Project Portugal 2020

Agricultural sustainability and productivity are under serious threat due to climate change, which is worsened by practices relying on excessive use of agrochemicals. Loss of soil fertility is a major threat for agriculture value chains, such as cereals and vineyards, which must be preserved and improved through sustainable soil and above ground management practices, also for its important cultural heritage. HSoil4Food has the overarching objective of increasing below and aboveground biodiversity of soil and soil health toward secure food production. In this project an experienced multidisciplinary team involving the UCP research centres was gathered to address an integrated approach involving basic and natural sciences (CBQF), but also involving interfaces areas like law (CEID), business (CEGE), health and social sciences (CIIS, CBQF) on the problematic of studying different parameters affecting soil health and consequent impact on food quality. To implement this idea, two research lines were set: Line 1 - An integrated approach on soil health and farming practices; Line 2 - Characterization, intervention and education strategies to foster consumers’ and farmers’ engagement in promoting soil health.