The European project Germ of Life has published the content of its first webinar, titled “Drought Analytics in Practice – Indices, Forecasting & Regional Implementation”, focusing on drought analysis, forecasting models and their practical application at regional level.
This session is now available to watch and is aimed at policymakers, regional authorities, researchers and professionals working in water management, climate, agriculture and risk management. It highlights the value of integrating science and technology within a common framework.
During the webinar, scientific and technical experts explore how drought develops, evolves and impacts different regions across Europe in a context of increasing climate pressure.
The session presents the scientific foundations and digital innovations underpinning the project, including drought indices, monitoring methodologies and forecasting models. These tools improve anticipation and support informed decision-making by public authorities and key stakeholders, contributing to more effective risk management.
The webinar features contributions from Panagiota Saranti (University of Patras, Project Manager of Germ of Life), who introduces the project’s vision and objectives; Manuela Balzarolo (Senior Scientist at the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change Foundation – CMCC), who addresses drought indices and approaches within the Germ of Life framework; and Lea Duran (Lead Data Scientist and hydrology specialist at Atos), who presents forecasting models for drought indicators in the Mediterranean region.
The session also includes presentations of the project’s pilots in Greece and Italy, with Professor Athanassios A. Argiriou (Laboratory of Atmospheric Physics, University of Patras, Project Leader of Germ of Life), presenting the Hellenic pilot, and Sonia Abluton (Project Manager at Lamoro Development Agency), sharing progress from the Po Park pilot in the Italian region of Moncalieri. In addition, Professor Stefanos D. Koundouras (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) delivers a keynote on the impact of the climate crisis on the Greek wine sector.
Through these real-world examples, the webinar demonstrates how advanced analytics are being transformed into practical tools that support early risk detection, mitigation planning and the strengthening of long-term climate resilience. Germ of Life is thus advancing its mission to equip European regions with stronger capacities to anticipate and respond to drought-related challenges.
