Dr. Olfa Zarrouk was awarded an Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITC) Conference Grant funded by the FruitCREWS COST Action, which supported her participation at the 23rd GiESCO Meeting held from 27–31 July 2025 in Geisenheim, Germany. This conference gathered international experts in grapevine research, focusing on innovations in vineyard management, physiology, and water use. The grant enabled Olfa to attend and actively contribute to the conference discussions, expanding FruitCREWS visibility at a highly relevant scientific forum.
During the meeting, Olfa presented her research on the Seasonal dynamics of water and sugar compartmentalization in grape clusters under deficit irrigation. Additionally, her PhD student Miguel Damásio presented a second study on Root water uptake patterns in rootstock-scion interactions and their influence on grapevine water-use strategies. Both talks were part of the Soil and Water Management session. These presentations highlighted the scientific contributions of FruitCREWS and promoted the Action among peers and industry stakeholders.
The participation brought significant benefits both for Olfa and for the FruitCREWS community. For Olfa, it was an opportunity to share her research, build new collaborations, and gain valuable feedback from international colleagues. For FruitCREWS, the visibility at GiESCO fostered stronger interdisciplinary synergies, interest from potential partners in future e-seminars, Horizon Europe proposals, and experimental trials, as well as the exploration of innovative precision irrigation technologies. The grant therefore supported scientific exchange and reinforced the long-term goals of FruitCREWS in advancing sustainable fruit crop water management