ISOPlexis, a unity of investigation from University of Madeira, recently hosted the 1st Annual Meeting of the AGROSUS Project, marking a significant milestone in our collective efforts towards advancing agroecological practices. Over two days, experts, stakeholders, and partners gathered to share insights, review progress, and outline the next steps for our various work packages (WPs).
Day 1: Welcome to 1st Annual Meeting, Presentations from WP Leaders and partners
The first day was marked by a series of compelling presentations from our Work Package (WP) leaders, setting a collaborative and forward-looking tone for the meeting.
– WP1: Project Management: Adela M. Sánchez Moreiras from Universidade de Vigo, our project coordinator, opened the session by presenting an overview of the project and providing updates on WP1.
– WP2: Stakeholder Engagement and Co-Validation: Marta Czekaj from University of Agriculture in Krakow shared insights into WP2. Her presentation highlighted the importance of stakeholder engagement and co-validation processes.
– WP3: Unlocking the Potential of Agroecological Strategies for Weed Management: Leaders from Universidade de Vigo and Università degli Studi di Milano[Ui1] presented WP3. Their session focused on agroecological strategies to manage weeds, a crucial aspect of sustainable agriculture.
– WP4: Implementation Feedback and Next Steps: Our host, Universidade da Madeira, led WP4. Miguel Angelo Carvalho discussed the feedback from partners and outlined the next steps.
-Scientific Data Management: David Fernández Calviño, AGROSUS co-coordinator, emphasized the importance of managing the scientific data generated during the project, following the recommendations of the European Commission.
– WP5: Assessing Socio-Economic and Environmental Impacts: Lola Gómez López from UPCT presented WP5, focusing on assessing the socio-economic and environmental impacts of agroecological weed management practices.
The day concluded with an online training session on Data Protocol by Merrit Shanskiy from the Estonian University of Life Sciences, equipping participants with essential skills to handle project data efficiently.
Day 2: WP presentations, networking with other projects and field trip
Building on the momentum of the first day, the second day delved deeper into strategic discussions and planning.
– Welcome and Overview: David Fernández Calviño from Universidade de Vigo kicked off the day with a warm welcome, setting an optimistic tone for the sessions ahead.
– Expert Advisory Board Updates: We received valuable insights from our Expert Advisory Board, featuring updates from SEAE (Sociedad Española de Agricultura Ecológica y Agroecología), the Agroecology-TRANSECT project, and sister projects like Conserwa and GOOD, as well as updates on the D4AgEcol project.
– Networking Opportunities: The session included networking opportunities with SoildiverAgro, BIOservicES and Root2Res projects, fostering connections and facilitating knowledge sharing.
– WP6: Communication, Dissemination, and Exploitation of Results: Esther Valiño from FEUGA (Fundación Empresa Universidad Gallega) led a comprehensive discussion on WP6. Esther and Florencia Gómez also conducted an IP Workshop, highlighting the importance of intellectual property in our project.
– WP1 and WP7: Project Management and Ethics Requirements: David Fernández Calviño presented updates on WP1: Project Management and WP7: Ethics Requirements, ensuring effective coordination and adherence to the highest ethical standards.
The meeting concluded with a general balance of the project, reflecting on the progress made and setting the stage for future efforts. Special recognition was given to our host, Universidade da Madeira – UMa ISOPlexis – Centro em Agricultura Sustentável e Tecnologia Alimentar, for their exceptional hospitality and support.
– Visit to Quinta das Vinhas
To round off the productive meeting, the group visited the beautiful vineyard Quinta das Vinhas. This visit provided an opportunity to witness sustainable agriculture practices in action and offered a relaxing end to an intensive and fruitful gathering.
The 1st Annual Meeting of the AGROSUS Project at the University of Madeira was a success, fostering collaboration and setting clear directions for the future. As we continue our journey towards sustainable agriculture, the insights and connections made during this meeting will undoubtedly propel our efforts forward.
We thank all attendees, speakers, and online participants for their contributions. Stay tuned for more updates, and we look forward to seeing you at our next meeting!
You can now watch a video summary of the sessions:
Take a look at our website to stay tuned about our next events!
