Passeig de Gràcia, 44, 3r
08007 [email protected]
www.irta.eu T. +34 934 674 040
F. + 34 934 674 042
ANNUALREPORT
2012
Edita: IRTARedacció: ComunicacióMaquetació: Cristina de las HerasImpressió: CTC
©
Passeig de Gràcia, 44, 3a pl.08007 BarcelonaT. 93 467 40 40 F. 93 467 40 [email protected]
Director General’s Report / 6
Chief Scientist’s Report / 8Scientific Structure / 10
Mission, vision, and values / 11Geographic Distribution / 12
Organization Chart / 13Owned Centers and Field Stations / 14
Associated Centers / 17IRTA in Figures/ 20
IRTA / 24
Food Industries / 28
Animal Production/ 36
Plant Production / 52
Environment and Gloal Change / 66
IRTA
FOOD INDUSTRIES
ANIMAL PRODUCTION
PLANT PRODUCTION
ENVIRONMENT AND GLOBAL CHANGE
INDEX
IRTA
Director General’s Report / 6Chief Scientist’s Report / 8
Scientific Structure / 10Mission, vision, and values / 11
Geographic Distribution / 12Organization Chart / 13
Owned Centers and Field Stations / 14Associated Centers / 17
IRTA in Figures / 20IRTA / 24
Annual Report 2012 / 6
Josep Maria Monfort General Director
Another year has passed. We present our annual report in a particularly complicated and difficult economic context that is far from getting better, from which research is unfortunately not excluded. The grim reality has led to reductions of public and private resources. The consequences, which we are beginning to notice and affect all public research, translate in lower funds, less competitive projects, increased competiveness, and the disappearance or fusion of research centers and institutions all over the country. Furthermore, and most worrying regarding the human capital, the increased brain drain.
Despite all, IRTA has made a great effort to buffer the situation trying to reduce the negative effects on the Institution. A series of economic and strategic measures were taken during precedent years to reduce costs and attract new sources of finance, which has allowed reducing in great measure the impact on our resources without affecting the infrastructure. The Board of Directors approved our Strategic Plan, prepared from the strategic planning exercise initiated
in previous years, which collects the strategic lines, the strategic objectives, and the specific objectives for each of IRTA´s programs to provide the highest value in the future. On the other hand, the Internal Control Framework was also optimized, which gathers in one application the strategic indicators that portrait the way the Institute is responding to each of the strategic objectives. This is an essential tool for decisionmaking and for establishing the appropriate measures towards the economic crisis and the austerity of public administrations.
The impulse of publicprivate collaboration with companies from the agrifood sector has been one of our strategic goals, based on the creation of new technologybased firms. The results of these efforts are now apparent with the launching of Specipig (for the production of SPF pigs for biomedical research), and very soon, Nanopack (innovation in the packaging sector).
These measures have also led to the creation of the new International department, focused on getting resources outside our borders. In 2012,
Director General’s Report
IRTA
Annual Report 2012 / 7
several projects were implemented in Colombia, Qatar, Morocco, Lebanon, and Uruguay, and relationships with institutions equivalent to IRTA were strengthened worldwide, as for example the Joint Research Unit between IRTA and New Zealand, a strategic alliance with Plant and Food Research with the creation of a joint research unit and the intention of jointly participating in international projects.
Looking ahead to the future, IRTA has led a consortium as a member of the coming KIC (FoodBest) in response to the mandate given to IRTA by the Parliament of Catalonia during the agricultural policy debate in 2010 through the DAAM, to encourage the participation of Catalonia in the future food KIC. Currently, a consortium of Catalonian, Basque, Valencian, and Murcian entities led by IRTA and the University of Valencia, together with around 40 firms, is a member with full rights of FoodBest and are currently in the design stage of the future KIC, identifying priorities, and of the organization model.
Furthermore, this year we have ended the investment of 5,492,703 € to complete the construction of the Torre Marimon center, soon to become the new research center for all the fruit chain value, (Fruitcentre) in Lleida.
We have also grown. The CENTA Foundation has been incorporated to IRTA´s structure, the core for R+D+i for the food industry sector in Monells, as well as the GIRO Joint Research Unit IRTA-UPC located in Torre Marimon that will allows us to continue providing answers on topics regarding organic residue management.
Thus, we have been able to continue with our research and guiding the people associated to the sector by leading or collaborating with national or international projects.
One of the scientific landmarks in which we have participated is the genome sequencing of the melon, a project led by the CSIC and IRTA, promoted by the Genoma España foundation and with the participation of nine research centers.
We have also participated in other pro
jects, as for example the development of an innovative process for manufacturing deli meat without using intestines. We have worked with Iberdrola in the recycling of CO2 from power plants for intensive agriculture, or preparing studies on how climatic change affects the Mediterranean region and on water availability, as well as introducing a program to increase rabbit production in Catalonian farms (Star Project 16.869) together with one of the leading firms in the sector – Cunicarn , or the characterization of around 1,500 varieties and breeding lines of peach in the European FruitBreedomics project.
We cannot forget mentioning the projects initiated this year on which we are currently working: Excelmeat to improve the quality of pork meat, FoodsmeHop to innovate in the production of healthy foodstuffs, or Boarmarket a Spanish consortium that aims studying the market for the future pork production.
In short, despite the context, our Institution is working more than ever in agrifood R+D+i to provide tools to one of the leading economical sectors in our country. The tools aim helping this sector improve their competiveness, assume innovation challenges, and improve the processes necessary to deal with increasingly demanding and competitive markets.
Josep M. MonfortGeneral Director
Dire
ctor
Gen
eral
’s R
epor
t
Annual Report 2012 / 8
The strategic planning process has been going on during 2012. It began in 2010 with the preparation of a Strategic Plan proposal per Program based on internal discussions of the resear ches of each of the Programs. The proposal was next considered and evaluated by an external scientific committee that prepared a report for each Program. In 2012, the management team prepared IRTA´s Strategic Plan based on the all the information, which, once approved by IRTA´s Board of Directors was released to the whole organization. Essentially two aspects are considered in this Strategic Plan:
1. Description of IRTA´s strategic objectives and the identification of a series of indexes to evaluate their compliance. There are three main indexes to measure the three central activities in IRTA: investigation (r index), selffinance capacity (e index), and technology transfer (t index). The two first indexes are operational, the r index since 2009 and the e index since 2012. The t index, more complex to determine, has been developed and will be operational
from the second trimester of 2013. These indexes, with slight variations, allow assessing and comparing the individual activity of the researchers, as well as the collective activity (of the Programs and of IRTA as a whole). The organization expects diversity regarding the activity of the Programs and the researchers that should stand out in more than one of the three central points, combining a high scientific productivity whilst ensuring they are based on the needs of the agricultural sector, with positive consequences on the competitiveness and productivity of the firms that compose it. There, and t indexes are aimed to guide the organization towards its strategic objectives and evaluate the researchers and the Programs in a more objective and foreseeable manner.
2. A set of specific objectives for each Program for the next four years (20132016 period). The objectives, proposed by the Board of Directors based on the suggestions in the Strategic Plan of each Program, the reports of the external evaluators, the evolution of the indexes, and other matters related
Pere ArúsScientific Director
IRTA
Chief Scientist’s Report
Annual Report 2012 / 9
with the infrastructures and the crosscutting between IRTA´s various activities, should be oriented in the Action Plans, in which each Program leader will identify the actions that need to be taken over the next years foreseeing specific realistic, measurable results, to be obtained in specific terms to advance towards the assigned objectives. The degree of compliance with the objectives will be one of the elements to be considered during the evaluation of Program leaders.
The Strategic Plan cycle ends with the beginning of the Action Plans, which will be evaluated at the end of each year. The Strategic Plan will be repeated every five years. The cycle will begin again in 2015 with Strategic Plan proposals per Program, their external evaluations, and later IRTA´s Strategic Plan and the Action Plans per Program, a process similar to the one in this first edition.
The evolution of IRTA´s scientific indexes this last year has been similar to the indexes of previous years, i.e., marked by an increase of the r index (number of citations received by scientific articles by IRTA´s average researcher the previous year), which at the end of 2012 was 45.8 citations/researcher. This number has been increasing since 2009 (32.08 citations/researche), an annual growth rhythm of 3.43 citations/researcher. To estimate if the growth of IRTA´s citations determined by parameters such as the r index is due to a population growth of the citation at international level or due to a real improvement of IRTA´s citations, we compared the mean citation of articles published in Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous) during the 20062010 period (obtained from the Severo Ochoa Program) with the citation data of articles generated over the same period in the whole of IRTA. The average results for the five considered years, indicates that IRTA was cited 39% above the mean of the international articles in this area, which confirms the growing trend of the impact of our scientific publications. The current economic situation, with a marked decrease in public funding at state and autonomic le
vel, obliges to increasingly depend on European competitive funds or agreements with firms. The scientific background of IRTA´s researchers, our leadership abilities, the collaborations with other European teams, the experience acquired in actions with the industry, and our infrastructure has helped us to adapt and strengthen. We are currently able to offer, as well as in the future, better R+D services to our agricultural and food sector.
