On 21 August 2026, Varna Economic Development Agency (PP6 VEDA) brought the IDRON project closer to the local community in Aksakovo, presenting the project’s progress and first results from the analysis of water scarcity conditions in Mediterranean rural regions, including the state of water resources in Aksakovo Municipality – IDRON Associated Organisation in Bulgaria.

Representatives of the municipal administration, Local Initiative Group (MIG), businesses and other local stakeholders joined the discussion on how innovative approaches can help optimise water use, reduce irrigation consumption and strengthen crop resilience and productivity.

A special focus was placed on the upcoming IDRON pilot actions, starting in September, which will use UAVs equipped with multispectral and thermal sensors to identify dry areas, monitor vegetation health and detect surface-water sources on the municipal territory. The collected information is expected to support both public authorities responsible for water-resource management and local farmers and agricultural producers.

The discussion also provided an important opportunity to identify stakeholders’ needs, expectations and potential contributions to the next stages of the project.

VEDA also presented results from the AGRICOOP project research on invasive alien species (IAS) and the agricultural crops most affected by them in three monitored municipalities, including villages in Aksakovo Municipality.

Two projects, one shared direction: using knowledge, technology and local cooperation to build more sustainable and climate-resilient rural communities.

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