The CarboNostrum project developed an innovative blended course designed to equip learners with the necessary knowledge, skills, and responsibility and autonomy to actively promote climate-smart agriculture and sustainable practices tailored to Mediterranean cultural and environmental conditions. By empowering smallholder, young, and new farmers, as well as stakeholders and policymakers, the project fosters sustainable, climate-resilient development in the agricultural sector. The CarboNostrum Handbook compiles best practices for climate-smart agriculture, while a Battery of 10 case studies (ebook and films) across Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, and Turkey—plus an additional study in Turkey - offers practical insights. Additionally, the project established the CarboNostrum HUB as a knowledge center, providing access to the previously mentioned products, as well as displaying the WebGIS that provides easy to visualize geographic information to all farmers, allowing informed decisions when implementing projects aimed at climate change mitigation and adaptation in Mediterranean ecosystems. Through these resources, stakeholders are supported in developing practices that balance local traditions with modern climate needs.
Climate change, a complex global issue rooted in centuries of human impact, disproportionately affects ecologically fragile regions, especially in Southern Europe. Mediterranean ecosystems—particularly in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, and Turkey—face unique vulnerabilities due to long, dry summers and intense autumn rainfall, causing severe soil erosion on already nutrient-poor soils. Historical policies promoting agricultural intensification on these lands have compounded degradation, creating significant challenges for smallholder farmers who now face heightened risks of desertification, reduced yields, and increased maintenance costs. This project addressed the critical needs of Mediterranean smallholder farmers by focusing on soil conservation and desertification reduction, which are essential to sustaining agriculture in the region. Our efforts helped counteract the negative legacy of past policies and promote climate-smart practices to improve the quality and productivity, reduce operational costs, and enhance soil resilience, prioritizing long-term economic sustainability for smallholder farmers in this vulnerable region.