Pere ArúsScientific Director
Chi
ef S
cien
tist’s
Rep
ort
Annual Report 2012 / 10
Program Subprogram
In vitro cultivation ............................................................................Ramon Dolcet
Genomics ................................................................................... Jordi Garcia Mas
Entomology ....................................................................................Jordi Riudavets
Plant pathology ...................................................................................Cinta Calvet
Agrifood markets
MicroEconomic analysis of the food industry
Food industry economy information systems
FOOD INDUSTRY ECONOMICS
Josep Mª Gil
Natural resource economics
Sustainable development
NATURAL RESOURCES & FOOD
INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
Josep Mª Gil
ENVI
RO
NM
ENT
&
GLO
BA
L C
HA
NG
EA
NIM
AL
PRO
DU
CTI
ON
PLA
NT
PRO
DU
CTI
ON
FOO
D IN
DU
STRY
ECO
NO
MIC
S
Pome and stone fruit ..........................................................................Joan Bonany
Olive Production, oil processing and nut trees ...................................Ignasi Batlle
Aquatic cultures ...............................................................................Alicia Estévez
Marine environment monitoring ...................................................... Jorge Diogene
Animal health .............................................................................. Joaquim Segalés
Monogastrics nutrition ....................................................................... Enric Esteve
Animal welfare ................................................................................Antoni Velarde
Rumiant production ............................................................................... Àlex Bach
Poultry breeding ....................................................................... Amadeu Francesc
Rabbit breeding ..................................................................................Miriam Piles
Pig breeding and genetics ........................................................Raquel Quintanilla
Ecophysiology ..............................................................................Feli de Herralde
Biosystems engineering and agronomy .............................................. Pere Muñoz
INTEGRAL ORGANIC WASTE MANAGEMENT
Francesc Xavier Prenafeta
ENVIRONMENTAL HORTICULTURE
Robert Savé
Integral organic waste management ............................ Francesc Xavier Prenafeta
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
Carles Ibáñez
Aquatic ecosystems ......................................................................... Carles Ibáñez
Scie
ntifi
c St
ruct
ure
FOO
D
IND
UST
RIE
S Functionality and nutrition ....................................................José Antonio García
Carcass quality ..................................................................................... Maria Font
Quality of food of animal origin ....................................................Mª Àngels Oliver
FUNCTIONALITY AND NUTRITION
José Antonio García
PRODUCT QUALITY
Mª Àngels Oliver
FOOD SAFETY
Margarita Garriga
FOOD TECHNOLOGY
Jacint Arnau
Efficient use of water ..........................................................................Joan GironaEFFICIENT USE OF WATER
Joan Girona
Field crops ........................................................................................Conxita Royo
FIELD CROPS
Conxita Royo
Food engineering .................................................................................... Pere Gou
Process in the food industry .............................................................. Jacint Arnau
New processing technologies in the food industry .................Josep Comaposada
New preservation technologies .................................................Margarita Garriga
Abiotic food safety ....................................................................Massimo Castelari
Biotic food safety .........................................................................Teresa Aymerich
Postharvest physiology and technology ............................Christian Larrigaudiere
Processed fruits and vegetables ............................................... Inmaculada Viñas
Postharvest technology .......................................................................Josep Usall
AQUACULTURE
Dolors Furones
ANIMAL BREEDING & GENETICS
Raquel Quintanilla
ANIMAL NUTRITION, HEALTH & WELFARE
Joaquim Brufau
ANIMAL HEALTH
Joaquim Segalés
RUMINANT PRODUCTION
Àlex Bach
FRUIT PRODUCTION
Simó Alegre
GENOMICS AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
Jordi Garcia Mas
POSTHARVEST
Josep Usall
SUSTAINABLE PLANT PROTECTION
Soledad Verdejo
Annual Report 2012 / 11
MISSION
Participate in the modernization, competitiveness, and sustainable development of the agricultural, food, and aquatic sectors, provi-sion of healthy and quality foods for the consumers, and in gene-ral improve the well-being of the population.
VISION
Become a scientific benchmark, and innovation and technologi-cal transference driving force. We want to be the strategic ally of the agri-food sector.
IRTA was created in 1985 and is linked to the Department of Agriculture, Farming, Fish, and Environment of the Catalan Government. IRTA is a public organization that aims being the strategically, the scientific model, and the innovation and technological transfer driving force.
Mis
sion
, vis
ion
and
valu
es
1 COMMITMENT
4 INNOVATION
IRTA’S VALUES
6 RESPECT
5 LEADERSHIP
7 VOCATION OF SERVICE
3 LEARNING
2 CREATIVITY
Annual Report 2012 / 12
Passeig de Gràcia, 44, 3r08007 BarcelonaT. +34 93 467 40 40 Fax. +34 93 467 40 42
General Director: Josep M. Monfort
CORPORATE SERVICES
A total of 10 selfowned Centers and Experimental Stations and six consortiums make up IRTA´s corporate system, distributed in 24 locations over the whole territory.
• 16 CENTERS• 24 SITES• 7 in Barcelona• 6 in Tarragona• 7 in Lleida• 4 in Girona
Geo
grap
hic
Dis
trib
utio
n
Annual Report 2012 / 13
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CEOJosep M. Monfort
Administration, Finances, and Activities Management
Jordi de la Cuesta
Human Resources and Organization
Montserrat Satorra
Innovation and TransferenceRosa Cubel
Information, Technology and Communications
Josep Solé
Corporate Development. Technological
Surveillance and Scientific Documentation
Anna Pallí
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Program Coordination
Subprogram Management
Centers Management
ORGANIZATION CHART
SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITEE
DEPUTY GENERALDIRECTOR Agustí Fonts
CHIEF SCIENTISTPere Arús
Communication Albert Gurri
Legal ServiceCarles Viñas
International RelationsEliecer López
Org
aniz
atio
n C
hart
Annual Report 2012 / 14
Ctra. de Cabrils, Km 208348 Cabrils BarcelonaT. +34 93 750 75 11Fax. +34 93 753 39 54
Director: Dra. Soledad Verdejo
Number of researchers ........ 41 Support staff ........................ 35 Working programs:
Sustainable Plant ProtectionGenomics and Biotechnology Environmental Horticulture
CABRILS
Crtra. de Reus El Morell, Km. 3,8.43120 Constantí TarragonaT. +34 977 32 84 24F. +34 977 3 40 55
Director: Dr. Joaquim Brufau
Number of researchers ....... 14Support staff . . . . . . . . . . . . 39Working programs:
Fruit ProductionAnimal Breeding and GeneticsAnimal Nutrition, Health and Welfare
MAS DE BOVER
Finca Camps i Armet17121 MonellsGironaT. +34 972 63 00 52F. +34 972 63 09 80
Director: Dr. Joan Tibau
Number of researchers ....... 49Support staff ........................ 50Working programs:
Functionality and NutritionProduct QualityFood SafetyFood TechnologyAnimal Breeding and GeneticsNutrition, Health and Animal Welfare
MONELLS. Food TechnologyPig Monitoring and Assessment
IRTA
Annual Report 2012 / 15
Crtra. C59, Km. 12,108140 Caldes de MontbuiBarcelonaT. +34 93 865 09 54
Director: Joaquim Adillon
TORRE MARIMON
Number of researchers ....... 22Support staff ........................ 51Working programs:
Fruit ProductionGenomics and BiotechnologyEnvironmental HorticultureAnimal Breeding and GeneticsRuminants ProductionOrganic Waste Integral Management
Avda. Alcalde Rovira i Roure, 19125198 LleidaT. +34 973 03 28 50F. +34 973 23 83 01
Director: Dra. Conxita Royo
LLEIDA
Number of researchers ....... 38 Support staff . . . . . . . . . . . . 41Working programs:
Field CropsPostharvestSustainable Plant ProtectionAnimal Breeding and GeneticsEfficient Use of Water
SANT CARLES DE LA RÀPITA
Crtra. Poble Nou, Km 5,543540 Sant Carles de la Ràpita. TarragonaT. +34 977 74 54 27F. +34 977 74 41 38
Director: Dra. Dolors Furones
Number of researchers . . . . 38Support staff ........................ 33Working programs:
AquacultureAquatic Ecosystems
Ow
ned
Cen
ters
and
Fie
ld S
tatio
ns
Annual Report 2012 / 16
Number of researchers . . . . 0 Support staff . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Working programs:
Nutrition, Health and Animal WelfareAnimal Breeding and Genetics
ALCARRÀS FIELD STATION
Avda. Alcalde Rovira i Roure, 19125198 LleidaT. +34 973 03 28 50F. +34 973 23 83 01
Director: Dr. Simó Alegre
Number of researchers . . . . 9Support staff . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Sub-units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Borges Blanques,Gimenells . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mollerussa
Working programs:
Fruit ProductionSustainable Plant ProtectionEfficient Use of Water
LLEIDA FIELD STATION
Crtra. Balada, Km 143870 AmpostaTarragonaT. +34 977 26 70 26F. +34 977 74 69 15
Director: Tomàs Fosch
Number of researchers . . . . 6Support staff . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Subseus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amposta i GandesaWorking programs:
Field CropsFruit ProductionSustainable Plant Protection
EBRE FIELD STATION
Ow
ned
Cen
ters
and
Fie
ld S
tatio
ns
Partida Montagut, s/n25180 AlcarràsLleidaT. +34 973 03 28 50F. +34 973 23 83 01
Director: Carles Rosell
Annual Report 2012 / 17
Campus UAB.Edifici CRAG. Bellaterra.08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès. BarcelonaT. +34 93 563 66 00F. +34 93 563 66 01
Director: Dr. José Luis Riechmann
CRAG. Centre of Agrigenomic Research
Number of researchers . . . . 86Support staff . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Working programs:
Genomics and Biotechnology
Campus UAB. Edifici C08193. BellaterraBarcelonaT. +34 93 581 13 12F. +34 93 581 41 51
Director: Dr. Javier Retana
CREAF.Centre for Ecological Research andForestry Applications
Number of researchers . . . . 78Support staff . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Working programs:
Environmental Horticulture
Ass
ocia
ted
Cen
ters
CREDA. Centre for Research in Agri-foodEconomics and Development
Parc Mediterrani de la Tecnologia. Edifici ESABC/ Esteve Terrades, 8. 08860 Castelldefels. BarcelonaT. +34 93 552 11 24F. +34 93 552 11 21
Director: José Mª Gil
Number of researchers . . . . 8Support staff . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Working programs:
Agri-Food Economy
Annual Report 2012 / 18
SEMEGA
Working programs:
Ruminants Production
Ass
ocia
ted
Cen
ters CReSA.
