Thematic Lines

The heterogeneity in research competencies is explored in 8 Thematic Lines. Researchers converge with different contributions to these Research Program.

ANIMAL PRODUCTION & HEALTH
AGRO-SILVO-PASTORAL SYSTEM - MONTADO
Olive Groves & Olive Oil
RURAL DYNAMICS & GOVERNANCE
HORTICULTURE
BIODIVERSITY & ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONING
VITICULTURE & ENOLOGY
IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE
António Bento Dias

António Bento Dias

COORDINATOR

Raquel Garcia

Raquel Garcia

CO-COORDINATOR

EXPECTED IMPACT

Adaptation and Valorization of Portuguese Varieties to secure their Preservation and Increase their notoriety; improved sustainability of intensive olive production.

Expected Results

Registration of sanitary clean clones
Protocols for “in vitro” propagation
European patent of attenuated viral vectors
Integrated management of irrigation and fertigation
Pruning and mechanical harvesting system
Techniques to byproducts of olive groves
Tools to authenticity and traceability
Markers for olive oils adulterations
Maria João Cabrita

Maria João Cabrita

COORDINATOR

Ana Elisa Rato

Ana Elisa Rato

CO-COORDINATOR

EXPECTED IMPACT

Increase wine quality and typicity, while increasing the knowledge. Economic and environmental improvement by the development of integrated strategies for the pest and diseases management of the vines.

Expected Results

Increased knowledge on the complex disease associated with decline of grapevine
Management strategies and control methods against pathogens
Adaptability of traditional and forgotten grape varieties
Knowledge on varietal wines and impact of news technologies on wine quality
authenticity of wine products tools
Waste and by products management
Mário Reis

Mário Reis

COORDINATOR

Rui Machado

Rui Machado

CO-COORDINATOR

EXPECTED IMPACT

Higher sustainability of the strongly developing horticultural sector in South Portugal.

Expected Results

Novel plant growing substrates
Protocols for reutilization of plant residues and for efficient use of water resources (greenhouse and field horticulture)
New disease resistant cultivars
Practices of pest control via auxiliary insects
Postharvest and food preservation practices
Novel agro-food and beverage products.
Rui Charneca

Rui Charneca

COORDINATOR

Ricardo Romão

Ricardo Romão

CO-COORDINATOR

EXPECTED IMPACT

Development of Mediterranean livestock resilience to assure long term food security in a One Health approach.

Expected Results

Biomass alternative feed
Autochthonous and exotic genotypes selection programs
Herds fertility and/or prolificacy increase adopting new nutrition strategies and assisted reproductive techniques
Novel management practices and alternative pharmacological compounds for animal health improvement
Improvement of products quality, traceability and safety
Nuno Gracinhas Guiomar

Nuno Gracinhas Guiomar

COORDINATOR

Carlos Godinho

Carlos Godinho

CO-COORDINATOR

EXPECTED IMPACT

Import knowledge into private and public management decisions, for higher resilience of the Montado, reducing decay.

Expected Results

Solutions for optimizing productivity of the system
New processing methods increasing the added value of the products
High quality information and monitoring tools for targeting public intervention
Skilled human resources able to support adaptive management by landowners
Gottlieb Basch

Gottlieb Basch

COORDINATOR

Luís Leopoldo Silva

Luís Leopoldo Silva

CO-COORDENADOR

EXPECTED IMPACT

Reduction of environmental impacts of irrigated agriculture and implementation of a strategy to integrate rainfed and irrigated agriculture for smart resource use and higher sustainability of the territory.

Expected Results

Increased knowledge on the sustainable use of irrigation water under climate change scenarios
To model water and land productivity as a tool for managing water
Technical solutions to minimize impacts of irrigation on soil quality
Qualified human resources able to assess processes, formulate questions and create innovative solutions in the future
Diogo Alagador

Diogo Alagador

COORDINATOR

Frederico Mestre

Frederico Mestre

CO-COORDINATOR

EXPECTED IMPACT

Contribute to a more sustainable future that fosters human wellbeing through appropriate biodiversity and ecosystem management.

Expected Results

Strategies to deal with environmental changes
Bio-indicators and methods for biodiversity monitoring
Quality information on the links between biodiversity, ecosystem services and farmland management models
Knowledge on the measures required to reduce impacts of infrastructures and habitat fragmentation
Effective management and conservation methods to promote biodiversity
Photo:
Toutinegra-de-barrete
© Diogo Oliveira
Maria de Belém Costa Freitas

Maria de Belém Costa Freitas

COORDINATOR

Helena Guimarães

Helena Guimarães

CO-COORDINATOR

EXPECTED IMPACT

Empowered actors, better targeted public policies and enhanced rural sustainability in Mediterranean context.

Expected Results

Novel management models based on farm and countryside activities
Tested mechanisms of access to knowledge and collaboration
Progress in multi-actor research and transdisciplinary processes
Contribution to on-going efforts of theory building on transdisciplinarity
Lessons learned to be extrapolated to rural initiatives worldwide