Living Labs are real-world test environments that address certain areas (thematic as well as spatial) and target groups for enabling joint developments of tools and services. Besides development processes, also awareness towards certain topics can be raised among different participant groups. Living Labs aim at pooling knowledge from as many (willing) participants as possible for generating best possible solutions respectively innovations.

The core element of every Living Lab is the network formed of public and private stakeholders who jointly develop and test new technological developments within the framework of an open innovation process (Wiederwald et al. 2017).

THE LIVING LABS UNDER MENAWARA

Using TWW as an input for agricultural production requires some adaptations both in the agricultural practices, the irrigation techniques, and the governance bodies. Moreover, social acceptability would limit its use. In this framework, Living Labs are an appropriate learning space that would open to the adoption of the technical innovation through a social innovation.

The 5 demonstration fields of the target areas in MENAWARA will be equipped with effective irrigation technologies and techniques adapted to the local context and tailored to the use of treated wastewater (TWW) which quality is enhanced according to the fit for purpose approach. The irrigation innovative trains adapted to TWW are identified in each intervention area together with the appropriate measuring and monitoring devices. The latter allow for the monitoring of soil water content and salinity levels, yield and quality of crops, and for the overall impact of the chain at demo-level and for simulating its up-scaling impact.

All these activities will take place and will be shared within the Living Labs