OPTAIN - OPtimal strategies to retAIN and re-use water and nutrients in small agricultural catchments across different soil-climatic regions in Europe (EU-funded research and innovation project, 2020-2025) proposes a social and scientific journey towards the increase and better understanding of the multiple benefits of Natural/Small Water Retention Measures (NSWRMs). But why is this important? To better adapt to extreme events that exacerbate conflicts between agricultural water uses and other human and environmental demands for water. How is that done? By elaborating from the current state of knowledge, the experience of stakeholders from 14 case studies involved in the project and innovative scientific modelling and optimization approaches. Thus OPTAIN aims to:

- Identify efficient and easy-to-implement techniques for the retention and reuse of water and nutrients in small agricultural catchments across Boreal, Continental, and Pannonian regions.

- Optimize the spatial allocation and combination of NSWRM, based on environmental and economic sustainability indicators.