Animal Health Research Centre
Campus UAB. Edifici CReSA. 08193 BellaterraBarcelonaT. +34 93 591 32 84F. +34 93 581 44 90
Director: Dr. Joaquim Segalés
Number of researchers . . . . 6Support staff . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Working programs:
Animal Health
MAS BADIA. Mas Badia Foundation Field Station
Number of researchers ........ 17Support staff . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Working programs:
Field CropsFruit ProductionPostharvestSustainable Plant ProtectionEfficient Use of Water
Crtra. de la Tallada, s/n17134 La TalladaGironaT. +34 972 78 05 17F. +34 972 78 05 17
Director: Josep M. Pagès
Finca Camps i Armet17121 MonellsGirona
Director: Dr. Xavier Carré
Annual Report 2012 / 19
CENTA. Centre for New Food Technologiesand Processes
Finca Camps i Armet17121 MonellsGironaT. +34 972 63 00 52F. +34 972 63 09 80
Director: Joan Manel Albacete
Number of researchers . . . . 2Support staff . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Working programs:
Functionality and NutritionProduct QualityFood SafetyFood Technology
OUR PUBLIC-PRIVATE R+D+i SYSTEM
Ass
ocia
ted
Cen
ters
Annual Report 2012 / 20
HUMAN RESOURCESOur staff consists of 535 employees distributed among the 10 centers, from which 191 are researchers and 344 are support personnel.Our personnel are:
704 people make up the inhouse personnel plus those linked to IRTA.
Our cooperative system is made up of 1,010 people.
53% FEMALE47% MALE
FINANCESIn 2012 IRTA has managed 44,420,000 euros in total resources.
34,8% of the resources were provided by the and
Goverment of Catalonia and 65,2% were IRTA’s
own resources.
In 2012, IRTA invested
5.492.703,12 euros.
IRTA
in F
igur
es
Annual Report 2012 / 21
PROJECTS AND CONTRACTS1,081 current activities, from which
314 began in 2012.
466 current contracts for a total of
8,10 M €, with 233 initiated contracts
and 339 clients, from which 155 are
new and 184 repeating.
Of the 2012 public competitive calls, IRTA
had 100% success in INIA’s,
9,29% in MICINN and 13,67% in the UE ones.
In 2012, we participated in 183 research projects, 25 of which were
European projects.
EVOLUTION OF CLIENTS OVER RECENT YEARS
PROJECST OBTAINED IN 2012
Client Evolution 2012 2011 2010 2009 Total clients 339 309 273 255New clients 155 111 91 84
Returning clients 184 198 182 171
Obtained MICINN INIA UE2012 2 8 10
Budget M€ 0,2 0,19 0,92Financing success 9,29% 100% 13,67%
IRTA
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Annual Report 2012 / 22
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL PRODUCTIONDuring 2012 IRTA has released 749 publications as part of the 1,329 publications of the Cooperative System. The publications are distributed among the following categories:
SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS
CONTRIBUTIONS TO CONGRESSES AND SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS
TECHNOLOGICAL TRANSFER PUBLICATIONS
IRTA Cooperative System257 Scientific articles 55634 Books and
chapters in books59
5 Other scientific articles 16
IRTA Cooperative System341 Communications and
Posters in congresses477
IRTA Cooperative System31 PhD theses 5781 Technical and
Dissemination Articles164
IRTA
in F
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Annual Report 2012 / 23
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERIn 2012, 7 new plant varieties were presented for registry (5 varieties of peach and 2 of cereals).
2 international PCT patent term extensions were requested.
• 373 Current contracts on Technology Transfer
• 256 Technical and Demonstration Conferences• 25,284 Participants in technical and demonstration conferences
COMMUNICATION242 press releases distributedin the following areas:
84 Plant Production 64 Animal Production 21 Environment and Global Change 73 Food Industry
164,760 Visits to our website in 2012 and
100,797 unique visitors.
550,682 viewed pages (3.34 pages/visit)
62.31% of de visitors used
the Spanish version, 27.9% the Catalan version, and
9.79% the English one.
IRTA
in F
igur
es
Annual Report 2012 / 24
New Zealand and Catalonia join efforts in agri-food research
IRTA and Plant & Food Research (PRF) from New Zealand have been collaboration with each other since 2002 on the definition and development of a program on genetic improvement of stone fruit. This joint collaboration has been extending to other agrifood areas.
To strengthen this collaboration and enter the research funding mechanisms in Europe and Oceania, the chairs of IRTA and PFR,
Josep M. Monfort and Peter Landon Lane, respectively, signed an agreement to establish the IRTA PFR Research and Innovation Unit
(IPRIU) a Joint Research Union (JRU) between both institutions.
JRUs are collaboration figures between research entities foreseen by the Framework Programme, allowing researchers from both institutions to participate, joining forces, in certain competitive calls in both hemispheres.
The activity is currently running and the signature of the agreement was a mere formality. Specifically, this JRU is active within the area of fruit genetic improvement. Furthermore, a European project that also involves a Dutch firm is being prepared. The objective of this threeparty project is to
determine the optimum ripening stage of the fruit on the trees by using genetic markers, so the fruit is harvested at its best conditions.
The signature between Mr. Josep M. Monfort (left) and Mr. Peter Landon Lane (right.)
The Agrotecnio Center has been Established
The board of the Foundation of the UdL-IRTA Center has decided to change its articles of association to kickstart the launching of the Agrotecnio Center. The president is the rector of the Universitat de Lleida (UdL), Mr. Roberto Fernández, and the vicepresident, the director general of IRTA, Mr. Josep Maria Monfort. The director will be the researcher from the ICREA associated to the UdL, Mr. Paul Christou, a worldwide referent in plant biotechnology.
Agrotecnio will direct its efforts in developing three big projects with great scientific and social benefit: industrial and nutritional cornbased products, nitrogen optimization for cereal production in Mediterranean agriculture, and new and healthy grapederived products.
Specipig, SPF pork start-up for biomedical experimentation
Specipig S.L. is the name of the technologicalbased firm with whom IRTA collaborates, located in El Prat de Llobregat (Barcelona). Specipig is a pioneering firm in the selection, production, and commercialization of Specific Pathogen Free (SPF ) pigs and minipigs as models for
IRTA
Annual Report 2012 / 25
biomedical experimentation.IRTA is the primary tec
hnological and reference partnership of Specipig for all its research and development activities, and will provide, directly or indirectly, assistance and counseling services in the design and maintenance of the genetic core, in defining the design of sanitary standards, and Specipig´s control program.
Specipig is a new reality of IRTA´s strategies within its promotion of highlevel innovation starts up’s in the agrifood field.
Presence in Alimentaria 2012
IRTA was present in the Alimentaria 2012 fair that took place between March 26 29 in the Intercarn ward and in Alimentaria Hub, with two visitor care stands.
Besides the stands, three demonstrations were performed:
Presentation/tasting: “Discover the land´s traditional butifarras: suggestions for eating egg butifarra and sweet butifarra”, in collaboration with the Catalan Federation of Butchers.
Presentations: “Cut fruit: a good business opportunity”.
Demonstration, in collaboration with the prestigious restaurateur from Lerida Mr. Xixo Malena: “Usefulness of sensorial analysis of oils and tomatoes in the design of pairings”.
The Annual Technological Transfer Plan celebrates 10 years
The Annual Technological Transfer Plan (PATT), celebrated its 10th anniversary. A decade in which over 5,000 actions have been carried out, 60% of which have been transfer activities of technical and management knowledge transfer with more than 7,000 conferences given on different topics. Furthermore, the PATT, where IRTA plays an essential role, has received more than 180,000 people over the last 10 years, becoming a model in knowledge transference.
Agri-Food Strategic Research, Innovation, and Transference Plan for Catalonia 2012-2016
The Government of Catalonia presented the Agri food Research, Innovation, and Transference Strategic Plan project for Catalonia 20122016, in a ceremony that took place at the Pa-lau de la Generalitat.
The Minister of Agriculture led the presentation of the project to the representatives of the agrifood sector, research and innovation centers, and other entities and institutions in
IRTA
Annual Report 2012 / 26
IRTA The FACCE-JPI joins
21 EU members/As-sociated countries that aim improving European Research capacities to deal against climatic change, produce enough food, ma-terials, and biofuel for a population in permanent growth.
The Strategic Re-search agenda is available at: www.faccejpi.com
volved with the project.This plan from the Go
vernment of Catalonia provides answers to the resolutions of the Catalonian Parliament during the debate on agricultural policies of April 14 2010, led by the Department of Agriculture, with the collaboration of universities and research centers, as well as other departments of the Government of Catalonia with competence in research and innovation matters (the Economy and Knowledge Department, the Enterprise and Employment Department, and the Health Department).
Launching of the EUROPEAN Strategic Research Agenda
The Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) of the Joint Programming Initiative on Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change (FAC-CE-JPI) establishes the strategic priorities needed to achieve, at European level, an innovating and interdisciplinary research in the fields of agriculture, food safety, and climatic change. Furthermore, it provides a framework for the alignment of existing programs and joint research. The aim of the project is to provide safe food and fight climate change.
Five key research areas are defined, representing short, medium, and long
term priorities that will have to be discussed in the FAC-CE-JPI:
• Sustainable food safety under the effect of climatic change.
• Sustainable agricultural development and intensification.
• Interrelations and unbalances between food supplies, biodiversity, and ecosystem services.
• Adapting to climatic change, and
• Climate change mitigation.
For each of these key areas the SRA establishes the implementation of a series of joint research actions at European level to promote infrastructure sharing, the creation of platforms, strengthen training, attract personnel, and promote knowledge transference.
The CENTA Foundation joins IRTA
In its last meeting the board of the Center for New Food Technologies and Processes Foundation (CENTA) has agreed to join IRTA to combine efforts and optimize the use of resources allocated to agrifood research.
The CENTA is a Private Foundation established in 2006 and since its creation has been closely linked to IRTA. CENTA´s integration will allow incorporating its capacities to the scientific structure of IRTA to increase the development potential
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IRTA favorable to IRTA´S mission.
