The CONSOWAT group works on the design of strategies to minimise soil and water pollution, contributing to the development of new environmentally friendly technologies that lead to a more sustainable management of the soil-water system. In relation to soils, we apply chemical, biological and omic techniques both for the prevention of soil pollution and for the recovery of contaminated soils. In water remediation processes, we develop methods for the elimination of organic pollutants and pathogenic microorganisms through the development and use of low-cost materials.

Study of the environmental behavior of agrochemicals (pesticides, plant growth regulators, allelopathic compounds, plant signaling products or plants hormones, etc.) and other compounds that can reach the soil as a consequence of human activities (pharmaceutical or veterinary drugs, industrial contaminants, urban contaminants, etc.). Also, this group develops strategies based on the use of sorbents (organic residues, biochar, and modified clays) to increase the efficacy of those agrochemicals and to minimize the environmental impact on the agroecosystem.

Chemical characterization and valorization of plant biomass and utilization of biotechnological tools to improve its uses (i.e. for the production of cellulose, lignin, bio-fuels, lipids and chemicals). Our investigations fit with the following priorities of the new Framework Programme of the European Union, Horizon 2020: I.2. Priority Excellent Science: Development of Future and Emerging Technologies. II.4. Priority Competitive Industries: Biotechnology III.3. Priority Better Society: Reliable, Clean, Efficient Energy III.5.

We study and exploit genes involved in the regulation of longevity and tolerance to severe abiotic stress of seeds, seedlings, and plant vegetative tissues.

Global change impacts on the dynamics of Mediterranean forests. Plant-soil feedbacks in forests and agroforestry systems. Plant-animal and plant-microbe interactions. Soil ecology. Biogeoquemistry of nutrients and stable isotopes. Outreach of the ecological, social and economic implications of scientific results.

The IRNAS-CSIC MOSS group maintains internationally renowned laboratories in Organic Geochemistry and was the first Spanish group to address the study of Humus Chemistry. It has made considerable progress in the molecular characterisation of humic substances in soils, waters, and sediments, as well as in organic fossil resources (peat, coal, kerogens, etc.) and agricultural waste (composts, humate fertilisers, biochar, etc.). It maintains a multidisciplinary applied R&D&I strategy, collaborating with national and international research groups and the business sector.

Integrated studies of the soil‒water‒plant relationships and the use of organic wastes as fertilizers or amendments

In the ECOVER research group, we focus on studying physiological processes associated with plant responses to water deficit, ranging from those related to growth and production to those involved in plant mortality. After analyzing these processes, we evaluate their application to agronomic and forestry systems.

Diversity, genomics, physiology and biotechnology of microorganisms and their communities in a variety of environments with a model on extreme conditions. The group and activities have the possibility of getting integrated into different ERC disciplines within the “Life Sciences”, including the sections LS8, LS9, LS2 and LS1.

The group is focused on environmental microbiology (water, soil and subsoil), particularly in biodiversity and microbial ecology in subterranean and built environments, the taxonomy of bacteria and fungi, the follow-up of microbial invasions in rock art caves, the description of new microorganisms and their role in the biogeochemical cycles, the search for bioactive compounds, the impact of microorganisms colonizing buildings (air and materials) on the health of visitors, and the deterioration of the built Cultural Heritage (threats diagnosis and conservation recommendations).