Sofia Corticeiro, a researcher at CESAM/DAO, took part in the Antena 1 programme “90 Seconds of Science”, where she presented the TERRASAFE project, an initiative aimed at empowering local communities to combat desertification. The researcher highlighted the importance of addressing this phenomenon in an integrated manner, considering environmental, social and economic aspects.
TERRASAFE brings together four companies with experience and innovative solutions targeted at mitigating desertification. These solutions will be developed and evaluated within the project so that they can be made available as useful and applicable resources for local communities.
To test and implement these approaches, four pilot areas were selected: southern Spain (Murcia region), Romania, Cyprus and Tunisia. In these locations, solutions focused on soil recovery and crop improvement will be applied. In parallel, the project also includes a research component dedicated to the social aspects of desertification, with the goal of identifying key factors that influence population retention in affected regions.
TERRASAFE is funded under the Soil Mission and represents a relevant contribution to advancing knowledge and mitigation practices related to desertification, actively involving local communities and stakeholders.
Original publication: 90segundosdeciencia, 13 November 2025