CENTA has a 2.500 m2 industrial site, equipped with the latest technologies to offer solutions to the agri food industry.
CENTA´s integration to
IRTA is a clear opportunity for the future that allows having a center to consolidate and grow towards becoming a model forthe national and international agrifood sector.
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Deli meat without intestines
IRTA, together with the SIA and Motocono companies, have developed a revolutionary and innovating process for producing cured meat and hanging without the use
of intestines.With this new technology,
the traditional intestines used are replaced by an alginate covering to which a string is simultaneously placed. This way the cured products can be hanged for the drying and final maturation phases.
This innovating process allows:
1. A significant economical saving regarding intestine (coating) use.
2. Replace the intestine
for an alginate covering fit for human consumption.
3. Save time in the peeling process of deli meats before the slicing phase.
4. Obtain products with a uniform caliber without the need of artificial coatings (intestines).
5. Produce cured products with new formats and flavors.
6. Improve food safety.
Salt-free longaniza and chorizo
The firm Casademont, with the scientific aid of IRTA, has manufactured the first saltfree deli meats, with a reduced content in fats. More specifically, a longa-niza and a chorizo. These new products, already available in the market, have been conceived for consumers with predisposition for cardiovascular diseases or overweight.
These innovating products seek to respond to the increased consumer demands for healthier diets, providing added value to products that are part of the culture of our country.
R+D with sweet black pudding
The sweet black pudding is a typical, autochthonous, different product from the Gerona (Catalonia, Spain) region. Is a fresh or cured preparation typical of artisanal butcher´s shops, made
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s with pork shoulder, sugar, lemon, and salt.
The R+D+i challenge, suggested by the Artisan Butchers Guild of the Gerona regions, was to prepare a cooked sweet black pudding presented in a comfortable and attractive way for the consumers.
Mr. Ricard Josep, President of the Artisan Butchers Guild of the Gerona region, and the Director General of IRTA, Mr. Josep M. Monfort, signed a collaboration and research agreement involving these two institutions.
L’IRTA al Tecnofòrum 2012
Del 15 al 17 d’abril, l’IRTA ha participat a la vuitena edició de Tecnofòrum 2012 la Fira de tec-nologia, tendèn-cies i innovació per a la cuina pro-fessional que s’ha celebrat al Palau de Fires de Girona.
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Preparation of Serrano and Iberian hams with new nutritional profiles
Four national centers will work jointly to improve the quality of Serrano and Iberian hams. The investigations, coordinated by IRTA, will help optimize the elaboration process of this flagship product for our national gastronomy.
For the next two years, a group of Spanish experts will test the use of different nondestructive technologies to evaluate the composition of salt and fats in the hams.
High consumption of salt and/or fats is a risk factor that predisposes individuals to cardiovascular diseases. However, the fat gives the ham its unique aroma and flavor, while the salt is used as a natural preservative and their reduction could negatively affect the characteristics of the product and even diminish the food safety level of the product.
Thanks to the project “Op-timization and control of the technological, nutritional, and organoleptic quality of Serrano and Iberian hams”, researchers from IRTA, UPV, UNEX, and INIA, hope
to develop a new working methodology to help obtain more homogeneous hams in comparison with the current ones, in terms of their salt content.
Boarmarket: market study of future boar production
Boarmarket is the name of the new research project that aims to analyze the sensory quality of boars raised in Spain and their potential in the market.
The Boarmarket research project, funded by the National Institute for Agricultural and Food Scientific Research and Technology (INIA), aims approaching various strategies such as the use of
additives, species, or plant extracts to improve the sensory perception of the meat by consumers that refuse eating products with androsterone and skatole.
In view of the envisaged prohibition of castration by the European Union from 2018, researchers also aim developing novel boar meat classification methods, taking into consideration androsterone levels in their carcasses.
EXCELMEAT, a project to improve the quality of pork meat
The EXCELMEAT consortium will bring together scientists from eight research centers worldwide over the next three years. The aim of this European project is to try to improve the quality of pork meat through genetics and the use of new technologies.
Muscle growth, regulation of fat deposition, com
position of fatty acids, an
temortem animal
stress, and new technolo
gies for rapid as
sessment of quality pa
rameters of the meat will be studied
through the EXCELMEAT European project.
EXCELMEAT in an initiative of People Marie Curie funded by the EU, with the participation of eight international partners.
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Consumers trust the sensorial quality of farm-raised fish
A study within the Plancal project, led by IRTA and funded by JACUMAR, in which 1.200 consumers where included, revealed that Spanish people prefer farmraised fish to wildcaught fish when their production origin is unknown.
In geographical terms, Andalucian, Balearic, and Murcians are the ones that most appreciate farmraised products. The most accepted species is the bass, followed by the gilthead bream, the turbot, and the Red Sea bream.
However, when the consumers where previously informed on the origin of the production, the study highlights that Spanish people have clear preference for wildcaught fish. In this case, the acceptance of the
different evaluated species also changes, as it was the Red Sea bream the one with the higher scores.
Program INTER2000: promotion of quality support in agri-food laboratories
IRTA has signed with the Department of Agriculture, Farming, Fish, and Environment of the Catalan Government (DAAM), the organization and management of the INTER2000 Program, technically led by the agrifood laboratory.
The INTER2000 program is a support tool for promoting quality in agrifood sector laboratories. Born in 1997, it gathers more than 500 laboratories, and is entirely managed through the platform: www.inter2000.cat
New online portal on novel food technologies
The HighTech Europe network of excellence has created the Interactive Technology Portal (ITP), a new online portal on novel technologies and innovations for food processing.
Thanks to the ITP, small and medium sized enterprises and research centers will benefit from practical information regarding the implementation of new technologies such as high pressure, microwaves, and radiofrequency, among others, as well as from European experts and manufactures acquainted with these technologies.
Settlement between the Alícia Foundation and IRTA on gastrono-mic and culinary research
The Alícia Foundation and IRTA have signed a collaboration settlement to cooperate and work together on culinary and gastronomic research (optimization of culinary processes, food safety, development or improvement of new equipment, etc.). Furthermore, they will join efforts to organize technical working days on different culinary and/or gastronomic topics, colla
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borate in scientific publications, and make the society participant of the gastronomic science.
International Course on Meat Products Technologies
The eleventh edition of the International Course in Meat Technology was held in IRTA Monells. Around 30 participants from Spain, Portugal, and Latin America attended the event. The course was addressed to professionals of the sector that want to supplement their knowledge on topics regarding meat technology, from animal production to packaging, as well as the commercialization of meat products.
More than 25 different meat products were manufactured during the course, and new emerging technologies in the meat industry were reviewed, such as fast product drying through
the QuickDrySlice (QDS®) process, dynamic dryers, magnetic resonance, and computed tomography for carcass classification, as well as NIR probes and devices based on electromagnetic fields for the classification of raw material.
FOODSME-HOP, innovation for the production of healthy foodstuffs
Within the framework of European policies to improve the health and nutrition of the population, a consortium of research centers and small and medium sized enterprises from Spain, Portugal, and France work on the European FOODSMEHOP project. Their goal is to search for feasible solutions to reduce or substitute salt, sugar, fats, and additives in foodstuffs.
The main lines of action of the FOODSMEHOP project will focus on the support to business innovation from a
technical and management perspective.
Regarding salt, IRTA aims producing cured hams with reduced salt content using nondestructive technologies.
To provide support to small and medium sized enterprises in terms of technological surveillance on the topics regarding the goals of the project, the consortium has developed the EYETEC system, a webbased platform that allows easy access to current international healthy foodstuffs, patents, and novel profiles of technological transfer in the food sector.
For additional information: www.foodsme-hop.eu
IRTA technological partner of the Barcelona Food Cluster Association
The Barcelona Food Cluster Association is a strategic collaboration platform with the participation of around thirty companies and entities linked to the Catalonian food sector. The aim of this cluster association is to initiate and manage actions to strengthen their competiveness.
IRTA is a member since 2009 and the collaboration between both entities has focused on actions with the companies that make up the cluster to get to know the available food processing technologies in IRTACEN
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s TA Monells (Gerona), on a training working day, and counseling on fruit and vegetable topics with the postharvesting Technical Service of IRTA Lleida.
FAWIRA: Strengthening the agri-food Cooperation with Argelia
This project aims providing cooperation competencies to the National Institute of Agronomic Research of Algeria (NIARA) for research activities related with food, agriculture, and water, besides encouraging transnational exchanges between the interested parties.
FAWIRA, with the participation of IRTACENTA, will help transform the NIARA in a center of excellence by facilitating its participation in European and regional research projects that will help respond to the socioeconomic needs of this North African country.
FAWIRA relies on a 500.000 € budget, cofinanced by the seventh framework program (7FP) of the European Commission within the ERAWIDE calls.
IRTA and ASOPROVAC look for synergies to benefit the bovine production sector
IRTA researchers held a meeting with representatives of the Catalonia Beef Producers Association (ASOPRO-VAC), where both parties discussed on the possibility of implementing new collaborations to improve the competiveness in the beef industry.
The alternatives to castration aiming to produce entire (uncastrated) males for obtaining meat with reduced fat content, the improvement of sensorial and nourishing quality of meats, and systems for classifying bovine carcasses were the most recurrent topics during the meeting, as well as the possibilities of collaboration related with the study on meat qua
lity preferences of consumers from foreign markets.
Spanish consumers do not distinguish between Spanish and English lamb
According to the results of a study carried out by the Organization for the English beef and sheep industry (EBLEX) and coordinated by IRTA, Spanish consumers have the same level of sensorial acceptance for British lamb meat as for the Spanish meat.
