TerraForm: Malta Lands Its First-Ever European Research Council Grant Worth Nearly €2 Million
Malta has secured its first-ever Horizon Europe European Research Council (ERC) Grant, awarded to Dr. Huw Groucutt, a lecturer in Mediterranean prehistory at the Department of Classics and Archaeology within the Faculty of Arts, at the University of Malta.
With nearly €2 million in funding under the prestigious ERC Consolidator Grant scheme, the TerraForm project is gearing up to dig deep into Malta’s history—literally. This groundbreaking research will explore the origins, evolution and impact of agricultural terracing in Malta, a technique that has shaped the island’s landscape for centuries.
Terracing, for those who might need a refresher, uses stone walls to keep soil intact on sloping land. It’s praised for reducing erosion and managing water flow—a pretty big deal in agriculture.
As one of the most intensively terraced countries in the world, Malta is the perfect place for such a study. While some experts think Malta’s terraces date back to prehistoric times, others argue they’re as recent as the Islamic period.
TerraForm’s mission? To settle the debate once and for all using cutting-edge science.
The project will bring together a dream team of researchers from Malta, Milan, Durham and other international institutions. Expect everything from soil crystal analysis with optically stimulated luminescence to heartfelt chats with local farmers about their terracing know-how.
Leading the charge is Dr. Huw Groucutt, a Welsh-born Maltese citizen with a seriously impressive CV. With nearly 100 publications and fieldwork experience in places like Saudi Arabia, Senegal and Malta, Dr. Groucutt has a knack for uncovering how humans and the environment interact. Before landing at the University of Malta in 2022, he earned his PhD at Oxford and led a research team at the Max Planck Institute in Germany.
“This grant is a huge honour,” said Dr. Groucutt. “It allows us to dig into how Malta’s iconic terraced landscapes were shaped and what they mean for the challenges we face today, like drought and flooding. Terraces aren’t just a historical curiosity—they’re key to our sustainable future.”
The significance of this win hasn’t gone unnoticed. “This is a milestone for Malta,” said Xjenza Malta CEO Silvio Scerri. “It proves that Maltese researchers are world-class, and we hope more will take advantage of the opportunities offered by Horizon Europe to make a global impact.”
TerraForm is about more than uncovering the past—it’s about solving today’s problems. As climate change ramps up, learning how terracing helps with drought, flooding and food security could be crucial for Malta’s future.
The project is set to kick off in spring 2025, and it’s not just for academics. Expect public events and outreach to make this groundbreaking research accessible to everyone. For more information, reach out to the University of Malta or Xjenza Malta for details about ERC grants and Horizon Europe support.
Malta is definitely making waves in the research world—and we’re here for it.
Share this with someone who loves nature