MAXI-CoberLEG
Maxi Coberleg Maximising Benefits Cover Crops Through Winter Legume Species Selection
Total cost € 598 609.00 EU contribution € 473 114.00 Funding Programme CAP 2023-2027

This project emerges as a public-private partnership between partners with recognized technical capacity and extensive experience in different sectors of the agri-food chain, enabling the creation of links between knowledge and cutting-edge technologies among farmers, researchers, companies, and communication services. To achieve the objectives set, MAXi-CoberLEG will implement a methodology based on the analysis of the potential results (R) obtained in each project activity by all partners and immediately transferred to the industrial sector for optimization for end-users, thus generating a cross-cutting view of the results. This initiative responds to a comprehensive approach that combines aspects of agrodiversity, genetic improvement, physiology, production, and plant quality, and links them to the techno-economic demands and preferences of both producers and end consumers, in order to improve the competitiveness of a key export sector for the Spanish agri-food economy through R&D&I actions.
- Evaluation of the adaptation of native lipin varieties;
- Contextualisation of environmental and soil conditions - farm selection and experimental design of plots;  
- Identification of the health problem;
- Selection of plant species/lupine varieties: viability, adaptability and productivity tests;          
- Assesment of resilience in the agroecosystem of vegetable covers;       
- Evaluate the evolution of the cover in microplot trials: measurement of biomass, yield and phenological state of lupine;    
- Evaluation of pest incidence in microplot trials;
- Assessment of the benefits on the soil of the effect of vegetable cover;      
- Analysis of soil properties;           
- Effect of cover on soil moisture;
- Initial state of the microbiome;     
- Evaluate the development of the soil microbiota;     
- Healthier diets from the use of vegetable covers in citrus; 
- Evaluate the quality and production of the fruit;  
- Analysis of metabolites (Metabolomics Platform);
- Study the interaction between plant cover (biological control, soil quality and health, and microbiota) with fruit quality.

Thematic areas

Biodiversity

Project contribution to Mission Soil’s:

Specific objectives

  • 1. Reduce land degradation relating to desertification
    Not targeted
  • 2. Conserve and increase soil organic carbon stocks
    Not targeted
  • 3. No net soil sealing and increase the reuse of urban soils
    Not targeted
  • 4. Reduce soil pollution and enhance restoration
    Not targeted
  • 5. Prevent erosion
    Not targeted
  • 6. Improve soil structure to enhance habitat quality for soil biota and crops
    Partially targeted
  • 7. Reduce the EU global footprint on soils
    Not targeted
  • 8. Increase soil literacy in society across Member States
    Not targeted

Operational objectives

  • 1. Build capacities and the knowledge base for soil stewardship
    Not targeted
  • 2. Co-create and upscale place-based innovations to improve soil health in all places
    Not targeted
  • 3. Develop an integrated EU soil monitoring system and track progress towards soil health
    Not targeted
  • 4. Engage with the soil user community and society at large
    Not targeted

Innovation hotspots

  • 1. Carbon farming
    Not targeted
  • 2. Soil pollution and restoration
    Not targeted
  • 3. Soil biodiversity including the microbiome
    Targeted
  • 4. Circular economy solutions
    Not targeted

Cross-cutting dimensions

  • 1. Business
    Partially targeted
  • 2. Digital
    Not targeted
  • 3. Territorial
    Not targeted
  • 4. International
    Not targeted

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