The LIFE Agromitiga Project Wins the Award for Best R&D&I Project in the Field of Agri-Food Activity at the XIV ‘Ricardo López Crespo’ Awards of Fundación Caja Rural del Sur

The LIFE Agromitiga project has added another recognition to its track record by being awarded the prize for R&D&I Projects in the Field of Agri-Food Activity at the 14th edition of the ‘Ricardo López Crespo’ Awards, organized by Fundación Caja Rural del Sur. This award joins those recently granted by Diario Córdoba and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development of the Andalusian Regional Government, further consolidating the positive impact of this initiative in the agri-food sector and recognizing the effort and dedication of the project's consortium members.

The Ricardo López Crespo Awards, now in their fourteenth edition, annually honor individuals, companies, and institutions that stand out for their contribution to the economic, social, and cultural development of Andalusia. On this occasion, the jury particularly valued the innovation and commitment to sustainability that characterize the LIFE Agromitiga project, an initiative co-financed by the European Union's LIFE program.

The award ceremony took place on February 5 at the Salón Liceo of the Real Círculo de la Amistad in Córdoba. Jesús Gil Ribes, president of AEACSV, the coordinating entity of the project, received the award on behalf of all consortium members from José Luis García-Palacios Álvarez, president of Caja Rural del Sur and its foundation. This award not only enhances the visibility of LIFE Agromitiga but also highlights the need to continue working towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture.

LIFE Agromitiga, a project co-financed by the European Union's LIFE program, involves several partners, including AEACSV, Asaja Sevilla, the Ministry of Sustainability, Environment, and Blue Economy of the Andalusian Regional Government, the European Federation of Conservation Agriculture, IFAPA, and the University of Córdoba. Its main objective is to promote sustainable agricultural practices that contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the agricultural sector.

Over its four years of implementation, the project has monitored 40 farms located in Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece. The results have been remarkable: soils under Conservation Agriculture practices have sequestered up to 16 times more atmospheric carbon than those managed with conventional agriculture, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20%. Additionally, a mobile application has been developed to estimate soil carbon content and calculate emissions from agricultural operations. Another significant contribution has been the creation of a map detailing soil carbon content in Andalusian agricultural lands.

This recognition not only strengthens the visibility of LIFE Agromitiga but also underscores the need to continue promoting initiatives that combine technological innovation with environmental protection.