MODSOIL

Title: Expert system for monitoring risks in agriculture and adapting conservative agricultural technologies to climate change 

Acronym: MODSOIL

Objectives:

The aim of the project is to implement a sustainable and economically efficient agriculture system, adapted to climate change through an expert system of pedo-climate monitoring in the Transylvanian Depression.

Expected results:

The expected effects focus on the management of the agricultural system, conservation and sustainable use of soil and water resources in the context of global climate change, by implementing new agricultural technologies, efficient, conservative and adapted to local pedo-climatic conditions. Realization of an original product - an expert system (functional model) for monitoring and real-time forecasting of climate risks (by modernizing 20 existing stations and installing another 10 stations in the Somesan Plateau), taking into account weather forecasts, able to forecast periods of climatic anomalies for different agricultural crops. In order to warn farmers and correctly predict the need to combat climate risks, the program will be adapted based on applied research conducted with conservative technologies and specific adaptation measures, within a representative agricultural enterprise for this area.

Description:

The applied research carried out within the project is based on the current situation in agriculture in the Transylvanian Depression, where due to inadequate arable land systems, a series of negative aspects were reached regarding: soil fertility, quantity and quality of yields, climate change, the quality of the landscape and the environment. Obtaining top scientific and technological results, globally competitive, by the team proposing the project, member of the European Platform "Modeling European Agriculture with Climate Change for Food Security" (MACSUR: http: //www.macsur.eu), through international involvement, it is the most appropriate means of combating climate anomalies, adapting to the phenomenon of desertification, sequestering carbon in the soil and streamlining the agricultural system. The project capitalizes on the research results of the Center for Minimum Systems and Sustainable Agricultural Technologies (SMTAD) Research, as well as those of a Collaboration Agreement with Louisiana State University (USA). The research program carried out, started in 2008, is the first large-scale work to monitor the thermal and hydric regimes of soils (temperature, humidity, precipitation) in the Transylvanian Plain, through 20 microstations, which is a premiere for Romanian science. Through this research, 2 doctoral theses were completed (in the USA and Romania). Another 2 doctoral topics are being developed on this research program and 5 research projects have been submitted, at national and international level.

The project will be completed by patenting 3 conservative agricultural technologies as viable, efficient and realistic alternatives to the conventional agriculture system, currently practiced. Their elaboration and modeling is done by patenting an expert system (functional model) for risk monitoring.

The project ensures farmers access to sustainable agricultural technologies (efficient and conservative) appropriate to the pedo-climatic and socio-economic conditions of the Transylvanian Depression, within the measures recommended by the EU for adaptation to climate change: land quality assessment and specialized audit to optimize applied technology ; implementation of conservative technologies; experimental development and patenting of at least 3 conservative technologies and 1 expert risk monitoring system. The project has a major socio-economic impact, involving 2 universities, 1 research station, 1 agricultural company, 1 private research and development company, anchored in a strong international research and development network.

Funding programme: PNIII

Project duration: 36 months

Partners:

• CO: University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj (USAMV Cluj)
• P1: Turda Agricultural Research and Development Station (SCDA Turda)
• P2: University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Bucharest (USAMV Bucharest)
• P3: SC Nora Ly Agroserv SRL Viisoara, Cluj County
• P4: SC Holisun SRL Baia Mare