The ClimateSmartAdvisors project, funded by the Horizon Europe programme, of which CONSULAI is a partner, focuses on empowering agricultural advisory technicians to promote the Climate Smart Farming* approach.

CONSULAI, as a partner of this consortium present in 27 European countries, leads the work package focused on collaborations with projects, european initiatives and political representatives, and also coordinates the first Portuguese Community of Practice (CoP), centred on Water Management in Almond Groves.

The ClimateSmartAdvisors project promotes collaborative action in adapting the agricultural sector to climate change, emphasizing that this transition depends not only on farmers but also on other stakeholders, as agricultural advisory technicians. 

One of the main tools of the project is the creation of Communities of Practice (CoP), a group of agricultural advisory technicians that meets regularly to discuss a topic of common interest, developing their knowledge and skills in delivering climate-smart services. 

In Portugal, this CoP will consist of CONSULAI, Centro Operativo e de Tecnologia de Regadio (COTR), Instituto Superior de Agronomia da Universidade de Lisboa (ISA), Hidrosoph, Trevo, Rota Única, and SySmart, and will focus on water management in almond orchards in the Alentejo region. Almond production has been substantially increasing in Portugal, and there is a growing need to develop management practices to maximize yield while adapting to the impacts of climate change. 

The activities of the CoP began on September 17, with a meeting organized by COTR and CONSULAI centred on the theme “optimizing irrigation in almond orchards, focusing on irrigation needs and the equipment used.” 

For more information about this and other activities or results of the project, at the national or European level, please visit the Climate Smart Advisors website: https://climatesmartadvisors.eu/

*The concept of “Climate Smart Farming” aims to sustainably increase the productivity and income of agricultural and forestry producers by implementing measures that reduce or eliminate the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) and promote resilience, adaptation, and mitigation of farming operations in response to the effects of climate change. 

 

 

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them.