The meeting sought to establish a dialogue between communications professionals from various media outlets and university researchers specializing in soil conservation.

At the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of the Universidad Nacional de Rosario A workshop was held for journalists and communications professionals: “Land on the agenda: communicating to conserve.”

The event aimed to highlight the central role played by soils in many of today's issues, so communication about their importance and conservation needs to be clear, rigorous, and committed.

For this reason, communicators from various media outlets were invited to participate in a forum for exchange with specialized researchers. The idea was to jointly reflect on how to deepen the debate and raise awareness around this topic.

The event was organized by the Soil Management Department and the Communications Department of the Faculty of Agriculture, in conjunction with the UNR Communications and Media Department.  

The meeting featured welcoming remarks from Dean Pablo Palazzesi, who expressed his gratitude for the large turnout and announced that the Faculty of Agriculture plans to hold various exchanges with professionals and media workers with the goal of publicizing the research being conducted at the Villarino Experimental Field. "I think it's a great opportunity to discuss and showcase all the scientific and extension developments being carried out at the University." 

In an auditorium attended by more than 40 people, three presentations were given by various researchers with extensive experience in the field. The opening presentation was led by Fernando Martinez, who spoke about the history of land use in Argentina. "Problems that are not on the public agenda do not exist, which is why it is necessary for us to be able to communicate this urgent issue," the specialist emphasized.

The second talk was given by researcher Sergio Montico, a professor in the Soil Management Department, who reviewed the current state of soils. "Two-thirds of our country's soils show some form of degradation, and many areas have serious water erosion problems—32% in Argentina and 42% in the Province of Santa Fe." 

Finally, Mario Monti discussed future challenges in soil conservation, emphasizing the uncertainty that exists globally. "This is an issue that is not only important for Argentina, but also for the entire world. We must rethink public policies to stop further damage to the soil and to improve its health." 

Following this session, a space for exchange and reflection took place in the form of a debate, focusing on the need to raise awareness of the land issue and its connection to everyday life. The main focus revolved around how to place this issue on the public and media agenda, understanding its relevance to the present and future of our communities. Journalists from La Capital, Rosario 3, Rosario Plus, El Ciudadano, Agrofy News, Radio UNR, Cientina, and Agrobio participated, as did communicators working at leading institutions such as INTA Oliveros and Aapresid.

Within this framework, various communications professionals shared their experiences covering environmental issues, the strategies used to reach diverse audiences, and the challenges they face when communicating scientific knowledge. Throughout the meeting, enriching dialogues were generated between journalists, researchers, and institutional communicators, which allowed for collaborative approaches to dissemination, with the common goal of bringing scientific knowledge to society and promoting collective awareness about soil care.

During the day, visits were also made to various experimental spaces and facilities within Campo Villarino, where faculty researchers provided details of various studies being conducted there. The activity not only served to build bridges between the scientific field and the media world, but also opened the door to future collaborations that would strengthen the public communication of science.

Journalist: Gonzalo J. García / Photography: Camila Casero.