricultural sector.
The Programme offers up to €100,000 in grant funding for research addressing agricultural water challenges. Of this, up to €50,000 supports Farmers and Farmers’ Cooperatives participating as co-innovators in the research.
Stemming from Xjenza Malta’s Thematic Programmes portfolio, the Water Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture Research Programme aims to strengthen collaboration between research and agriculture and support research that can contribute to more effective, sustainable and resilient agricultural water management in Malta.
Priority Areas
The Water Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture Research Programme Call 2026 will focus on the following priority areas and their respective sub-areas:
| Priority Areas |
|---|
| Priority Area 1 – Water Use Efficiency in Agriculture |
| Priority Area 2 – Water Replenishment and Conservation |
| Priority Area 3 – Climate Resilience and Risk Management |
| Priority Area | Sub-Areas |
|---|---|
| 1. Water Use Efficiency in Agriculture | 1.1 Agricultural Water Monitoring and Assessment
1.2 Irrigation Efficiency and Water-Use Optimisation 1.3 Modelling and Data Systems for Aglicultural Water Management |
| 2. Water Replenishment and Conservation | 2.1 Rainwater Harvesting Potential
2.2 Catchment Planning and Allocation 2.3 Water Storage and Retention Solutions |
| 3. Climate Resilience and Risk Management | 3.1 Climate Risk Assessment
3.2 Water Demand Forecasting 3.3 Climate Adaptation and Resilience 3.4 National Planning and Modelling |
Programme Parameters
| Maximum Possible Grant | €100,000 |
|---|---|
| Project Duration | 24 Months (2 years) |
| Eligibility | A consortium between a Maltese Research and Knowledge Dissemination Organisation and a Farmer or Farmers’ Cooperative, with the optional inclusion of a Maltese-registered SME or start-up |
| Application Submission | Electronically to ri.xjenzamalta@gov.mt, keeping Mariah Vella (mariah.vella.5@gov.mt), Giulia Aquilina (giulia.aquilina@gov.mt) and Nicholas Caruana Pedersen (Nicholas-caruana.pedersen.1@gov.mt)in copy |
| Deadline | 15 January 2027 |
Farmers and Farmers’ Cooperatives as Co-Innovators
A key feature of the Water Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture Research Programme is the active involvement of Farmers and Farmers’ Cooperatives in the research process.
Agricultural Partners are expected to contribute their practical experience, knowledge of agricultural conditions and understanding of the challenges being addressed. Depending on the nature of the project, their role may include contributing to the identification and definition of the research challenge, supporting research activities under agricultural conditions, providing access to relevant sites or resources, and participating in the testing and validation of project results.
This approach aims to ensure that funded research is informed by real agricultural needs and operating conditions and that its results have clear relevance to the Maltese agricultural sector.
Information Session About This Call
An online information session on the Water Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture Research Programme Call 2026 will be held to provide prospective applicants with further information on the Programme, its priority areas, funding structure, eligibility requirements, the role of Farmers and Farmers’ Cooperatives as co-innovators, and the application process.
📅Date: 16 October 2026
🕙 Time: 10:00 AM
💻 Venue: Remotely, via Microsoft Teams.
🔗 Registration: Click here to Register.
Application Documents
Further information on this funding opportunity, including the full eligibility requirements, eligible costs, evaluation criteria and application procedure, can be found in the Rules for Participation and Application Form.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the Rules for Participation in full before preparing and submitting an application.
Rules are subject to the State Aid Monitoring Board’s Approval.
Click here to download the WISE Programme_2026_Application Form Final
Click here to download the WISE Programme_OptionA1_Final
Click here to download the WISE Programme_OptionA2_Final
Click here to download the WISE Programme_OptionB_Final
Click here to download the Risk Identification and Management Matrix
