Climate-Smart Agriculture in a Changing World
▶Summary
Climate change, a complex global issue rooted in centuries of human impact, disproportionately affects ecologically fragile regions, especially in Southern Europe. Mediterranean ecosystems—particu...
▶Objectives
The CarboNostrum project developed an innovative blended course designed to equip learners with the necessary knowledge, skills, and responsibility and autonomy to actively promote climate-smart agriculture and sustainable practices tailored to Mediterranean cultural and environmental conditions. By empowering smallholder, young, and new farmers, as well as stakeholders and policymakers, the project fosters sustainable, climate-resilient development in the agricultural sector. The CarboNostrum Handbook compiles best practices for climate-smart agriculture, while a Battery of 10 case studies (ebook and films) across Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, and Turkey—plus an additional study in Turkey - offers practical insights. Additionally, the project established the CarboNostrum HUB as a knowledge center, providing access to the previously mentioned products, as well as displaying the WebGIS that provides easy to visualize geographic information to all farmers, allowing informed decisions when implementing projects aimed at climate change mitigation and adaptation in Mediterranean ecosystems. Through these resources, stakeholders are supported in developing practices that balance local traditions with modern climate needs.
▶Activities
In our project, we implemented diverse activities to facilitate knowledge transfer and skill-building among participants. We developed a theoretical framework on sustainable agriculture (PR1) using fieldwork, research, and networking; compiled case studies demonstrating climate-smart agricultural practices (PR2); and created an engaging blended learning course to enable rapid knowledge sharing, with theoretical and practical content, on which one of the modules was lectured face-to-face in Thessaloniki, Greece. The activities, in general, increased our trainees' capacity for dealing with their day-to-day problems, in which they learned climate-smart agriculture practices to tackle specific problems. This applies to both target-groups (PR3). Additionally, we launched a Web-GIS platform (PR4) to present project resources interactively and support self-learning. The platform also presents vital information on climate and biophysical factors affecting the carbon cycle, facilitating visualization of the geographic information to all farmers, allowing informed decisions when implementing projects aimed at climate change mitigation and adaptation in Mediterranean ecosystems. The project included effective management of workflows, transnational meetings, and learning events, alongside a pilot course. For outreach, we hosted multiplier events, such as workshops, webinars, and a final conference, supported by a targeted communication campaign. The final international conference took place in Odemira, Portugal, on May 28th, at Cineteatro Camacho Costa. We also translated materials in the languages of the partnership, maintained an updated website and social media presence, and issued newsletters to keep stakeholders informed. Our impact and sustainability strategy ensured that project outcomes reached target groups, stakeholders, and policymakers, fulfilling our mission with collaborative and interdisciplinary efforts.
▶Impact
The CarboNostrum project produced several concrete outputs and impactful results. Among these was the CarboNostrum Handbook, which provides a comprehensive theoretical framework on sustainable agriculture aimed at strengthening climate resilience, which it’s published on the CarboNostrum website, in an ebook version. This handbook includes a Best Practice Guide, offering diverse land management practices that enhance soil health, capture carbon, and support adaptation to climate challenges. It was crafted using insights from desk research, expert interviews, and focus groups, and delivered as an accessible material that gathers some of the best practices on climate-smart agriculture designed to be applied in explorations in Mediterranean ecosystems. We also developed the CarboNostrum Battery of Case Studies, a collection of real-world examples from each partner country, highlighting effective climate-smart agricultural practices and documenting their practical impacts, benefits, and limitations. These case studies serve as valuable models for climate adaptation across various agricultural settings. The CarboNostrum Course was another significant outcome, providing a blended learning experience that combines theory with hands-on practice. Covering themes such as climate change impacts in the Mediterranean, soil carbon management, and the role of traditional agricultural knowledge, the course is supported by multimedia resources for both classroom and online learning. Lastly, the CarboNostrum HUB was established as an interactive Web-GIS platform, hosting all project tools, resources, and learning materials. With tailored sections for both professionals and learners, the HUB uses visual, audio, and text-based features to create a motivating and collaborative learning environment. These outputs collectively offer a strong foundation for promoting climate-smart agriculture in Mediterranean ecosystems.