MONALISA Café Talk #1: Microbial Solutions for Sustainable Soil Management
On June 6, 2025, MONALISA launched the first session of its Café Talk series, an informal yet insightful webinar format designed to bring together experts, practitioners, and researchers for open discussions on key challenges and opportunities in sustainable land management.
The debut session, titled “Sustainable Soil Management Practices & Scientific Gaps: Microbial-Based Solutions,” was hosted by Anna Luise and Francesca Assennato from ISPRA, who welcomed two distinguished guests:
- Quirico Migheli, Professor of Plant Pathology and Director of the Desertification Research Center (NRD) at the University of Sassari
- Thierry Heulin, Emeritus Research Director at CNRS/CEA and member of the French Scientific Committee on Desertification
Together, they explored the powerful role of microbial-based solutions in combating land degradation and desertification (LDD), particularly in vulnerable Mediterranean drylands.
The conversation focused on how the natural properties of soil microorganisms can be harnessed to:
- Improve soil structure and stability
- Enhance water retention
- Support plant growth and resilience to drought
- Restore degraded soils and promote carbon sequestration
Despite their potential, the session also highlighted significant scientific gaps in implementing these solutions at scale. Among the key questions discussed:
- Can restoring native microbial communities reverse the impacts of land degradation?
- What are the barriers to wider adoption and what research is still needed?
The speakers brought unique perspectives from both the scientific and policy fronts. Prof. Migheli emphasized the role of biocontrol strategies in plant health under changing climatic conditions, while Dr. Heulin shared insights from decades of research on plant-microbe interactions in arid environments, including his work on exopolysaccharide-producing bacteria and their relevance for food security and soil health.
The Café Talk series is a key part of the MONALISA Community of Knowledge – a platform that brings together researchers, technical experts, policymakers, and civil society to co-create knowledge, share experiences, and scale up effective solutions to LDD.
>> You can watch the full webinar replay here: Watch on YouTube
Stay tuned for the next sessions of MONALISA Café Talks, where we’ll continue exploring innovative pathways toward soil health and sustainable land use!
