Caixa Crédito Agrícola Awards Ceremony

The month of June ended with the Caixa Crédito Agrícola Awards Ceremony. 🤩

CITAB researchers Sílvia Afonso and Teresa Freitas were awarded in the category of best PhD theses in the area of Agricultural Sciences! 🏅

With a PhD in Agronomic and Forestry Sciences. As part of the COACLIMATERISK project, Teresa did her doctoral thesis entitled "Study of climate change impacts and the adaptation measures in agricultural, chestnut and almond species, in Portuguese territory".

Due to the increasing variation in climate patterns, the need arose to assess their impacts on chestnut and almond trees. Two agricultural crops of great cultural, environmental and social importance in the Trás-os-Montes region.

The study began with a detailed analysis of the climatic conditions in which these species grow, the main challenges already identified and the adaptation measures currently in place. Based on this framework, two practical studies were carried out.

In the case of the chestnut tree, the bioclimatic conditions of mainland Portugal were analysed in order to identify the species' suitability for development. The analysis, using historical climate data and future projections, revealed that as the temperature increases and rainfall decreases, the areas favourable to chestnut growth tend to shrink significantly.

About the almond tree, the study centred on assessing the thermal conditions that influence two crucial phases of its development, the resting phase and the vegetative growth phase. As the temperature rises, these phases can be accelerated, jeopardising the health and productivity of the plant and the quality of the fruit.

The main aim of these studies is to provide useful tools for land planning and the sustainable management of agricultural crops. By better understanding the evolution of the climate, it is possible to make more informed decisions and anticipate the challenges facing the agricultural sector.

Congratulations, Sílvia and Teresa!