EXCALIBUR: Exploiting the multifunctional potential of belowground biodiversity in horticultural farming

Expedito Olimi

Research output: Contribution to conferencePoster

Abstract

Soil is a complex living entity and is considered the prime capital and wealth of mankind, through provision of the soil ecosystem services which are also critical for all life sustenance. As a result, EXCALIBUR, a project funded via Horizon 2020, the EU framework program for research and innovation, was formulated to support these much-needed soil services. The main goal of this project is to exploit the multifunctional potential of belowground biodiversity in horticultural farming (using three model crops: tomatoes, apple, and strawberry), in different experimental and open-field conditions across Europe, and to monitor the feedback effect of/or native biodiversity. In addition, a comprehensive soil management strategy to improve the effectiveness of biocontrol and bio-fertilization practices will be developed. The project is divided into six work packages (WPs) that cover a diverse community of partners from various EU member states. Comprehensive analyses of plant-soil-microbe interaction mechanisms driving plant response to biotic/abiotic stress and crop production (WP5); development of new agro-ecological practices at the farm level (WP3) and on the technological level in the organic fertilizer/pesticide industry (WP2) constitute some of the working packages. Other WPs include integrating project results into a broader research context of social, economic, and economic and environmental assessment (WP1, WP3, and WP6); development of innovative biodiversity-driven soil management options that serve as sustainable agroecological prototypes for enhancing the efficacy and application of biocontrol and bio fertilization practices in horticultural farming by utilizing native biodiversity at various scales (WP1,WP3,WP4); and enhancing the formulations of already available beneficial strains with different bio-effectors or bio-inocula for the selected cropping systems (WP2). This project is in its third year of operation, and results are promising.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 22 Apr 2022
EventClosure ceremony of LANDSUPPORT Project - University of Naples Federico II in Portici, Naples, Italy
Duration: 27 Apr 202228 Apr 2022

Workshop

WorkshopClosure ceremony of LANDSUPPORT Project
Country/TerritoryItaly
CityNaples
Period27/04/2228/04/22

Keywords

  • soil biodiversity
  • bio-fertilization
  • horticultural farming systems
  • soil management
  • biocontrol

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