Dr. Jesús Rodrigo-Comino Highlights the SOSVITI Project at CrossMED 2025 Conference
The University of Granada proudly hosted the 2nd Edition of the IEREK Institute Conference “Landscapes Across the Mediterranean (CrossMED)”, held at the Faculty of Economic and Business Sciences (UGR) from December 9 to 11, 2025. This international event brought together leading experts from geography, ecology, urban planning, economics, and landscape studies to address current challenges and future strategies for sustainable Mediterranean landscapes.
A central figure of the conference was Dr. Jesús Rodrigo Comino, who played a key role as member of the Local Organizing Committee and Keynote Speaker, while also representing his position as Coordinator of the European project SOSVITI.
During his keynote lectures, Dr. Rodrigo Comino presented the first scientific results obtained during the first year of the SOSVITI project, with a particular focus on soil erosion processes in European vineyards. His contributions emphasized the urgent need to address land degradation in viticultural landscapes and showcased how new technologies, including UAVs, high-resolution spatial analysis, and advanced geomorphological techniques, can significantly improve erosion assessment and land management strategies.
A distinctive element of his presentations was the strong emphasis on collaborative work with farmers and local stakeholders, underlining the importance of integrating scientific innovation with traditional knowledge and practical land-use experience. This participatory approach, a core pillar of the SOSVITI project, aims to promote sustainable viticulture practices while enhancing resilience to climate change and extreme events across Mediterranean regions.
The CrossMED 2025 conference featured six internationally renowned keynote speakers, each delivering two lectures per day:
- Dr. Gianni Betti, University of Siena (Italy)
- Dr. Francesca Fatta, University of Reggio Calabria (Italy)
- Dr. Stella Kostopoulou, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece)
- Dr. Mohammed Chehimi, Université Paris Cité & CNRS, ITODYS Lab (France)
- Dr. Jesús Rodrigo Comino, University of Granada (Spain)
- Dr. Sameh Shamout, Unitec Institute of Technology of Auckland (New Zealand)
The conference was chaired by Dr. Ángeles Sánchez Domínguez, Associate Professor at the Department of Applied Economics, University of Granada, with Dr. Lucia Della Spina from the Department of Architecture, Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria, as co-host. The event concluded with strong appreciation for the organizing team and keynote speakers, whose contributions fostered meaningful dialogue and future collaborations.
The active participation of Dr. Jesús Rodrigo Comino at CrossMED 2025 reinforces the international visibility of the SOSVITI project and highlights the University of Granada’s commitment to advancing innovative, applied, and socially engaged research for sustainable Mediterranean landscapes.
