Barcelona, December 4, 2026 – The LOESS project has joined the global celebration of World Soil Day (WSD), endorsed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Celebrated annually on December 5, the event raises awareness of the crucial role soils play in agricultural development, ecosystem functions, and food security.

In Catalonia, the program of activities has been organized by the University of Lleida (UdL), the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), the Catalan Institution of Agrarian Studies (ICEA), the Spanish Society of Soil Science (SECS) – Catalonia Delegation, and the Catalan Association of Public Universities (ACUP) on behalf of the LOESS project.

On December 3, the School of Agrifood and Forestry Engineering and Veterinary Medicine of the UdL hosted the conference “The European Soil Monitoring Directive in the framework of soil governance”, delivered by agronomist Miquel Aran, holder of a University Master’s Degree in Soil and Water Management. The session was moderated by Rosa Poch (UdL), Director of the Department of Chemistry, Physics and Environmental and Soil Sciences. Following the conference, Núria Jové, Head of Projects at ACUP, presented a poster on the LOESS project.

That same afternoon, the UdL held a film forum with the screening of The Martian and a debate featuring Eva Marks (Agrotecnio), Wilk Sampaio (Institute of Agri-Food Research and Technology – IRTA), Aitana de la Varga (Rovira i Virgili University – URV), and Iolanda Simó (Eurecat Technological Centre), moderated by Aida Bargués (Agrotecnio).

The program continues on December 10 at the UAB with another screening of The Martian and a discussion with Mariona Ferrandiz (Ecological Research and Forestry Applications Center – CREAF), Maria Sisternas (Fundació Habitat3 – Girona City Council), and Vicenç Carabassa (CREAF), moderated by Andrea Vidal (Cartographic and Geological Institute of Catalonia – ICGC/UAB). The event will take place in the Sala de Graus II of the Faculty of Science and Biosciences in the afternoon.