SOLVO´s idea is to engineer nature-based solutions combining mulch with biochar to produce immediate effect on the farm system. Mulch-based solutions will also promote circular economy since olive residues will represent a new resource instead of an often-economic burden. 

SOLVO is a collaboration between the University of Evora, the University of Aveiro, and Instituto Politecnico de Beija.

We hypothesise that a site-specific combination of biochar, nutrient-packed legumes and deep-rooting perennial crops can represent a win-win-win scenario to simultaneously restore soil habitat function, support livestock, enhance climate adaptation and C sequestration in non-irrigated pastures, as a proof-of-concept. 

PASTURE+ relies on interdisciplinary collaborations within four of CESAM’s research groups (RG), as well as with Harper-Adams University (HAU, UK) and the award-winning Portuguese company Terraprima.

SOILSPONGE breaks new ground by studying the effects of biochar on total soil water storage (sponge function) at the slope scale and 2 modelling scales (catchment, water scarcity footprint). 

SOILSPONGE is an interdisciplinary collaboration combining researchers in soil structure, moisture and organic matter dynamics, environmental biology, chemistry, spatiotemporal modelling, life cycle analysis and C footprints within CESAM, as well as vital consultants from Harper-Adams University (HAU, UK), civil engineering from the University of Aveiro, and the award-winning Portuguese company Terraprima.