RACS Operational Group: Agricultural Network for Sustainable Crops

Increasing the profitability of irrigated farms through more sustainable management and procedures to improve the quality and profitability of agricultural products by implementing sustainable practices that demonstrate the compatibility of productivity and biodiversity. This result is based on:

• Profitability analysis to verify the viability of the proposed actions, including the economic value of biological pest control and the yields in the transition to organic crops.

• Resource Optimization: Maximum efficiency in the use of water, fertilizers and pesticides is sought through the use of innovative agricultural technology and biotechnology

• Monitoring Indicators: The success of this result will be measured through the reduction of pesticide use in the tested areas, the decrease in the pest insect population and the progressive increase of beneficial fauna.

Drafting an Agronomic Plan to reduce the consumption of water, pesticides, and fertilizers. This includes agronomic measures that promote the conservation and fertility of agricultural soils through a set of action plans designed to transform farm management towards more sustainable models. The key points of this outcome are:

• Development of Specific Plans: The drafting of four action plans is contemplated, focused on the reduction of pesticides, the decrease in water consumption, the reduction of fertilizers and the transition towards organic farming.

• Validation through Pilot Trials: collection of data and monitoring of pilot trials carried out on the project farms to test the effectiveness of each measure before its publication.

• Biotechnological Monitoring: This includes the innovative use of DNA studies and soil microbiology to monitor the evolution of microorganism populations

Development of a transformation plan to organic farming, including the implementation of sustainable agricultural practices and the creation of a detailed guide for the gradual transition of conventional fruit farms to an organic production model. The main aspects of this transformation plan are:

• Substitution of Chemical Inputs

• Organic Nutritional Management

• Biological and Preventive Control

• Soil Optimization

Implement environmental measures and infrastructure that improve ecosystem services on participating farms, enabling an improvement in biodiversity, especially birdlife, beneficial insects, and plants. Its main components are:

• Creation of Green Infrastructure to improve marginal and unproductive spaces

• Promotion of Biological Control: Bat shelters, nest boxes for insectivorous birds, and insect hotels are designed and installed.

Drafting of a Conservation Plan for environmental and biodiversity improvements on participating farms to enhance biodiversity on the farms, focusing especially on birdlife linked to the agricultural ecosystem. The key aspects of this Conservation Plan are as follows:

• Establishment of an Ecological Optimum

• Comparative Methodology

• Use of Monitoring Programs

Description of a reference ornithological bioindicator scale, endorsed by SEO/BirdLife, for Good Agro-Environmental Practices that promote biodiversity in products produced on these farms. A technical protocol will be created linking the health of bird populations with the sustainable practices implemented on the farms. It aims to establish a reference model that correlates agricultural management with biodiversity. This scale will serve as a tool to reflect Good Environmental Practices in the farms' products, increasing their commercial value and prestige.

OUTREACH SESSIONS. A total of three sessions will be held: one in-person session at the experimental farms during the first year to showcase the initial actions, and two knowledge transfer sessions (in-person or virtual) in the Ebro and Duero river basins. The primary target audience will be farmers and livestock breeders bordering the farms where the trials are taking place; technicians and advisors in agriculture, rural development, tourism, and the environment; representatives of cooperatives and agricultural organizations; researchers in the areas covered by the project; the local population; and the media.

Participatory workshops on biodiversity and ecosystem services assessment on experimental farms, focusing on the valuation of biodiversity and ecosystem services on farms. Participants in these workshops will include teachers and students from agricultural vocational training programs, polytechnic schools, and universities.

FINAL CLOSING DAY OF THE PROJECT intended for farmers and livestock breeders bordering the farms subject to the trials; technicians and advisors of agriculture, rural development, tourism and environment; representatives of cooperatives and agricultural organizations; researchers in the topics addressed by the project; local population; media

COMMUNICATION MATERIALS: POSTERS, ROLL-UP BANNERS, STICKERS. Three-dimensional materials will be used at the conferences and events held within the framework of the Operational Group (roll-up banners and stickers) and at the physical locations of the partners (posters and stickers).

Informative and testimonial micro-videos featuring content from the activities carried out and/or testimonials from participants. Production of at least six informative micro-videos (two per year) and one at the end of the project (in Spanish and English). These will be short videos for easy distribution and maximum impact.

Informative materials. Digital brochure, scientific poster, infographics

DISSEMINATION PUBLICATIONS: DISSEMINATION IN SPECIALIZED MEDIA AND SOCIAL NETWORKS. The digital format is planned for the various dissemination publications to amplify the possibilities for sharing the project's activities and results, such as: summaries of agricultural and environmental actions, information capsules on economic and environmental results, informative articles, social media posts from partners using the project hashtag, and press releases.

PROJECT WEBSITE WITH DOCUMENTATION REPOSITORY

CREATION OF A THEMATIC ONLINE COMMUNITY FOR NATIONAL KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER. This involves consolidating a national thematic community that integrates conventional and organic farmers, research centers and universities, agricultural training centers, NGOs, environmental organizations, and public administrations, among others. The functions of this online community will be to: promote the continuous exchange of knowledge and experiences, encourage the replication of successful models in other regions, and support the formulation of sustainable agricultural policies in line with the European Green Deal, the AEI-Agri objectives, and adaptation to climate change.