This study was carried out in the University of Zaragoza, the University Centre of Santa Ana de Almendralejo (Badajoz), and IRTA Monells (Gerona). Four hundred and seventy six (476) consumers were randomly selected, with gender and age quotas similar to the Spanish model. Factors such as acceptance
of tenderness, succulence, smell, and overall
acceptance of the samples were
analyzed.Fiftysix
(56) tasting sessions were done with different English and Spa
nish meats from 17 En
glish producers and 12 Spanish
producers, from slaughterhouses of
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Extremadura, Aragon, and Catalonia.
Data analysis was performed by the SAS (SAS Institute Inc, Cary NC, USA). Results indicated that 33% of the consumers eat lamb one or more times per week, 61% fortnightly or more, 13% eat it at least once a month. Regarding succulence, smell, and overall acceptance, no significant differences were determined between English and Spanish lamb meat. Similarly, differences in weight and the production systems between British and Spanish animals did not affect the acceptance of the meats.
In general, consumers
from Extremadura obtained higher scores in comparison with Catalonia and Aragon. In these last regions, scoring for the tenderness of British lambs was higher. Regarding which sample was preferred as the first option, in Extremadura 41% of the consumers preferred British lamb, while in Aragon and Catalonia the preferences were around 50% for both meats, which confirms that the difference in acceptance between both types of lamb according to their origin was not relevant.
British production systems are very different from the Spanish ones, because the animals are fed on pasture
during most part of their lives and are slaughtered at weights that are slightly higher that that of Spanish animals. Currently the lambs produced in England are generally 5 months of age, because modern meat genetics programs are used, with great advances regarding growth rates. With this system, the meat has a different fatty acid composition, has a milder taste, and is more tender and juicy in comparison with lambs with slowgrowth and raised in low quality pastures, as it used to be previously in England and is currently occurring in other parts or Europe.
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Studying the intake and satiety in fish to improve growth
A new study, financed by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO), aims studying the physiological mechanisms regulating the intake and satiety in fish by including plant oils in their feed.
For this, a Spanish consortium led by IRTA will carry out an interdisciplinary research in the next three years to evaluate the effect of plant oils on the regulation of fish intake, combining studies on nutrition and physiology with molecular analyses (gene expression).
The project aims analyzing the metabolism and physiology of larval and juvenile of the rainbow trout and the Senegalese sole. The final objective is to study how these two growth stages, with very different characteristics in terms of nutrition and energy, affect the hunger and food intake in these two species of fish.
The results will be of great importance for future European aquaculture development and for sectors manufacturing fish feed. Furthermore, other applications of this research might
be the additional understanding of food disorders in humans, as for example obesity.
Feeding paralarval octopus
To exploit octopuses at industrial level it is first necessary to obtain juveniles in captivity, but obtaining of juveniles from paralarvals born from octopuses adapted to captivity have provided unsuccessful results. The Octophys project aims reducing the high mortality during the paralarval stage in common octopuses (Oc-topus vulgaris).
A nutritional disorder could be the origin of the problem. In this project, the primary role of IRTA is to standardize the protocols for octopus paralarval farming and establish the feeding patterns for further trials.
This project has the support of six additional
Spanish institutions: the Oceanographic Center of The Canary Islands, the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO), the Oceanographic Centre of Vigo, the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO), the Institute of Aquaculture Torre de la Sal (IATS), the University of Granada (UGR), the University of La Laguna (ULL), and the Andalucian Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IFAPA).
Research for the commercial cultivation of the spider crab
The biological characteristics and the first experiences carried out in captivity indicate this crustacean is a potentially viable species for its commercial farming.
The advantage of the spider crab is its high productiveness, as it can produce between 20.000 and 200.000 eggs per lay, lying 34 times per year. Furt
hermore, it has a short embryonic develop
ment, an abbreviated larval development
(comprising three stages), and a relatively rapid growth of the juveniles.
Specifically, the key point is to increase the survi
val of the last larval stage (megalopae),
as it is a critical stage in which the settlement
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and the metamorphosis occur. Food in this stage is a key factor to achieve a higher survival.
The project aims determining the effect of the temperature and the photoperiod on larval development (duration, survival, and biochemical composition in each stage), as well as to establish the effect of the substrate and substances that favor the metamorphosis.
Another challenge is to understand thoroughly the morphology and anatomy (through histological and cytological studies) of the digestive system of the larvae, to determine the changes produced during the complicated development process. Finally, it is important to study the degree of intake of artificial diets that will allow designing future studies on the nutritional needs of the larvae.
Demonstration of IRTAmar® for international experts
The Sant Carles de la Ràpita center received the visit of over 30 senior researchers from different countries, for the demonstration of IRTAmar®, a water recirculation system for aquatic farming. Using the mobile technology of smartphones and tablets, the visitors had the opportunity to remotely control farming parameters, besides having the possibility to visualize the fish that were inside through an aquatic video camera.
IRTAmar® is an automatic water recirculation and treatment system for aquatic research, aquatic production, and aquarium lovers, designed by IRTA researches in collaboration with INGESOM. This equipment allows
followups, parameter control and registry in farming tanks, such as water oxygen levels, temperature, salinity, pH, feed, and photoperiod among others. Furthermore, due to its versatility it can adapt to different types of aquatic farming, including fish, crustaceous, and mollusks.
Aero-Feeder: Low-cost technology for food distribution and oxygenation of aquatic farms
A collaboration project between the Technological Center for Agricultural and Industrial Machinery (Maqcentre), the Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers and Exporters of Catalonia (FEMAC), and IRTA, has allowed the development of a low cost machine that will help improve the efficiency of aquatic farming in Mexico. “Aero Feeder”, the name of the prototype, is a successful example of Catalonian R+D+i that will help increase the competiveness in developing countries.
In crustaceous farming premises, the lack of oxygen is one of the critical factors in terms of mortality. The main cause of the low oxygen concentrations is the high needs due to the large number of specimens, the high levels of food, the excess of organisms with photosynthetic capacity (or
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Dr. Furones is the new president of the Spanish Aquaculture Society (SEA)
The head of the Sant Carles de la Ràpita IRTA, Dr. Dolors Furones, has been appoin-ted president of the Spanish Aqua-culture Socie-ty (SEA). It is the first time a woman holds this position.
phytoplankton), or the low atmospheric pressure.
Aero Feeder is a prototype that includes devices to remove the water and to homogeneously deliver food. Fish producers worldwide have a cheap way to improve the yield in their farms.
Environmental improvement of marine cultivations
We have participated in the design of a suggested methodological criterion to define the environmental vigilance protocols of fish farming floating cages. Thanks to the collaboration of 10 companies of the sector, distributed along the Spanish coasts, researchers have been able to unify different plans for environmental followup in this type of systems.
To provide support to the public administrations in charge of monitoring the compliance of these rules, a group of Spanish researchers has developed a set of tools for performing an effective control of marine farming in floating cages.
According to the results, the environment is not significantly affected after the feeding process and in open waters, due to the rapid dissolution and dispersion of the nutrients. Despite all of this, in those cases in which the conditions are not favorable for the dispersion of the residues, as in the case of ammonia and phosphates (marine currents with speeds below 5 cm/s) or in areas with a large number of farming systems, it is important to control the effect of the nutrients on the production of microalgae, as well as the quality of the water.
On the other hand, an adequate selection of the site, a careful planning, and a correct evaluation procedure
of the environmental impact by the farms, is amongst the environmental monitoring criteria established for the research.
With this method, the companies will know the impact their systems have on the environment and follow valid guidelines for designing their vigilance plans.
These results have been obtained within the framework of the research project financed by JACUMAR within the Marine Farming National Plan with more than one million Euros and the participation of six Spanish institutes and centers.
The muscle transcriptome of the gilthead bream has been sequenced
Scientists from the University of St. Andrews (Scotland) and IRTA have obtained the first data on muscle transcriptome of the gilthead bream (Sparus aurata). These results are essential for the genetic improvement and commercial farming of the species with the highest production in aquaculture in the Mediterranean.
The sequencing of muscle transcriptome of the gilthead bream, within the framework of the European Lifecycle project of the Seventh Framework Programme, represents an important advancement regarding the genetic information available to
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turedate on this fish. Particularly,
the research has allowed identifying transcription factors (genes that activate for protein synthesis), signaling molecules (that modulate gene expression), and structural proteins needed for the development (myogenesis) and growth of muscle tissues in the animal.
Collaboration with the Canadian National Research Center for a new reference pattern (homoyessotoxin)
Although homoyessotoxin is not a diarrhea toxin, it usually causes false positives during the detection of diarrhea toxins through bioassays in shellfish samples, which consequently leads to the erroneous and unnecessary closing of shellfish sites, causing economic losses to the sector.
The Canadian National Re-search Council (NRC), which generates reference patters used to ensure food safety, has recently suggested a new reference patter for homoyessotoxin.
From the microalgae cultures produced in IRTA, enough pure substance has been obtained, generating this reference material.
The availability of this pattern will allow food safety control laboratories worldwide provide answers to the legislative requirements regarding the possible pre
sence of toxins in shellfish for human consumption. Homoyessotoxin is currently legislated in the European Union and although there are still doubts regarding its toxicity to humans, it can interfere in the bioassays for determining the presence of other toxins.
Health management guideline for aquaculture
A “Health Management Guideline for Aquaculture” has been prepared within the framework of the JACUMARGESACNORMATIVA project. Several autonomous communities have participated in the project, Andalucía, Galicia, Canary Islands, and Murcia, as well as the Reference Laboratory for Fish and Shellfish diseases, the Autonomous University of Barcelona, and the Faculty of Veterinary in the University of Zaragoza.
Recombinant gonadotropins in the Senegalese sole
Researchers from IRTA and CSIC have achieved to produce recombinant gonadotropins (rFSH and rLH) of the Senegalese sole, biologically active in vitro and in vivo. Gonadotropins are the main responsible hormones
of gamete formation and maturation, and are thus key elements for captive fish reproduction control. The study has been financed by the Ramón Areces Foundation.
