Demonstration Workshop of the MAXI-CoberLEG Operational Group at Bio Varsella
Description
The GO MAXI-CoberLEG project is offering an in-person demonstration workshop where staff from scientific and business organizations participating in the project consortium will discuss the use of native lupin cover crops to maximize citrus productivity and quality by restoring the sustainability and resilience of production systems. The workshop is aimed at agricultural professionals , cooperatives, technical staff, researchers, and anyone interested in innovation applied to agriculture.
During the event , results and practical experiences related to the establishment of cover crops will be presented, including their influence on soil microbiota, their role in the biological control of pests, and their impact on crop development and fruit quality. One of the central aspects of the meeting will be a visit to experimental plots , where attendees can observe the performance of different varieties and their agronomic management under real-world conditions.
The workshop will feature the participation of Bio Varsella SL, FEUGA, the Signal Flow Lab research group from the University of Valencia, Darwin Bioprospecting Excellence SL, the Valencian Institute of Agricultural Research, and the Segura Center for Soil Science and Applied Biology (CEBAS-CSIC). These entities will present the main technical and scientific advances achieved to date.
The MAXI-CoberLEG Project
The MAXI-CoberLEG project is working on developing strategies to improve soil health, promote biodiversity, and maintain crop profitability, moving towards more sustainable and resilient agricultural models. The MAXI-CoberLEG Operational Group also includes the DevoLEG research group from the Biological Mission of Galicia (MBG-CSIC), Naranjas del Carmen, and the Pego Agricultural Cooperative (Coop. V). The MAXI-CoberLEG project is part of the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan (PEPAC) 2023-2027, funded 80% by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) of the European Union and 20% by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA).
WORKSHOP PROGRAM
- 10:30 a.m. Welcome.
- Joaquin Giné Espuny, Bio Varsella Administrator
- 10:35 h. Presentation of the MAXI-CoberLEG Supra-regional Operational Group.
- Beatriz Calviño Vázquez, Manager of Innovation and National Projects at FEUGA
- 10:45 h. Lupin cover crops in citrus fields: establishment and implications for soil microbiota.
- Dr. Reyes Benlloch Ortiz, Principal Investigator of the SignalFlow Lab group (Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences - University of Valencia).
- Daniel Torrent Silla, Director of the Genomics Department at Darwin Bioprospecting Excellence SL
- 11:05 h. Winter legumes in citrus cover crops: results for improving biological control
- Dr. César Monzó Ferrer, Senior Researcher at the Entomology Unit, Valencian Institute of Agricultural Research (IVIA).
- Maite Fernandéz de Boadilla, Postdoctoral Researcher, Valencian Institute of Agricultural Research (IVIA).
- 11:25 h. Analysis of the impact of legume plant covers on the tree and their influence on fruit quality through phenotypic evaluation and molecular characterization.
- Dr. Raquel Sánchez Pérez, PhD in Biochemistry, Plant Breeding Department, CEBAS-CSIC
- 11:45 a.m. Coffee break
- 12:00 h. Demonstration visit to the Bio Varsella experimental plots
- 1:30 p.m. Closing of the day