CONSULAI organised, between September and December 2025, a series of three webinars within the framework of the European project NUTRI-CHECK NET, bringing together more than 200 participants and engaging stakeholders from across the agri-food value chain, including farmers, sectoral associations, technology companies, and education and research institutions. CONSULAI is responsible for the communication and dissemination of this European project and also coordinates the network of Portuguese farmers and experts in crop fertilisation for wheat, maize, and potatoes. 

Designed to evolve progressively across the sessions, the webinar series addressed the digitalisation of agricultural practices, the interconnections between crop nutrition and crop protection, and finally soil regeneration, reinforcing the importance of agriculture that combines technology, science, and sustainable on-farm practices. The three webinars were moderated by CONSULAI’s Research and Innovation team, represented by consultant Beatriz Almeida. 

The first webinar opened the series with a reflection on the growing role of digitalisation in agriculture, focusing on the use of drones to optimise fertilisation strategies. Following the presentation of the NUTRI-CHECK NET project by Guilherme Silva (CONSULAI), contributions were made by experts Luís Conceição (IPPortalegre), who addressed the technical foundations and applications of drones in precision agriculture; Bernardo Sousa (FieldAirTech), who explored the challenges and opportunities of providing drone-based services; and José Azoia (EGOCULTUM), who shared the practical perspective of a farmer using these technologies in everyday farm management. The session highlighted the contribution of data generated by digital tools to more efficient and evidence-based fertilisation. 

In the second webinar, organised in collaboration with PORBATATA, the series explored the relationship between nutrition, microbiology, and potato crop protection, highlighting soil as a central element of productivity. This webinar began with an opening session by Catarina Pereira (PORBATATA), followed by the project presentation by CONSULAI. The panel of speakers then brought together Artur Amaral (ESAS), who addressed sustainable potato nutrition practices; Pablo Pereira (INIAV), who explained the role of soil microbiology in nutrient efficiency; Márcia de Castro Silva (INIAV), who highlighted challenges associated with Phytophthora infestans; and João Militão (Pelarigo), who presented soil preparation practices for crop establishment. This diversity of contributions demonstrated how innovation emerges from the combination of science, good agronomic practices, and ecosystem knowledge. 

The series concluded with a third webinar, organised in partnership with ANPROMIS, during the week of World Soil Day, reinforcing the central role of soil health in agricultural sustainability. The session was opened by Tiago Silva Pinto (ANPROMIS) and included a presentation of the project by Beatriz Cardoso (CONSULAI). The panel addressed challenges and opportunities in maize fertilisation and regenerative agriculture, with contributions from Cristina Cruz (FCUL), who highlighted the importance of soil life; Marco Morais (ANPIFERT), who presented current challenges in maize fertilisation; André Antunes (Consultant), who shared good regenerative agriculture practices; and Henrique Cordeiro (AGRO MILHAFRES), who presented the practical case of BEL in the Azores. The final discussion reinforced the cross-cutting message of the three sessions: productive resilience depends on the integration of technology, soil science, regenerative practices, and knowledge sharing among the different actors in the sector. 

By linking themes, crops such as maize, wheat, and potatoes, and different approaches, this webinar series contributed to the core mission of the NUTRI-CHECK NET project: to promote shared knowledge, harmonisation of practices, and sustainable fertilisation across European farms. The high level of participation and multidisciplinary engagement demonstrates the sector’s commitment to innovative solutions and practices that simultaneously enhance productivity, efficiency, and soil health. 

Recordings of the three webinars are available on the project’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NUTRI-CHECKNET.