The Regional Director for Science and Technology highlighted the importance of "Bioinvent," an international project implemented on São Miguel Island that is directed to research in the area of agriculture and ecosystem services. In this regard, he stressed that is being developed by six teams from several countries, including a team from the Centre for Research on Biodiversity and Genetic Resources of the University of the Azores (CIBIO).
 
Bruno Pacheco spoke on the sidelines of a visit to field works taking place under this project in the village of Candelária. He added that the primary goal is “to create a bio inventory on the microbial diversity in the soils of pasture ecosystems,” along climate gradients, “in a pan-European context that comprises the Azores up to Northern Sweden.”
 
The Regional Director added that the Regional Government, through the Regional Fund for Science and Technology, allocated the sum of 100 thousand Euros to the project, taking into consideration “its importance to one of the priority areas of the Strategy for the Smart Specialisation of the Region (RIS3), with special emphasis on agriculture.”

“The Government’s support to this type of projects not only draws attention to the richness of the Region’s biodiversity and the needs for its preservation, but also acknowledges the scientific work carried out in the archipelago,” the government official said, adding that the soil sampling procedures are now concluded on São Miguel Island.

According to Bruno Pacheco, the Government of the Azores recognises the relevance of this project to the Region, having supported the participation of CBIO team for a period of three years.

The "Bioinvent" project is funded by the Horizon 2020 programme, through ERA-NET BiodivErsA3 - Consolidating the European Research Area on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, of which the Regional Fund for Science and Technology is a partner and funder.