DSpace Collection:

MED: Looking Back, Moving Forward

2026-06-05T10:28:33Z

Title: MED: Looking Back, Moving Forward Authors: Pedroso, Nuno; Eufrázio, Sofia; Gomes, Luis Editors: Baptista, Fátima; Romano, Anabela; Vicente, Cláudia; Lamy, Elsa; Gomes, Luis; Duarte, Fátima; Pedroso, Nuno; Lourenço, Rui; Eufrázio, Sofia; Filipe, Susana Abstract: Since its creation in 2020, the MED – Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development – has consolidated its identity as a multidisciplinary research centre connecting nature, food and people. This presentation provides an integrated overview of MED’s evolution, major achievements, internal restructuring, and strategic vision for the next funding cycle. Between 2020 and 2024, MED grew to 410 members and delivered substantial scientific output, with 1,150 publications, active participation in 186 national and international projects, and a strong presence in science communication, knowledge transfer and policy impact, supported by its role within the CHANGE Associated Laboratory. Structural reorganisations — including the creation of new Thematic Lines, Research Groups and the MEDULLA data management system — strengthened internal governance and scientific coherence. Key challenges remain, notably human-resource retention, administrative constraints, and the need to increase success in competitive funding. Looking ahead, MED aims to deepen problem-solving-oriented research, enhance internationalisation, integrate Artificial Intelligence into science management, and reinforce its role in Mediterranean agroecosystems, ecological restoration, soil health, water efficiency and sustainable food systems. By combining interdisciplinary research with stakeholder engagement, informing public policies through scientific evidence, and promoting open-science practices, MED positions itself as a reference institution for resilient, sustainable and climate-adapted agroecosystems.

How sheep perceptions of foodscapes determine grazing at patch scale? ask the animals

2026-02-19T12:00:07Z

Title: How sheep perceptions of foodscapes determine grazing at patch scale? ask the animals Authors: Sales-Baptista, Elvira; Ferraz-de-Oliveira, Isabel; Marques, Tiago; Pinto-Correia, Teresa Abstract: A landscape is a vision of features of a particular area from a certain perspective. Mimicking that concept, foodscapes are feeding scenarios, where the perception of the value of food overcomes the amount, location, color, or form of a food item. In a foodscape context the role of the consumer is also acknowledged, meaning that it is recognized that the hedonic value of a food item is context dependent. We hypothesize that structure of intake will change according with the feeding context, provided by environmental conditions (considered here as both meteorological and vegetation variables). For example, we hypothesize that forage mass will have a positive correlation with bout duration. Our objective was to capture time- and scale-dependent grazing behaviour variables, and to determine how environmental conditions correlated with grazing behaviour. More sensitive variables could be further explored to test their potential value to act as proxyindicators for foodscapes dimensions. We used fifteen Merino Preto sheep (69.8 kg ± 1.7 kg live-weight), of which five ewes carried animalborne point-of-view (POV) cameras (GoPRo Inc., San Mateo, CA, USA) to observe the sward ‘‘through” the sheep’s eyes. Video sequences ( 290 h) were analyzed with an event-logging software for video coding observations (BORIS). Recorded grazing behaviour was split up in meal, bout and station patterns and related with locations of animals in the sward (at site, patch and niche level), using a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) precision-grazing approach (Mr. Lee CatTrack, Catnip Technologies Limited, Anderson, SC, USA). In order to potentiate food choices, we used a Mediterranean naturally-occurring mixed sward with high plant diversity, along 11 weeks of the active spring plant-growth cycle. Grazing variables (duration, frequency, rate), and environmental variables (sward structure, sward nutritive value, sward botanical composition, meteorological variables) were measured. Pearson correlations and simultaneous multiple-regression analysis were used as a synthesis and exploratory analysis (Graphpad Prism, version 8.4.2). Meal duration was the most responsive behavioural variable identified (significantly correlated with 5 of the 8 meteorological variables and with 3 pasture variables (e.g., 0.84 for forage mass P < 0.001). In contrast to meal pattern, the bout pattern was not influenced by temperature and relative humidity, but sward botanical composition, namely the proportion of forbs, significantly affected bout size (0.74; P < 0.01). Crude protein and neutral detergent fiber significantly correlate with interbout interval (0.77 and 0.68, respectively; P < 0.001). In the station pattern, only the preference for grasses was negatively correlated with the sward proportion of grasses ( 0.98; P < 0.001). We concluded that approaching consumer-food interactions as foodscapes is a promising systemic tool to address grazing ecosystems sustainability issues. By simultaneously assessing the food environment and their impact on structure of intake, indicators such as meal duration can be applied to other systems. Funding: FCT_Project_UIDB/05183/2020.

Building resilient Mediterranean Silvopastoral Systems: Lessons from Iberian Dehesas and Montados

2026-02-19T11:56:42Z

Title: Building resilient Mediterranean Silvopastoral Systems: Lessons from Iberian Dehesas and Montados Authors: Moreno, Gerardo; Ferraz-de-Oliveira, Isabel; Pinto-Correia, Teresa Abstract: Building resilient Mediterranean Silvopastoral Systems: Lessons from Iberian Dehesas and Montados

Tenderloin and fat quality of Portuguese local Alentejano pigs submitted to different immunocastration protocols

2026-02-19T11:55:41Z

Title: Tenderloin and fat quality of Portuguese local Alentejano pigs submitted to different immunocastration protocols Authors: Martins, José Manuel; Malhadas, L.; Albuquerque, A.; Neves, J.; Hernández-Garcia, F.; Izquierdo, M.; Charneca, R. Abstract: The Alentejano (AL) pig, a traditional Portuguese breed, is highly valued for its premium meat products bearing PDO and PGI labels. These animals are typically raised under extensive conditions, reaching advanced ages and high body weights at slaughter. Surgical castration of males has been a common practice to prevent boar taint, an undesirable trait affecting sensory meat quality. However, with the potential prohibition by the European Union of this method, alternative methods must be considered. Immunocastration (IMC) is a promising option, although its application in extensively reared Alentejano pigs and its impact on meat quality requires further clarification.