Applications are open until March 22, 2026, for the Soil Microbiology Course aimed at entrepreneurs, agricultural technicians, senior local government technicians (one-stop shop and civil protection); consultants and others.

Objectives

This training also seeks to highlight the fundamental role of microorganisms in the sustainability and resilience of agricultural and natural ecosystems, in order to support more informed technical, environmental, and land management decisions.

Skills to be developed

  • Identify the main microbial groups and their ecological functions;
  • Recognize indicators of soil biological quality;
  • Discuss sustainable practices that favor microbial activity;
  • Interpret microbiological results and information to support technical and environmental decision-making;
  • Integrate microbiological knowledge into sustainable agricultural and land management strategies.

Program Content

Module 1: Introduction to Soil Microbiology

  • What is soil microbiology? History and importance of soil microorganisms in the history of Earth. Defining soil as a living habitat.
  • Main groups of soil microorganisms. Bacteria, archaea, fungi, actinomycetes, algae, and protozoa: Morphology, physiology, and ecology.
  • The soil microbiome. Understanding the rhizosphere and the root-microbe-soil continuum. Concepts of microbial diversity and community structure.

Module 2: Microbial roles in soil health and function

  • Nutrient cycling and availability. Biogeochemical cycles (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur). Microbial roles in nutrient availability and uptake by plants. Microbial production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) for soil aggregation.
  • Plant-microbe interactions. Mutualistic relationships: Mycorrhizae and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Production of plant growth-promoting substances.

Module 3: Practical applications

  • Principles of regenerative agriculture. Biofertilizers, biopesticides, and biostimulants. Bioremediation of pollutants. Laboratory techniques for analyzing biomass and microbial activity.

Schedule

  • In hybrid format, March 27, 2026 (Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2 p.m.-5 p.m.) and March 28, 2026 (Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2 p.m.-5 p.m.) at the Center for Higher Studies of the University of Coimbra in Alcobaça and March 30, 2026 (Monday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2 p.m.-5 p.m.) in an online format.

More information and registration here.