Living Lab 1

Permanent crops

Goal: Develop sustainable permanent cropping systems under Mediterranean climate conditions.

 

Where:  Spain and Portugal 

Climate: Hot-summer Mediterranean climate; Warm-summer Mediterranean climate; Cold semi-arid climate 

Crops:  Olive orchards, almond orchards, vineyards, citrus orchards. 

Soil health challenges: Salinisation & desertification; loss of soil organic matter;soil pollution; soil erosion; soil compaction; biodiversity loss. 

No. of experimental sites: 20.  

No. of potential Lighthouses:  2 sites to be identified.  

Who are we working with? Academia, industry, government, and civil society 

Which EU Mission Soil objectives are addressed?

1: Reduce desertification and salinisation.  

2: Increase soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks.  

4: Reduce soil pollution and enhance restoration.  

5: Prevent erosion.  

6: Improve soil structure for soil biota and crops.  

8: Increase soil literacy.

Living Lab 1 Coordinators

Leader: Óscar Veroz, Spanish Conservation Agriculture Living Soils Association

Co-leader: Miguel Soares, University of Evora

Living Lab 1 innovations

We are testing the performance of these innovations to support sustainable permanent cropping systems under Mediterranean climate conditions.

Soil management techniques

  • Spontaneous groundcovers
  • Sown cover crops/groundcovers
  • Mulching (woody or herbaceous residues)
  • Organic amendments
  • Minimal soil disturbance/permanent soil cover
  • Mechanical control of cover crops/groundcovers

Agronomy management

  • Adapted plant nutrient strategies (NPK, micro nutrients, pH)

Weed control

  • Adapted plant protection measures

Green infrastructure

Biodiversity structures

Livestock and pasture management

  • Grazing

IT solutions

  • Precision farming (Auto-guidance, VRA)
  • Modelling (digital twins, remote sensing)

Are you based in Spain or Portugal and interested in getting involved in our Living Lab?

 

Get in touch to find out more about how to collaborate with us.

Contact your local Living Lab:

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