Laboratory reproduction of a Mediterranean limpet in risk of extinction
The reproduction of specimens of clinging limpets (Patella ferruginea) has been achieved by artificial insemination. This Mediterranean marine mollusk is in danger of extinction. A dozen of limpets born in the premises of the Sant Carles de la Ràpita center have developed to crawling juveniles overcoming the planktonic larval stage, the most critical and delicate of their growth cycle.
New web for AqüiCATwww.aquicat.cat
The Aquaculture Cluster of Catalonia (AqüiCAT) has presented the new version of its web site, with completely renewed designs and contents.
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Effect of extrusion on the digestion of poultry and pigs
In intensive systems of poultry and pig production, the prohibition of antibiotic growthpromoters has led to a reduced control of intestinal microbiota in the los animals, becoming more susceptible to enteric infections.
As there is no effective strategy for the control of intestinal dysbiosis in poultry and pigs, the use of antibiotics as growthpromoters has been substituted for therapeutic use, as shown by the effective purchasing data from this sector.
Thus, it is important to study if modulation and control of intestinal microbiota through feed could contribute to this control and reduce the dependency on medicated feed. Although there is evidence that the composition of the diet (particularly the source of starch and nonamylaceous polysaccharides and their digestibility) has an effect on the composition of microbiota, there is scarce information regarding the modulation through feed, particularly under conditions of microbi
ological challenge. This project, coordinated
by IRTA´s monogastric nutrition team and CReSA´s microbiology team, will assess the effects of extruding different raw materials on the digestibility and fermentation of carbohydrates and proteins in poultry and pigs, using in vivo e in vitro methods.
The digestibility of starch, soluble and insoluble food
fibers, and proteins from raw material are being analyzed at the level of small and large intestine, as indicators of availability of the mentioned nutrients.
In parallel, the effect of extrusion on microbiota composition will be assessed looking for an association of poultry and pig susceptibility to experimental infection with Escherichia coli K88 and Clostridium perfringens, respectively.
This control of the diges
tion of raw materials, the composition of the microbiota, and the resistance of the animals towards experimental infection through the extrusion process of the raw materials, could help establish nutritional strategies to fight enteric infections and reduce the dependency from sectors involved in the use of medicated feed.
Salmonella and E. Coli control in
poultry and pig farming using
natural substan-ces
This project aims studying the effect of the
inclusion of yeasts, galactoman
nans, and/or yeast cell walls in the feed
of poultry and pigs on the prevalence of Salmonella in challenged animals under stress conditions or until slaughter age.
These are natural substances that can block bacteria or act as immunomodulators in the feed. The aim is to characterize their influence on different parameters of the innate and acquired immune response in animals exposed to Salmonella or E. Coli and consequently determine if and how these products protect against the proliferation of Salmonella and E. Coli and improve the
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se animals.
Why does the emotional state of pigs affect the quality of their meat?
The project “Animal markers and emotion” (ANE-MOMA), led by IRTA, aims studying how the emotional state of the pig affects its welfare in the farm and in the slaughterhouse. Considering physiological analyses and animal behavior, researchers are hoping to obtain valuable information regarding the final product.
The wellbeing of the animal is a concept that includes physical and mental health of the animals. Although there are indicators on the degree of comfort, hunger, health, or lesions, there are still measurements to be studied on the emotional state of the animals in the farms.
In previous investigations,
it was observed that the emotional state of the pigs could modify biochemical and cellular parameters, which could be used as stress markers. The current project aims going a step forward by assessing the effect of sex, genotype, management conditions in cognitive biases, and identification of stress biomarkers before and after slaughter (pre and perimortem stages, respectively) in blood, saliva, brain, intestine, and meat of the pigs.
Besides from IRTA, the Autonomus University of Barcelona, the SERIDA, and the University of Universidad Oviedo also participate in the project, which is financed by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness.
Solutions for stunning sheep and goats with lower current intensities
Upon petition and awa
reness of our society, the European Union has legislated on animal welfare of all livestock species. Consequently, animal production and processing sectors have made an outstanding effort to adapt their facilities.
The European animal welfare law relating to sheep, establishes that the stunning current for lambs and kids before slaughter shall be 1 ampere, applicable as of January 1st, 2013.
IRTA understands that the weight of the animals produced in Spain is much lower than that of animals produced in rest of EU countries. Thus, this intensity could be the cause of the lesions observed in the carcasses and skins of the animals.
IRTA, aware of this problem in Spain, has made available its animal welfare researchers to the sheep and goat sector. To date, two petitions have emerged:
On one hand, the Interprofessional Food and Agriculture Ovine and Caprine Organization (INTEROVIC) has commissioned a broad study to IRTA, to analyze the effectiveness of the stunning at various current intensities below 1 ampere and different slaughter weight. If the results of the study show that lower currents can be used without affecting the numbness of the animal while minimizing the lesions in carcasses and skins, these conclusions will be presented to the EU for them to consider modifying the current legislation (Council Regulation (CE) Nº
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1099/2009) in order to adapt it to the Spanish reality.
On the other hand, a big lamb and kid slaughterhouse has also commissioned several trials to IRTA to look into the effects of the use of lower current level on stunning in its own premises.
“Animal welfare in the set and the media”, monographic from the SAM platform
The Food Safety in the Media (FSM) platform, an initiative of the Catalan Food Safety Agency (ACSA) and the Science Communication Observatory at the University Pompeu Fabra (OCC-UPF), have published
the monographic document titled “Animal welfare in the set and the media”, with the participation of Dr. Antonio Velarde from IRTA.
IRTA updates the APPCC system of its experimental slaughterhouse
A final project of a Master´s degree in the Business and Technology Higher Studies School (ESDEN) in Madrid has allowed improving and updating the APPCC system in the experimental slaughterhouse of IRTA center located in Monells (Gerona).
The Risk Assessment and Critical Control Points system (RACCP) is a food sa
fety regulation that must be followed in all premises of the food sector.
The slaughterhouse in the Monells center, with a slaughtering line for pigs and sheep, is distributed over a 470 m2 surface, with all the characteristics of a pilot experimental plant. Differently from a conventional slaughterhouse, slaughter volumes here are low and usually exceptional, depending on the research project in development within the premises.
The method used to improve and update IRTA´s slaughterhouse has been the assessment of compliance of the 12 stages of the RACCP system, considering the principles of the Codex Alimen-tarius, as well as a complete program of prerequisites necessary for the effective establishment of this system.
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Fibers and the lactating calf
The INIA project has ended this year: “Effect of the different sources of fiber in the diet on the digestive function and development of the lactating calf”. The main objective of this project was to determine if the supplementation of a fiber source, for its use as forage, had any impact on the development of the lactating calf and if there are differences between the various fiber sources. Thus, the aim was to establish a series of recommendations regarding the supplementation of fiber to lactating calves.
The primary conclusions were that grass forage (oats
hay, barley hay, triticale silage) stimulate the intake of animal feed in the calves, increasing the average daily weight gain with no negative effects on digestibility. Contrarily, when alfalfa hay was given, no stimulation of animal feed intake was observed. Probably, a higher intake of alfalfa hay in comparison with the intake of grass forage led to no increase of the productive parameters in lactating calves when alfalfa hay was offered. The intake of grass forage stimulated the intake of animal feed in part because it improved the health of the animal, increasing the rumen pH and the activity of volatile fatty acid transporters at rumen level, accelerating the rhythm of passage in the intestines.
Goat mastitis markers
This project has focused on the study of the acutephase protein SAA3 found in the colostrum and in milk (MSAA3). Because there are limitations for obtaining somatic cell counts in goats (indicator used to date to detect infections in the mammary gland), studies have been carried out to clarify its suggested potential as a new indicator of intramammary infections in goats. Results show that it is not a sufficiently precise indicator for detecting clinical mastitis, although its use is not completely discarded as a marker for subclinical mastitis.
On the other hand, its function and the reason of the high concentration of MSAA3 in milk have also been described. It has been shown that MSAA3 regulates gastrointestinal infections in lactating animals that consume milk and colostrum, as it prevents pathogen entry in the cells of the intestinal tissue. It also modulates the synthesis of some components of the innate immune response, as for example the expression of the mucus proteins (mucins) and cytokines that stimulate the inflammatory response against the gastrointestinal pathogen. Finally, another important role is the recruitment of phagocytic cells that get rid of the pathogens and the stimulation of phagocytosis through the opsonization
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Dr. Toni Velarde and Dr. Àlex Bach new members of the Scientific Committees and Panels of EFSA
The European Food Sa-fety Authority (EFSA) has designated Dr. Toni Velarde, a researcher from IRTA, as a new member of the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare Panel for the 20122015 period.
Dr. Àlex Bach, an IRTA researcher, has also been assigned member of the Scientific Committee and Scientific Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed for the same period.
Both have started with their tasks within the EFSA last July. This is a recognition at individual level as well as to the research programs in which they participate: Animal Health and Welfare (Toni Velarde) and Ruminant Production (Àlex Bach).
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The Star 16.86 project: increase rabbit production in over 46%
The Star 16.86 project, designed by Cunicarn and created in collaboration with IRTA, is a model of technical improvement and productive processes that when used ensures the sustainability of the rabbit sector, very entrenched in Catalonia.
This project gathers a series of measures that have been shown to be effective, as they have been applied in countries like France, improving the results in the farms in a sustainable manner and in different areas: economic, social, environmental, animal welfare, and food safety.
If the decision from the Catalonian rabbit farms is to adapt to these measures, they will preserve and increase the activity in Catalonia, maintain the Catalonian leadership, increase the production in 46%, improve animal welfare, and promote the prestige and generational replacement in the farms.
There are many positive aspects of rabbit farming, as for example the quality of white meat or the fact that rabbit farming is the
livestock activity that generates less greenhouse effect gases.
