1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Interactive Soil Quality assessment in Europe and China for Agricultural productivity and Environmental Resilience (EU-iSQAPER)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Agrochesmistry and Environment Department, University Miguel Hernandez (UMH) - Spain

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

23/03/2017

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

2.1 Short description of the Approach

Generally, this approach aims to encourage sustainable agricultural management in citrus orchards and keep environmental sustainability in the region of Vega Baja, in Alicante province (Spain). This approach is focused on enhancing production in the region and mantaining sustainable soil agricultural management soil to improve product quality.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Water shortage and soil degradation are the two most important environmental problems in the Mediterranean area. Indeed, the problem will increase in the coming decades as a consequence of climate change as a result of a great decrease of precipitation and rising temperatures and increased evapotranspiration.
Thus, it is necessary to resort to strategies aimed at soil and water. Soil degradation is one of the main environmental problems caused, in many cases, by inadequate agricultural management of irrigation with low-quality water. Intensive arable agriculture and semiarid conditions cause a progressive decline in soil organic matter levels and associated soil fertility. In addition, under semi-arid conditions, Mediterranean soils are prone to loss of organic matter; increasing in semi-arid climates result in faster oxidation of organic matter and due the scarcity of rainfall causes vegetation cover to become very sparse. All of this leads to reduced input of organic matter into the soil. Thus, sustainable farming is necessary, e.g. organic fertilization systems have been amply implemented to increase plant productivity, reduce chemical inputs, and increase the sustainability of such agroecosystems. It is thus important to begin using organic inputs, such as manure as a nutrient source for crop production because it is imporant to improve soil organic matter. This would potentially lead to improving soil biology, fertility and physical fertility traits such as soil aggregation, porosity and water retention.
Generally, this approach aims to encourage sustainable agricultural management in citrus orchards and keep environmental sustainability in the region of Vega Baja, in Alicante province (Spain). Its specific objectives are:
(1) to enhance the agricultural production in the region,
(2) to maintain sustainable agricultural management in soil
(3) to improve product quality,
(4) to obtain organic food consumer demand in the country, and
(5) to develop a strong linkage and partnership among local stakeholders and cooperators to protect the resources.

Stages of implementation:
(1) Renting a conventional orchard and changing the agricultural management to include more sustainable practices
(2) Obtaining eco-labelling to sell organic food product in European markets
(3) Constant improvement and maintanence practices to improve soil fertility and productivity
(4) Monitoring and evaluation including operation and maintenance.

Role of stakeholders:
Land user:
1. Teaching other land users.
2. improving the knowledge through consulting IVIA.
3. Seeking advice from a biologist in identifying pests and diseases.

IVIA (Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias)
1. Disseminate results through small formation events.
2. Prepare farmer-led programs to implement soil and water conservation;
3. Provide technical support and assistance in the promotion and dissemination.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.4 Videos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• recent local initiative/ innovative

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The main objective is to obtain more sustainable healthy products with improvements in nutritive quality without chemical substances. The production is certified by Global G.A.P http://www.globalgap.org/es/index.html

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	none	Support on the idea of the implementation of sustainable management
planning	none	The land user planned the establishment of agricultural management by itself.
implementation	none
monitoring/ evaluation	none

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• land users alone (self-initiative)

Specify on what basis decisions were made:

• evaluation of well-documented SLM knowledge (evidence-based decision-making)

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

No

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• on land users' fields

Describe/ comments:

Auditors from Global G.A.P as certifying institution

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, greatly

Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:

• regional

Describe institution, roles and responsibilities, members, etc.

Role of stakeholders: IVIA (Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias)
1. Disseminate results with small formation events. Prepare programs for the implementation of soil and water conservation through the farmers;
2. Provide technical support and assistance in the promotion and dissemination.

Specify type of support:

• capacity building/ training

Give further details:

Role of stakeholders: IVIA (Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias)
1. Disseminate results with small formation events. Prepare programs for the implementation of soil and water conservation through the farmers;
2. Provide technical support and assistance in the promotion and dissemination.

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

Periodical biological control were performed in order to avoid plagues, IVIA controlled the progress of number of farmers adopting this technology.

If yes, is this documentation intended to be used for monitoring and evaluation?

Yes

Comments:

An advisor collect yearly the data of insects in the plot.

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Yes

Specify topics:

• sociology
• ecology
• technology

Give further details and indicate who did the research:

Miguel Hernández University is taking soil sampling in order to know the soil quality of this sustainable agricultural area.

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• 10,000-100,000

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

No

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• none

If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:

• paid in cash

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

5.5 Other incentives or instruments

Were other incentives or instruments used to promote implementation of SLM Technologies?

No

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• yes

If yes, describe how:

The land user can sustain the costs because the lemon price on the market increases thanks to the sustainable certification.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Improvement in soil productivity and fertility
Improvement in soil biodiversity
Soil degradation reduction

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Greater social recognition
Avoiding herbicides and pesticides is beneficial for labour health
Sustainable farming improves the plant function and responser against plagues.

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
Modification in the quantity of manure during the year.	According to the product and soil requirements
Exhaustive control in plagues and pest	Hire an external advisor

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
The implementation process requires an excessive investment of money	Funding is required in this step
Important reliance on weather conditions	Recieve monetary compensation in case of product losses

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

no

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Citrisol S.Coop (farmers association)

URL:

http://citrisol.es/

Title/ description:

Local Newspaper

URL:

http://valenciafruits.com/alicante-campana-de-limon/

Title/ description:

Local newspaper

URL:

http://www.agroinformacion.com/balance-aceptable-la-campana-citricos-alicante-gracias-al-incremento-produccion-precios-estables/