Etelvina Figueira, researcher at CESAM and faculty member of the Department of Biology, as Principal Investigator, Adelaide Almeida, researcher at CESAM and professor in the Department of Biology, Adília Pires and Paulo Cardoso, researchers at CESAM/DBio, took part in the SoloC+ project — Development of solutions to increase the resilience of agricultural soils to climate change in the Central Region, an initiative led by the Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra that brought together a multidisciplinary consortium to address the growing challenges facing the agricultural sector.
In a context marked by rising temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns, and the scarcity and increasing cost of synthetic fertilisers, the SoloC+ project aimed to ensure the fertility of agricultural soils through the adoption of sustainable practices and solutions based on the circular economy, promoting agricultural systems that are more resilient to climate change.
Launched in February 2022 and completed in 2025, the project began by identifying five structural problems common to many agricultural systems in Portugal: low soil organic matter content; loss of fertility and increased nutrient leaching; excess phosphorus with low availability to plants, contributing to eutrophication; intensive pesticide use with negative impacts on ecosystems; inefficiency of traditional irrigation techniques, such as furrow irrigation; and difficulties in maintaining pasture fertility.
Based on this diagnosis, SoloC+ implemented a set of innovative solutions, including the application of biochar and organic compounds, the introduction of legumes, the use of phosphorus-solubilising bacteria, and the creation of Living Labs on agricultural farms, where good practices were tested and demonstrated under real conditions.
Aligned with the action lines of the Climate Change Adaptation Programme and supported by the Recovery and Resilience Plan, through the Terra Futura agenda – Research and innovation agenda for the sustainability of agriculture, food and agro-industry [Innovation Agenda for Agriculture 20|30], the project received funding of more than €650,000.
The UA team involved included, in addition to CESAM/DBio researchers, Carla Patinha from GEOBIOTEC and several students from Rhizolab. Together with the other project partners, one greenhouse trial and four field trials were carried out between 2022 and 2025.
These trials enabled the selection of phosphorus-solubilising bacterial strains and consortia, with maize productivity increases of up to 20% being recorded. With a strong applied research component, the project demonstrated the potential of bacterial bioinoculants as a strategy to enhance soil fertility, optimise water use, and reduce environmental impacts.
The SoloC+ project thus highlighted the contribution of scientific research to the development of sustainable solutions in the agricultural sector, promoting adaptation to climate change, efficiency of production systems, and the valorisation of agricultural sustainability.
Original news published in: Notícias UA, 22 December 2025