The Star 16.86 project is viable as there is no need to build a totally new webs of farms, but only transforming the existing ones. Within this direction, the town of Cervià in Lerida will admit the first model farm in Catalonia, in May. With a surface area of 1.500 m2, the exploitation will include the most advanced techniques to increase the productivity, environmental control, and animal welfare. This is the first step towards the renewal of the rabbit farmin sector in our country.
The presentation of the Star 16.86 project was made at La Espluga del Francolí, with the presence of the Minister of the Department of Agriculture, Farming, Food, Fish, and Environment, Josep Maria Pelegrí, who was accompanied by the directorsgeneral of Agriculture and Lives tock Miquel
Molins, from Food, Quality and AgriFood Industry, Domènec Vila, from IRTA Josep M. Monfort, and from Cunicar, Ramon Calbet, as well as over 150 representatives of the main Catalonian rabbit farms.
XIX edition of the Porc d’Or
The XIX Edition of the Porc d´Or (Golden Pig) awards for pig production was held in Madrid´s Place of Congress. Over 500 people among professionals and authorities from the pork sector attended the event. IRTA organized the Porc d’Or Awards in collaboration with Pfizer Animal Health and the National Association for Pig Farming (Anaporc), as coorganizers.
In this edition of the Porc d’Or, 77 swine farms from all over Spain applied for the awards. the Castellets farm from Taradell (Barcelona), obtained the maximum pos
sible award the “Porc d’Or con Diamante”. This
farm initially operated in a closedcy
cle system with 180 sows and 900 fattening pigs, that in 2001 changed their production orientation becoming a
piglet production farm with 560 pro
ductive sows and 30 rearing sows.
This year´s Special Award “Porc d’Or a la Máxi-
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ma Productividad” has gone to Huesca (Candasnos), to the El Sas farm owned by Cincaporc. This farm, with a mean of 33.26 weaned piglets per sow per year, has set a new productivity record in the history of these awards.
The Special Award “Sa-nidad, Bienestar Animal y Medio Ambiente” from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Environment (MAGRAMA) was shared by two farms for the first time in the history of the awards. A farm from Albacete, Pechequín Ltd., owned by the AfrivallVall Companys Grup, in Chinchilla de Montearagón, and the farm Ponte Coirós, from the Coren cooperative, in Coirós (Corunna).
The Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA) created the Porc d’Or awards in 1994. The aim of these awards is to recognize the work of swine firms and the swine farming industry that thanks to their professionalism, effort, and the use of the best production techniques are able to overcome new challenges, acting as spearheads in the swine sector in Spain.
Currently, in its 19th edition, the Porc d´Or awards are not only consolidated, but are also the role model of excellence for the Spanish pig industry.
The Porc d´Or awards presentation gala is an unmissable event that each year gathers livestock farmers, firms, and other personali
ties linked with this sector, as well as local, autonomic, and national authorities.
Support to the competitiveness of the pork sector in Nicaragua
In the next four years, IRTA researchers will work in collaboration to create the National Reference Centre for Assisted Reproduction in Pigs (CRRP), in Nicaragua.
Bearing in mind the strengthening of the scientific capabilities of the National Agrarian University of Nicaragua and the improvement of the food safety in this country, IRTA researchers have the challenge of increasing the competiveness of the pork activity in small and medium Nicaraguan producers, as well as to recover the meat from the autocht
honous Marango (or Curro) pig.
Thus, in the next four years, the researchers will carry out studies on the genetic selection of Marango producers in terms of productivity and meat quality. On the other hand, units of health control, artificial insemination, and handling of embryos for the future CRRP will be set up.
Financed by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AE-CID) within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the project will be coordinated by the University of Gerona and National Agrarian University of Nicaragua, with the participation of the Autonomus University of Barcelona, the University of Murcia, the University of Leon, the Spanish National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (INIA), and IRTA.
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Antimicrobial consumption in pigs and resistances
CReSA will study the presence of Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli, producers of cephalosporinases in pigs and will assess the possible association between the consumption of antimicrobials (including betalactams, cephalosporins, sulfonamides, and tetracyclines) and the presence of resistant strains. The study will be financed by the MI-CINN.
Influenza collaboration between Spain and Mozambique
CReSA and CRESIB researchers met with more than 25 scientists from Mozambique to exchange experiences and establish common objectives during
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CReSA & the city: a blog from everyone for everyone
CReSA has a cor-porative blog: CReSA & the city, link: http://www.cresa.cat /blogs/sociedad/
the Workshop on influenza held in April in the National Health Institute of that country.
This visit was carried out within the cooperation project in the AP/038337/11 preparatory action, financed by the Spanish Agency for Development Cooperation (AECID) titled “Development of a R&D project to establish institutional capabilities for influenza virus diagnosis and research techniques”.
Haemophilus parasuis and the Glässer´s disease
Researchers from CReSA have discovered that Hae-mophilus parasuis can use pig´s sialic acid to go unnoticed in the immune system and cause the disease in the pigs. Furthermore, a gene associated with the virulent
bacterial strains has been identified, which could be of help for establishing the diagnosis.
In search of the PPC tracks
The research carried out by CReSA on classic pig plague over the last four years has provided new understanding regarding the protective response against the virus and viral evolution in endemic infections.
Research on the classic pig plague virus in CReSA (VPPC) focuses on studying the pathogen and viral evolution in search of new diagnostic techniques and vaccines.
The studies have shown the capacity virulent strains have to induce a strong type I interferon response, which correlates with the high viral replication in pigs shor
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Dr. Joaquim Se-galés Coma, new Director of the Centre for Re-search on Animal Health (CReSA)
Since May 1, Dr. Joaquim Segalés is the new director of CReSA repla-cing Dr. Mariano Domingo Álvarez who has been in charge of the ins-titution since its creation 12 years ago.
tly after they are infected. Furthermore, new antigens involved in viral protection have been identified, which can be of great interest for the development of more effective novel serologic diagnostic techniques.
Rabbits can also suffer from prion-caused diseases
A study has shown that rabbits are not resistant to diseases caused by prions as believed to date.
This discovery has implications for human health, because these animals can be destined for human consumption.
A prioncaused epidemic in rabbits is highly improbable. However, this susceptibility should be considered when formulating rabbit foods. Furthermore, rabbits destined for human consumption should not be fed with animal proteins coming from flours made from meat and ruminant or rabbit bones.
A new vaccine against human tuberculosis has been successfully tested for the first time in goats
Researches from the Centre for Research on Animal Health (CReSA) have carri
ed out the first vaccination study against tuberculosis, using the domestic goat as the experimental model. The AdAg85A vaccine was designed by researchers from McMaster University (Canada), to prevent tuberculosis in humans and is currently being tested in a Phase I trial.
The studies performed in CReSA have shown that the goats vaccinated with the BCG and subsequently inoculated with the new AdAg85A vaccine (which expresses a Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein) are better protected against tuberculosis than animals which have only been vaccinated with BCG. Specifically, the new vaccine strengthens the immune system (booster effect) against tuberculosis infection, reducing lesions, the number of bacteria, and their replication, consequently diminishing intrapulmonary and extrapulmonary dissemination of the infection.
Besides the relevant public health implications of this study, these results show that vaccination can be an effective option for controlling tuberculosis in goats, an endemic disease in our country, as well as in many others, which causes economic losses to the livestock industry. Simultaneously it means a higher risk of infection for people that are in contact with the animals (cattle breeders, veterinaries, etc.). Currently, vaccination with BCG is not used, as it is not very efficient and can interfere with the
diagnosis. Thus, it is necessary to study new vaccines or vaccination strategies.
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10 years of IRTA´s post-Harvesting Technical Service
The postHarvesting Tech nical Service celebrated its first 10 years of operations last April 17 with a technical and festive working day. More than 120 people attended the event in representation of more than 80 companies that have agreements with this Service.
The postHarvesting Technical Service was created by IRTA in 2002 in response to requests from the fruit sector and has
provided continuous service to the companies in the postharvesting sector is Spain and in Portugal, a decade filled of efforts and successes.
Post-harvesting biocontrol agent for fruit
In this project, a container, and optimal/appropriate container and storage conditions for the biocontrol of Pantoea agglomerans CPA-2 have been defined, for a shelf life longer that one year and with out loss of effectiveness. This product has shown an excellent control of diseases caused by P. digitatum and P. expansum in oranges and apples, respectively.
On the other hand, a more rapid CPA2 recovery method from fruit surfaces in comparison with the regular method used in population
dynamics has been designed. Furthermore, making use of molecular CPA2 markers, its limited persistency in the environment has also been shown.
The most important result
obtained from this project was the generation of a product based on an agent that acts as a biological control. It is effective and easy to apply during preharvesting and postharvesting fruit treat ment, as an alternative to synthesized fungicides, for controlling primary postharvesting diseases in apples and oranges, and with low impact on the environment and on the person handling the fruit.
Virulence and defense fungi-fruit mechanisms for the control of Penicillium
Understanding these mechanisms is useful for conducting research on new control treatments alternative to the commonly used fungicides. This project aims obtaining further knowledge on the pathogenic mechanisms of P. digi-tatum and P. expansum, the defense mechanisms of the fruit, and the assessment of new control systems.
Three pathogenic and fruit genes induced during fruitpathogen interaction have been identified with this project. The next step is a genetic approximation (obtain mutants by Agrobac-terium tumefaciensmediated transformation) aiming the identification of the relevant pathogenic genes in both pathogens.
Regarding the fruit, the defense reaction will be
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analyzed in compatible and incompatible apple interactions. This will be done first by a proteomic approximation and the analysis of the expression of the genes identified in the previous project or described in the literature, to determine their implication in the defense responses of the fruit. Furthermore, the levels of Reactive Oxygen Species will be determined in fruit infected with low virulence mutants obtained during the project. Finally, further characterization of a protease inhibitor capable of reducing postharvest rots caused by these two fungi will be performed, as well as the possibility to widen its spectrum of action to other pathogens and hosts.
Postharvest as a tool to optimize worldwide plant production
According to official data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, in the Western world each year between 95115 kg of food is wasted per person. Among the most rejected foods for consumption are fruits, vegetables, roots, and tubers.
