Action A3: External Audit

An audit by an independent external auditor will be carried out on the financial statements provided to the Commission in the final project report. This audit will verify the respect of national legislation and accounting rules and certify that all costs incurred are in accordance with the LIFE+ Common Provisions. The external auditor will be appointed later in 2013 and the auditor’s report will be drawn up two months after project deadline. Following approval of the six-month project prolongation by EU Commission, this audit is planned to be concluded by September 2014.

Action A2: Monitoring of Project Progress

The Internal Audit Services provider, Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC), presented an internal control procedure manual identifying the monitoring tools to be used for the project in February 2013. This was followed by an internal audit in March 2013, a second one in June 2013 and another one in October 2013. Following approval of the six-month project prolongation by EU Commission, another internal audit is planned for May 2014.

Action A1: Project Management

Project Management Hierarchy 

Action A1: Project Management

Action A2: Monitoring of Project Progress

Action A3: External Audit

Action A4: After-LIFE Communication Plan

Action A5: Networking Activities

Action B1: Setting up of Stakeholder’ Forum

Action B2: Course for Trainers

Action C1: Devise a Communication strategy

Action C2: Printing of Informative Brochures, and their Distribution

Action C3: Replication of DVDs and their Distribution

Action C4: Official Launch of Campaign

Action C5: Outdoor Campaign

Action C6: Freephone Service

Action D1: Training Sessions

Action D2: Training / Educational Sessions

Action E1: Evaluation of Campaign

Action E2: Evaluation of the Impact on Gross Nitrogen Balance (GNB)

Action E3: Evaluation of Livestock Breeders

Action F1: Project Website

Action F2: LIFE+ Information Boards

Action F3: Layman’s Report

Action F4: Closing Conference

Malta networking visit 8th and 9th October 2013

A follow up of this meeting was held in Malta between the 8th and 9th October 2013, which was attended by three Israeli researchers from the Volcani Centre. During the meeting held at the Government Research Centre in Għammieri, four presentations on water application and results obtained on NPK studies were delivered by the Israeli partners. Various officials from the Directorate of Agriculture and PARKS joined in discussions with the Israeli partners, particularly on nitrogen application and the use of wastewater in agriculture as well as landscaping.

A discussion on the application of natural manure in soil cropped up and the Israeli partners argued that since the nitrogen present in dry livestock manure is not soluble, it is not available for the plant before it passes through mineralisation process. Nitrates in manure are released only after being irrigated and initial breakdown by micronutrients starts to take place. Once available to the plant, nitrogen is immediately taken up and excessive nitrate application at that stage may become critical. If manure is applied during the summer months, 50% of the nitrogen is lost through volatisation of ammonium by winter. To be more effective, application of manure must be done in a similar manner as inorganic fertilizer, to ensure nitrogen uptake by the plants through the roots. Moreover, when irrigating, it is important to take into account the amount of fertilizer applied, the plant requirements and the season during which this is done.

In a presentation on the water resources in Israel, it was explained that a large emphasis is being placed on the use of recycled waste water since there is an issue with water scarcity, low precipitation and high water consumption. Nevertheless there is evidence that long-term use of treated water for edible crops results in a decreased yield and an increase of chloride and nitrate pollution. Thus, one has to properly follow  waste water management guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation.                                                                                            

Apart from using recycled water for irrigation, desalination is a novel and effective means to maximize water use efficiency and crop productivity in Israel. In another presentation, the importance to consider water salinity in soil and available to the plant was discussed. By using lysemeter experiments on banana plants, Israeli researchers are finding that salinity may not be dependent solely on chlorine but also on root volume, plant type and water quality. It is interesting to note that difference in fruit yield and salt uptake by plants relate to water quality.                                                              

A presentation on Israeli regulations for manure recycling and nitrogen application was delivered by one of the Israeli partners. Such regulations are in place to balance plant requirements with environment needs and regulate the composting of manure to negate odours and food contamination. Moreover, Israeli regulations dictate that only class A sludge may be used in agriculture while the maximum permitted Nitrate application is that of 500kg/ha/year, which is high when compared with the 170kg/ha/year in the European Union.  In Israel, compost facilities are permitted but are regulated to be located at a minimum of 300 metres from residential areas.

During this meeting, a discussion on the Nitrates Action Plan took place and the Israeli partners argued that rainwater leaching in Malta is not as great an issue as in other northern European countries. Malta, with its dry summers and low levels of precipitation in Winter, should not literally apply a legislation applied for countries with high rainfall and restricted to a growing season in summer. Crop rotation is also another important factor in that certain crops fix nitrogen in the soil and may require far less nitrogen application, as well as contributing to improvements in soil structure. They suggested that research using lysemeter should be conducted in Malta to determine local needs and effects of nitrates and other minerals on crops.

