The LL Water-Veneto network is composed of numerous farms that participate by providing information about their production processes and are open to receiving guidance and suggestions to optimize water use. The Living Lab has integrated both plot-scale trials conducted at an experimental farm and on-farm experimentation (OFE) carried out on large-scale lighthouse farms. In the plot-scale trials, various drought-tolerant maize hybrids were tested alongside conventional hybrids. One OFE, conducted at a farm near the Venetian Lagoon, led to the co-creation of new knowledge on rice field irrigation, comparing the traditional flooding method with an innovative micro-irrigation technique. Maize was the focus of another OFE, where researchers and farmers from a farm in the Polesine area aimed to optimize crop yield in relation to two sprinkler irrigation systems and different sowing densities. Two OFEs focused on weed control adopted a dual strategy. On one hand, herbicide techniques were optimized to reduce chemical inputs and improve water use efficiency. On the other hand, through the use of cover crops and soil moisture monitoring via dedicated sensors, the trials aimed to assess whether cover crops could help retain soil moisture, thereby optimizing irrigation interventions. Collaboration between researchers and the Eastern Veneto Land Reclamation Consortium (CBVO) also led to the development of an app providing irrigation advice for maize and soybean. CBVO was also a partner in organizing outreach events that involved not only the research community but also professional associations, producer organizations, public institutions, and students.
