The meeting and general assembly of the European project further consolidate the UJA’s position as a leading centre of excellence for the research and innovation of agricultural soil conservation and Mediterranean olive grove management.
From 7 to 9 July, the University of Jaén hosted the meeting and general assembly of the European LivingSoiLL project, an event that brought together over a hundred researchers and representatives from organisations across six European countries to coordinate the progress of this international initiative, which focuses on improving the health of agricultural soils and promoting sustainable practices in permanent crops, with a particular focus on olive groves.
The project, funded by the European Union with a budget of 12 million euros, allocates nearly two million to the development of the Andalusian Living Lab, coordinated by the University Institute of Research in Olive Grove and Olive Oils (INUO) at the University of Jaén, which drives research, innovation and knowledge transfer initiatives aimed at regenerating the soil in Andalusian olive groves.
The opening ceremony took place in the Assembly Hall of the Former Teacher Training College and was attended by the Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Transfer at the University of Jaén, M.ª Victoria López Ramón; the Regional Delegate for Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development for the Regional Government of Andalusia in Jaén, Soledad Aranda; the Provincial Councillor for Agriculture, Livestock, the Environment and Climate Change, Isabel Uceda; the project’s general coordinator, the Portuguese researcher Cristina da Conceição Ribeiro Carlos; and the coordinator of the Andalusian Living Lab and lecturer at the University of Jaén, Juan Manuel Jurado Rodríguez.
During the opening ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor highlighted the impact of this initiative on the transfer of knowledge to the region. “We are going to demonstrate that research does not remain confined to the University, but is transferred to society. It is a research and knowledge-transfer project focusing on soil depletion; we need to study how it is deteriorating and how to restore it,” she stated. She also noted that “the University of Jaén is proud to demonstrate that we not only generate science, but also lead the transformation towards sustainable agriculture in Europe”.
For his part, Juan Manuel Jurado explained that one of the project’s main objectives was to develop practical solutions that could be implemented directly by farmers, incorporating tools such as artificial intelligence to facilitate decision-making and improve the sustainability of farms. “We want to bring together solutions that are practical in the field and that farmers can implement to simplify their work. These issues must be addressed from an environmental, social and economic perspective, whilst also safeguarding the profitability of farms”, he said.
The regional delegate for Agriculture, Soledad Aranda, highlighted the role of the University of Jaén and the University Institute of Research on Olive Grove and Olive Oils as leading centres for research and knowledge transfer to the agricultural sector. “It is only right to recognise the work being carried out by the University of Jaén. With over sixty research groups and the INUO, the UJA is a leading centre for research and knowledge transfer to the sector” she noted.
The project’s general coordinator, Cristina da Conceição Ribeiro Carlos, explained that LivingSoiLL brings together partners from six European countries and that this meeting provided an opportunity for the project’s five Living Labs to share experiences. In this regard, she highlighted the importance of new technologies for monitoring soil changes through the use of satellites, drones and data collected directly in the field, enabling common challenges – such as erosion, which particularly affects Spain and Portugal – to be tackled.
For her part, provincial councillor Isabel Uceda emphasised that LivingSoiLL is a strategic tool for the province of Jaén and noted that the Provincial Council is participating as a partner organisation with the aim of incorporating the project’s scientific findings into the design of public policies relating to olive groves and sustainability.
Over the course of the three-day meeting, the project partners reviewed the progress made since the project’s launch, coordinated upcoming research and innovation activities, and strengthened collaboration between the five Living Labs established in Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and Poland. The meeting also served as an opportunity to share experiences and best practices aimed at restoring soil health in permanent crops and helping the agricultural sector adapt to the effects of climate change.
The LivingSoiLL project (Healthy Soil for Permanent Crops Living Labs) forms part of the European Union’s ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ Mission and will run until November 2028. Its aim is to promote the conservation and restoration of soil health through the exchange of knowledge, innovation and the validation of sustainable practices under real-world conditions, thereby helping to improve the resilience of olive groves and the sustainability of one of the Mediterranean’s key agricultural sectors.
Source: Diario Digital UJA