Another presentation was delivered on the application of sludge as fertilizer substitutes for field crops. Research in Israel has shown that sludge can replace fertilizers, improve soil structure, and its use in agriculture is the best method to deal with its disposal, reducing incineration and placement of sludge in landfills. Nevertheless, sludge application in agriculture should follow strict regulations as its application is dependent on acceptable levels of metals and nutrients which may be used in agriculture.

Following the meeting at the Government Research Centre in Għammieri, the Israeli partners visited a greenhouse farm in Imġarr, in which the farmer cultivates fresh tomatoes for the local market. They discussed various technical issues with the farmer on fertilization methods, experimentation with various tomato varieties and irrigation methods. This field visit was followed by a visit to a dairy farm in San Ġwann, where the farmer invested in robotic milking technology and explained the farm management practices in Malta as well as compared to that being applied in Israel. 

Israel networking visit - 2nd and 3rd October 2013

The InfoNitrates Project Manager and two Trainers visited the Agricultural Research Organization in the Volcani Centre at the Ministry of Agriculture between the 2nd and 3rd October 2013. This networking visit was based on the exchange of knowledge between Israel and Malta on the nitrate application in agriculture. In Israel, various experiments on irrigation, fertilization and plant biology were demonstrated to the Maltese delegation. These included research stations involving avocado, banana and mango plantations, where data is being collected mainly on plant biology and nutrient uptake.

In the avocado research station in Acre, automated fertigation experiments using lysimeters indicate that climatic conditions are not as important as plant biology and the time during which fertilizers are applied. Other experiments are being conducted on the oxygen levels in treated water to comprehend the effects on root development in avocado trees which are grown in 1000 litre pots to control the inputs and outputs as well as to identify the exact amount of water used by the plant. Understanding the nutrient availability in the soil is a key factor in this experiment since nutrients may be present in different forms in the soil. Six different irrigation regimes are being experimented to determine the behaviour of water uptake of the plant using lysemeter method.                                                                                                                                       

In a research station on banana and mango trees in the Jordan valley, fertigation experiments are being carried out to determine the water requirements and uptake of plants using different sources of water. Results show that desalinized water lacks certain essential micronutrients that have to be added. This process can save large amounts of fresh water and an innovative technology is being researched in the field of desalinization so that certain essential nutrients are not removed from the water. Desalinized water also decreases the time from which the emergent banana plant grows to replace the parent plant, once the latter dies. In the rhizome layer the banana plant showed uptake of phosphorus and micro elements from water to which measured amounts of citric acid was added. These experiments could well be adapted to Malta with other types of tree crops that could be economically viable to produce in the Maltese Islands.         

A cow farm in the Golan Heights was visited by the Maltese delegation, which had the opportunity to compare the breeding system with that of Malta. It is remarkable to note that Israel dairy cows are global leaders in the production of milk per cow and this came about following years of research and development. Manure which is contained underneath the cows is mixed in-situ using a tractor in order to aerate the manure, reduce its nitrate content, dry it out and eliminate smell. This method leads to a low incidence of mastitis in cows since manure is mixed and dried. Part of the wet manure fraction is being disposed in an experimental forest-forage formation planted with eucalyptus trees which are good absorbers of contaminated water and prevent leaching from the soil.

Informative Brochure Preparation and Distribution

20,000 informative brochures were designed and printed in order to cater for farmers and breeders who attended the village meetings. The entire content within the brochure was assembled by the trainers. These informative brochures were distributed in all village meetings carried out thus far following a detailed explanation of the project by trainers. A further 200 brochures were also distributed during the national fair at the MCAST Agribusiness open weekend on the 1^st and 2^nd June 2013.

Village Meetings

As part of the InfoNitrates campaign, thirty village meetings are being held in rural areas around the Maltese Islands. The outdoor campaign was launched on 16th May 2013 in Zurrieq. The first group of village meetings were delivered in the months of May and June, with more to be delivered during the months of September and October (refer to list below). This was done to avoid assembling people under tents during the hot summer months. The objective of these village meetings is to disseminate information on the Nitrates Action Plan to famers and livestock breeders via a presentation on the use of nitrates, after which a discussion is held between those present. An informative DVD and leaflet explaining the obligatory measures of the NAP was distributed to all those who attended the village meetings.

Trainers employed through the InfoNitrates Project were tasked with presenting the project, showing the DVD and discussing the way forward with their audience, apart from answering any technical questions that arose. A few trainers were also tasked to attend and prepare a stand at the MCAST Agribusiness open weekend on the 1st and 2nd June 2013. This national fair event, carried out on a yearly basis and which occurred at a prominent education centre for agriculture, benefited from a strong attendance. Trainers are inviting full-time farmers and breeders as well as part-time farmers tilling over 1.5 hectares to attend to these meetings in the nearest locality.