How to improve soil health in vineyards and olive groves in the Luso Galician Living Lab through a co-creation process
The Luso Galician Living Lab (LG-LL) anchors on established multi-actor communities located in two neighbour regions, North of Portugal and Galicia. It is dedicated to two permanent crops (vineyards and olive groves) and it aims to be a reference in practices for maintaining healthy soils, mainly in hilly landscapes, where erosion is the main soil threat, which in parallel with water shortage may put yield and the quality of grapes and olives at risk. The community of this LL includes actors from 10 farmers/SMEs, 2 farmers associations, 3 universities, 2 consulting/service providers, 1 foundation, 1 seed supplier and 1 regional administrative authority which together will set up 20 experimental sites and identify at least 4 lighthouses.
A co-creation workshop was organized with LG-LL partners to discuss soil health issues on their farms, and to collect data on known or applied solutions. By bringing together producers, researchers and consultants, a dynamic environment for exchanging knowledge and integrating different perspectives was created and encouraged between the participants.
When asked about soil challenges, most of the responses aligned with the aims of the Soil Mission mainly addressing a) the need to improve soil structure and to increase biodiversity; b) soil contamination; c) low soil organic carbon levels, and erosion. Other recorded answers included: water scarcity, poor fertility, soil acidity, pests, diseases and soil stoniness.
Concerning the strategies to overcome the soil threats listed by the participants, the majority were in fact linked with soils and, most of the responses referred to: (1) the addition of organic material to the soil (either through mulching or the application of compost), (2) the use of cover crops and (3) the reduction/elimination of the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. The participants also highlighted the great importance of soil and water monitoring as a way of combating soil health problems.
Healthy Soil to Permanent Crops Living Labs
Ongoing | 2024-2028
- Main funding source
- Horizon Europe (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
- Geographical location
- Portugal, France, Italy, Poland, Spain, Belgium