Science & Society
Partneships
The Mértola Biological Station and Territorial Partnerships
CARES- Centre for Agroecology and Regeneration for the Semiarid”
In a context of high aridity and susceptibility to desertification, the Centre for Agroecology and Regeneration for the Semiarid (CARES), a project by the Terra Sintrópica Association, aims to facilitate the construction and sharing of knowledge about agroecological practices in a semiarid context, assuming the sustainability of the agri-food system as the matrix for the biophysical and socioeconomic regeneration of the territory.
Positioning itself as an agroecological lighthouse farm, CARES seeks to accelerate the innovation and adoption of more sustainable practices, involving farmers and other stakeholders in the joint development of solutions, considering the specificities of agricultural systems and their adaptation to local conditions.
CARES regularly hosts children, youth, and adults interested in learning more about the principles that enable the design and management of sustainable agroecosystems, as well as a network of volunteers from different geographical areas who contribute to co-creating and disseminating reflections and practices, acknowledging the interconnectedness of local and global spheres. It also partners with various national and international research centres to monitor the biophysical and socioeconomic components associated with the agri-food system and their interrelationships.
CARES also aims to disseminate this knowledge to the community and farmers from other regions, helping them build the foundation for an agricultural strategy aligned with climate change mitigation actions, natural heritage valorisation, and integrated and sustainable management of soils and water resources.
More than conventional models of landscape protection or land use, CARES seeks the simultaneous integration of productive and regenerative components, based on innovative principles, techniques, and practices – such as agroforestry succession (syntrophic model) – whose theoretical-practical understanding needs urgent promotion.
For more information and contacts about the project, visit here.
CARES Social Media: Facebook
Contact: Email: centrodeagroecologia@terrasintropica.com
Do you have collaboration proposals or projects you would like to develop?
Contact us at ebm@ebmertola.pt