Raquel Correa Delgado
Research Area:
🌿 Soil microbiology 🌿 Plant–soil–microbe interactions 🌿Bioinformatic analysis of microbiomes and taxonomic staff 🌿Understanding soil as a living ecosystem to promote sustainable agriculture
"This research mobility visit will allow me to gain essential experience in soil microbiome analysis using FiBL’s advanced expertise and infrastructure. By working directly with experienced researchers at FiBL, I expect to develop key skills in microbial data analysis, statistical modelling, and interpretation of complex microbiome-phenotype interactions—skills that are increasingly indispensable in scientific research today.
The visit will also strengthen international collaboration between the Canary Islands Institute of Agricultural Research (ICIA) and FiBL. This partnership is especially valuable for regions like the Canary Islands, where sustainable strategies are urgently needed to maintain agricultural productivity under environmental constraints. The exchange of knowledge and methodologies between ICIA and FiBL will contribute to building capacity in soil microbiology and organic farming.
Furthermore, I intend to disseminate the outcomes of this project through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at international conferences. These efforts will ensure the visibility of the research results and their applicability for the organic farming sector, contributing directly to the goals of the CORE Organic network," Raquel Correa Delgado.
About the mobility grant visit
Hosting Institution: Soil deparment, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, FiBL, Switzerland
November 2025 to January 2026
Project Title: Improvement of the functionality of the soil microbial communities in banana agroecosystems with organic amendments.
Research methodology:
- Analysis of PacBio-sequenced soil microbiomes using advanced bioinformatics.
- Integration of microbial community data with soil chemical parameters and plant traits.
- Identification of microbial indicators linked to soil health and crop performance.
Objectives of research visit:
- Finalize and deepen microbiome data analysis.
- Acquire advanced skills in microbial ecology and bioinformatics.
- Strengthen international collaboration with FiBL’s soil microbiology team.
Expected results and relevance for the organic sector:
- Identification of key microbial taxa and biosynthetic functions responsive to organic amendments.
- Evidence-based insights to improve soil management and nutrient strategies in organic banana systems.
- Preparation and submission of an article in a peer-reviewed journal to disseminate findings and support knowledge transfer within the organic farming sector.
Highlights from the stay
"In January, I presented my work in the Soil Department seminar at FiBL. The seminar was very well received and particularly enriching, as it generated several specialist questions and constructive discussions. This feedback was extremely valuable and motivated the inclusion of additional analyses to further strengthen the interpretation of the experiment. Overall, January has been a very productive and motivating month. Reaching the stage where all the main analyses are completed and consolidated has been especially rewarding, as it means that the project is now entering its final phase: manuscript writing and preparation for submission," Raquel Correa Delgado.
Raquel Correa Delgado
PhD Candidate
Plant Protection Department, Instituto Canario de Investigaciones Agrarias, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
Academic Background (BA and MA degrees):
Master in Agroforestry Biotechnology, Universidad Politecnica De Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Master in Applied Plant Biology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Graduate in Biology, Universidad de La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain