INSTITUT NATIONAL DE RECHERCHES EN GENIE RURAL, EAUX ET FORETS

Their core work

INRGREF is Tunisia's national research institute for rural engineering, water resources, and forestry. They work on land and water management in arid and semi-arid Mediterranean conditions, forest ecosystem planning, and agricultural adaptation to climate change. Their applied research focuses on making farming more sustainable and resource-efficient in North Africa — from greenhouse climate control technologies to non-timber forest product value chains. They serve as a bridge between European research networks and Tunisian agricultural practice.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

With only three projects spanning 2017–2024, the evolution is modest but directional. Their earliest involvement (INCREdible, 2017) focused on Mediterranean forest product innovation networks, while FASTER (2018) built internal research capacity around climate adaptation and land management. Their most recent project, TheGreefa (2020), marks a shift toward applied engineering — thermochemical systems for greenhouse climate control and water recovery — suggesting a move from broad resource management toward specific agricultural technology solutions.

INRGREF is moving from general natural resource management toward applied agricultural engineering, particularly water-efficient and energy-smart greenhouse technologies suited to hot, dry climates.

How they like to work

INRGREF operates primarily as a project partner (2 of 3 projects) but has demonstrated coordination capability with FASTER, a Twinning/CSA project they led. Their 30 unique partners across 14 countries indicate broad international networking rather than repeated partnerships. As a Tunisian institute in EU-funded projects, they typically fill the role of a Southern Mediterranean partner bringing regional expertise and local validation capacity.

INRGREF has built a network of 30 partners across 14 countries through just 3 projects, reflecting participation in mid-to-large consortia. Their geographic reach spans the Mediterranean basin with connections into broader European research networks.

What sets them apart

INRGREF is one of few Tunisian research institutes with demonstrated H2020 coordination experience, which matters for consortia needing credible North African partners. Their combination of forestry, water management, and greenhouse technology expertise is specifically tuned to semi-arid Mediterranean conditions — a climate zone increasingly relevant as Southern Europe faces water stress. For any project requiring field validation or knowledge transfer in North Africa, they bring both the institutional infrastructure and the EU project track record.

Highlights from their portfolio

• FASTER
  INRGREF's only coordinated project — a capacity-building initiative that signals institutional ambition and an ability to lead international consortia from Tunisia.
• TheGreefa
  Their most recent and technically specific project, applying thermochemical fluids for water recovery in greenhouses — a concrete, market-relevant technology for arid-climate agriculture.