CESAM celebrated World Soil Day on December 5th at 2:30 p.m. with a scientific session held in the Auditorium of the Department of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and Tourism (DEGEIT) at the University of Aveiro. The initiative aligned with the FAO’s theme for 2025, “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities,” highlighting the importance of soil health for urban sustainability and resilience.
The event was organized by Susana Loureiro, CESAM researcher and professor at the Department of Biology, and Sofia Corticeiro, CESAM/DAO researcher. The session took place within the activities of the RC2 Research Cluster – Soil Functions, Agriculture and Forestry, coordinated by Susana Loureiro with Sofia Corticeiro as Vice-Coordinator. This cluster focuses on understanding the ecological and biogeochemical processes of soil, on developing sustainable practices for the agricultural and forestry sectors, and on promoting resilient and environmentally responsible production systems.
The celebration underscored the relevance of soil as an essential resource for environmental balance, quality of life, and sustainable development in urban areas. Soil degradation and loss of soil quality are growing challenges, especially in territories under urban and agricultural pressure, reinforcing the need for a multidisciplinary scientific approach and integrated management of this resource.
The programme included a broad set of scientific presentations from various Research Units of the University of Aveiro, addressing current and emerging topics in soil sciences. Highlights included: nature-based solutions to improve soil health in the context of the upcoming European Soil Monitoring Directive, presented by Sara Peixoto (CESAM/DBIO); research on agricultural-based bioplastics designed to return safely to soil environments, presented by Idalina Gonçalves (CICECO/DEMAC); and the characterization of potentially toxic elements in rice paddy soils of the Baixo Vouga Lagunar, presented by Nuno Durães (GEOBIOTEC/DGEO). Additional contributions included Miguel Viegas (DEGEIT) on European agricultural policies, Margarida Pinho Lopes (CERIS/DCIVIL) on soil sustainability from a civil engineering perspective, and Ana Rita Rodrigues (DAO), who presented the Curiosoil project focused on soil literacy. The session also included an exhibition of paintings by primary school children from CIAQ, developed within the Curiosoil project, as well as a coffee break that promoted interaction among participants.
The event concluded with a roundtable discussion dedicated to the new European Soil Monitoring Directive and the role of higher education institutions in promoting healthy soils in urban environments, moderated by Ana Quintela (RAIZ), followed by the closing of the session at 5:30 p.m.
The initiative reinforces CESAM’s commitment to promoting scientific knowledge, facilitating knowledge transfer to society, and raising awareness of the need to preserve one of the most fundamental resources for the sustainability of cities and the planet.