{"id":5309,"date":"2026-06-22T05:53:38","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T05:53:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cognitionconferences.com\/agriculture\/?post_type=speaker&p=5309"},"modified":"2026-06-22T05:53:38","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T05:53:38","slug":"stefania-toscano-2","status":"publish","type":"speaker","link":"https:\/\/cognitionconferences.com\/agriculture\/speaker\/stefania-toscano-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Stefania Toscano"},"content":{"rendered":"

Abstract<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mediterranean horticulture is increasingly challenged by climate change. In these environments, where water scarcity and environmental restrictions are becoming more severe, the adoption of innovative and sustainable production strategies is essential to maintain crop productivity while minimizing resource consumption and reducing environmental impacts.<\/p>\n

Recent advances in horticultural production have increasingly focused on improving resource-use efficiency and enhancing the resilience of cropping systems under Mediterranean conditions. Attention has been devoted to water saving technologies and advanced irrigation management strategies aimed at increasing water use efficiency and mitigating the effects of limited water availability. Precision irrigation approaches, sensor-based monitoring systems, and optimized irrigation scheduling are valuable tools for adapting horticultural production to increasingly arid conditions.<\/p>\n

In recent years, plant biostimulants have gained attention as innovative solutions that can potentially mitigate the negative effects of abiotic stress and reduce dependence on mineral fertilizers and plant protection products. Their application can contribute to more sustainable crop management while maintaining productivity under environmental stresses frequently occurring in Mediterranean areas.<\/p>\n

Another important aspect is the development of alternative growing media for soilless cultivation systems. Compost-based substrates derived from organic residues offer promising opportunities to partially replace conventional materials, such as coconut coir and perlite. These renewable substrates may reduce the environmental impacts associated with substrate extraction and transport, while promoting the valorization of locally available organic residues within a circular economy framework.<\/p>\n

The integration of water-saving technologies, bio-based inputs, renewable growing media, and precision management tools represents a key pathway for more resilient and resource-efficient horticultural systems. These innovations are particularly relevant in Mediterranean environments, where the sustainable management of water, nutrients, and organic resources is essential to ensure the future sustainability of horticultural production under changing climatic conditions.<\/p>\n

Experimental evidence derived from trials conducted on different Mediterranean horticultural crops will be presented, providing validation of the proposed approaches. These results highlight the synergistic effects of integrated strategies in enhancing resource use efficiency, improving crop performance under abiotic stress, and reducing environmental impacts, thereby confirming their relevance for sustainable horticultural systems in Mediterranean regions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":5310,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"schedule":[5],"speaker-category":[6],"class_list":["post-5309","speaker","type-speaker","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","schedule-day-1","speaker-category-speakers"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nStefania Toscano | The University of Messina | Italy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In recent years, plant biostimulants have gained attention as innovative solutions that can potentially mitigate the negative effects of abiotic stress and reduce dependence on mineral fertilizers and plant protection products. 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