Conference on Healthy Soils for a Productive and Climate-Resilient Agriculture
- The event brought together academic experts, students, and institutions from across the country, including representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture.
- Now in its 16th edition, this conference has become a key forum for collaboration, debate, and innovation between the public and private sectors, aimed at fostering a more productive and climate-resilient agriculture.
More than one hundred experts from the primary sector, public sector representatives, academics, and agronomy students gathered at the 16th Conference of the Fertiberia Chair in Agro-Environmental Studies, held at ETSIAAB (School of Agricultural, Food and Biosystems Engineering) of the Technical University of Madrid. The aim: to address one of the European Union’s most pressing challenges—ensuring healthy soils to achieve productive and climate-resilient agriculture.
The opening session featured Elena Busutil, Director of Agricultural Productions and Markets at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; Óscar García, Rector of the Technical University of Madrid; José Manuel Palacios, Director of ETSIAAB; and Luis Sánchez, Sector Head at the Soil Mission of the Directorate-General for Agriculture of the European Commission. Representing Fertiberia were Alfredo Segura, Fertilizers Sales Director, and Javier Brañas, Director of R&D&I at the Group. Both emphasized the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors to meet the EU’s environmental goals.
Soil health has become a strategic priority in Europe, in the face of climate change and food security challenges. Initiatives such as the FAO’s International Year of Soils and the European Commission’s “Mission Soil” play a crucial role in highlighting and raising awareness about the urgent need to preserve this vital resource at all levels. In this context, research and innovation are key to developing solutions that regenerate soils, protect biodiversity, and boost agricultural productivity without harming the environment.
The fertilizer sector is already prioritizing several actions, including the development of high-value, biotechnology-based products that enhance soil performance without damaging ecosystems, the exploration of more environmentally friendly production methods, and the application of new technologies and data to monitor crop development in real time.
The event, hosted and moderated by economic journalist Luis Montoto, also featured presentations by Carlos García Izquierdo, research professor at CEBAS-CSIC, who discussed increasing carbon content in agricultural soils, and Cristina Cruz, professor at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, who spoke about the importance of the soil microbiome.
The discussion continued with four additional presentations:
- Khalid Akdi Elaroussi, General Manager of TRICHODEX, focused on soil regeneration and the microbiome’s role in agricultural resilience.
- Rocío Vilches, from the Subdirectorate General for Environmental Health and Occupational Health at the Ministry of Health, discussed microbial-based fertilizers and data requirements from a human health perspective.
- Soledad Sacristán Benayas, associate professor at the Technical University of Madrid, explored the diverse functions of endophytic fungi, from growth promotion to biocontrol.
- Finally, Javier López Navas, Head of Agrotech Operations at EOSOL, presented how the company has digitized Spain’s soils using artificial intelligence and over 50 years of soil analysis.
The event concluded with remarks by Augusto Arce, Director of the Chair, who delivered an optimistic and determined message that reflected a shared commitment to taking effective action to care for our soils. This annual conference, now in its 16th edition, continues to stand out as a vital platform for collaboration, debate, and innovation in shaping a more environmentally sustainable agricultural future.
