In May 2025, I was invited as a speaker at a scientific seminar organized by INAGEA (Institut d’Investigacions Agroambientals i d’Economia de l’Aigua, University of the Balearic Islands), where experts discussed the key role of cover crops in promoting sustainable agricultural systems.
My talk focused on how vegetation cover in citrus orchards influences ant communities and their dual role as both beneficial predators and mutualistic partners of honeydew-producing pests. I presented results from my Juan de la Cierva postdoctoral project, showing how different types of cover crops can shape ant behaviour, affect pest suppression, and alter key ecological interactions.
The seminar brought together researchers, agronomists, and stakeholders to explore how cover crops can enhance biodiversity, improve ecosystem services, and contribute to more resilient Mediterranean cropping systems. It provided an excellent opportunity to share ongoing research, exchange ideas with colleagues, and highlight the potential of ecological infrastructures as a tool for sustainable pest management.