“Improvement and innovation of postharvest techniques could reduce
losses in approximately 10 to 12%”, states Dr. Conxita Royo, who also added that the implementation of the next Fruitcentre will be essential to improve R&D in Catalonia, where the annual production of fruit and vegetables comprises a high percentage of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The latest postharvest novelties, such as the ethylene (a gas produced by plants to boost the maturation of their fruit) inhibitor, were presented in the 10th National Symposium and the 7th Iberian Symposium on Maturation and Postharvest of Fruit and Vegetables, held in Lleida between the 1st 4th of October.
New business opportunities with fruit of the IV and V range
“Cut fruit: a good business opportunity”. With this title Dr. Maribel Abadias and Dr. Immaculada Viñas, from the postharvest program, put up a guided tasting with fruit of the IV and V range. The tasting was done at the stand of Prodeca at the Food fair. The aim of the tasting was to show the market advantages and possibilities fruit has with innovating products.
There are different kind
of difficulties with this type of product, as for example choosing the adequate variety or trying to get good homogeneity and precise ripening. Furthermore, from
a technological perspective, it is important to choose the appropriate antioxidants and containers so that the consumer appreciates the product.
During the fruit tasting, the assistants had the possibility to try products of the IV and V range: apples, pears, and various fruit combinations. Differences between these products were also explained, as well as the services IRTA offers to the sector to open doors in this new market.
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Chef Joan Roca harvested thefirst Poma de Girona of this season
The Catalan Joan Roca, one of the most influential chefs in the world, presented the sym-bolic harvesting of the first Poma de Girona of the year at Mas Badia
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BIO NETWORK, Experimentation exchange and transfer network in ecological agriculture
REDBIO is a 3year project (20092011) funded by the POCTEFA program from FEDER with a budget of 2,728,894.00 €.
The main objective of the REDBIO project is to promote fruit, vegetable, and ecological wine production through experimentation and technological transfer between its members. The partners participating in the project have prepared joint protocols addressed to the farmers and agricultural technicians, providing solutions to problems existing in both crossborder regions.
French (CA66, INRA, CIVAM Bio, and SICA Centrex) and Catalonian (CREDA, DAAM, INCAVI, IRTA, UB, and UP) organizations have participated in the project. All these organizations belong to regions bordering with the Pyrenees: the region of Eastern Pyrenees (France) and Catalonia (Spain). The CA66 has led the project and the coordination of the experimental section has been done by IRTA.
ECO-ZEO: New and eco-efficient applications of zeolite for the agricultural sector
ECOZEO is a 4year European project (20122016) funded by the environmental subprogramme of the Seventh Framework Programme with a total budget of 2,662,634.00 €.
The primary objective of the ECOZEO project is to develop a new pool of green crop protection products. These zeolite–based products will
be characterized by a wide range of beneficial effects for the farmer, such as the decrease in water use, increased yields from cultivation, decreased chemical impact, protection of the crops, abiotic stress tolerance, and improvement of working conditions in the agricultural and agrochemical sectors.
The consortium of the ECOZEO project is coordinated by IRTA and is made up by 10 organizations from eight countries among which there are research centers and universities (IRTA, BATEM, LEI, and UGENT), the industry (FMC and FITO), small and mediumsized businesses of the agrochemical sector (TERRA, FERRER, and CEMAS), and the European Association of Farmers (AREFLH).
Genetic characterization of 1,500 varieties and breeding lines of peach in Euro-pe
Researchers from the European FruitBreedomics project have genetically typified over 1,500 varieties and breeding lines of peach using a Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) chipbased method. This allow understanding the genetic biodiversity of the European peach, as well as to determine its quality and
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disease resistance. Along with these results,
the participating researchers also presented data of more than 30 improvement programs for the apple. Their results indicate that the most important features for these programs are associated with the quality of the fruit (particularly the texture) and their resistance to diseases (dots on the apples and oidium).
Furthermore, the scientists also announced the development of a high density SNP chip (between 20 and 50 K) to genetically typify the apple. This will allow the creation by producers and research centers of new apple varieties in a more efficient way.
The FruitBreedomics projects aims increasing the efficiency of the current fruit improvement programs and thus reduce the gap between research, molecular genetics, and plant improvement.
This collaboration gathers 24 partners and 3 guests from 10 European countries, as well as South Africa, New Zealand, Israel, China, and the USA, with the participation of research centers, including IRTA from the Department of Agriculture, universities, and small and mediumsized enterprises with wide experience in genetics, genomics, ecophysiology, and bioinformatics. FruitBreedomics began March 1, 2011 with a budget of 10 million Euros and a cofinancing of 6 million Euros by the Seventh
Framework Programme (7PM) from the European Commission.
Peach consumption in Catalonia is five times lower than in Italy
Extending the ripening calendar for peaches and nectarines, the presentation of the albino peach, and the pavias with nectarinelike skin were the most outstanding novelties in the 16th edition of
the Peach and Nectarine Varieties Exhibition held in Gimenells on July 26, with the participation of 560 people.
The peculiarities of almost 100 new varieties studied during last year were presented. Sweetness, color, caliber, pulp consistency, and agronomic behavior were some of the discussed topics.
Furthermore, new Italian
fruit types were presented, unknown until now in Catalonia: a yellow peach or pavia with nectarinelike skin and two varieties of albino peach or Ice Peach.
Emphasis was made on the importan
ce of promoting peach consumption in Catalonia. The consumption in Cata
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European Association for innovation in fruit and vegetables
The research and innovation commission of the Assembly of European Fruit and Vegetableproducing Regions (AREFLH) announced the decision of creating a European Innovation Association (EIA) for fruit and vegetables, with the active involvement of IRTA.
This initiative goes in hand with the objective established by the European Fruit Research Institutes Network (EUFRIN) of preparing a research and innovation strategic agenda for fruit production to establish the goals to which focus the investigation for the fruit value chain. On the other hand, the ARE-FLH will be responsible of establishing the strategic agenda for the vegetable sector.
IRTA coordinates the research commission of the AREFLH and is part of the board of the EUFRIN.
Over 1,600 assistants at the 17th Fruit conference
The 17th Fruit Conference was held on October 17 and 18 in the farm of the Experimental Station in Lleida (Mollerussa). The
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A visit to Mas Ba-dia of the Interna-tional Pink Lady®
Alliance
To mark the an-nual meeting of the International Pink Lady® Allian-ce, a group of 50 people visited IR-TA´s experimental station in Mas Ba-dia on October 3.
and Arboreto SAT LTDA. This trip allowed gaining
knowledge on the use of new technologies for farming management, as well as to increase the competiveness of these two Catalonian organizations that gather over 27,000 farmers.
Good Practice Guide for olive production
The Good Agricultural Practice Guide for the pro-duction of olives aims providing a working tool to the owners of the holdings to help them in the implementation of the selfcontrol measurements for maintaining high food safety standards as determined by the corresponding regulations, and thus, provide an officially recognized guide to be used as a safety element.
The Catalan Food Safety Agency (ACSA) under the guidance of the Resource Center for Health and Environmental Protection and the participation of various institutions, including IRTA, has edited this guide.
The Guide is available at: http://www.gencat.cat/
salut/acsa/html/ca/dir2967/doc34369.html
lonia is of approximately 4.8 kg per person/year, while in Italy is 22 kg per person/year.
Technical mission in Australia to improve the cultivation of the almond tree
During the first fortnight of February, researchers of the Olive cultivation, Olive production, and Dried fruits and nuts subprogram flew to Australia accompanied by the technicians of two of the main Spanish organizations that produce fruits and nuts, Crisol de Frutos Secos SAT
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conference included a complete technical program with diverse field demonstrations and exhibition stands from the companies.
A large number of visitors attended the congress. Over 1,600 participants filled the premises of the Experimental Station in Lleida in Mollerussa, a 7% increase in comparison with the previous edition.
During the conference, various visits and demonstrations were performed in the commercial expositions that included 42 stands.
The Jorge S.L. group and IRTA will continue working together in wood and biomass production
Last June 20 the agreement between the Jorge S.L.
group and IRTA from the department of Agriculture was renewed for three additional years. The agreements were signed by the Managing Director of the Jorge S.L group, Mr. Sergio Samper Rivas and the director general IRTA, Mr. Josep M. Monfort i Bolívar.
Since 2006 IRTA collaborates closely with this firm in the facilities of plantation forest for wood production in Monegros, specifically in Castejón de Monegros (Aragón), were over 150 hectares of walnut and cherry trees are planted. During these six years, IRTA´s researchers have worked in the selection of the best materials for that region and on the productive and qualitative assessment of the produced wood.
Furthermore, IRTA provides advice to the Jorge S.L group on trees for producing biomass, from the selection to agronomic aspects, performing specific tests for production and management with different species of tree.
“Biodiversity: Roman gardens and gardens of the Loire”
The cities of Tarragona and Orleans (France), in a partnership Comenius Re-gio and sponsored by the European Council, have been developing the project “Biodiversity: Roman gardens and gardens of the Loire”. Several institutions have participated in this project.
The primary objective of the project was to raise awareness and educate the general population on local biodiversity. Within this broad framework, gardens have been chosen as the common topic (focused in the study of the Roman gardens in the case of Tarragona and the gardens of the Loire in the case of Orleans) and more specifically on medicinal plants.
IRTA has collaborated in the construction of an experimental hortus in the Roman village of Els Munts in Altafulla.
Recently this project has been selected by the Autonomous Agency for European Educational Programs (OAPEE) as one of the three best practices in Spain.
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Genome sequencing of the melon
A consortium of nine public and private research centers has sequenced the genome of the melon, one of the most economically important species worldwide. This is the first time a Spanish publicprivate consortium had completed the genome of a plant belonging to a higher group (with flowers and seedbearing) using new massive sequencing technologies, which are cheaper and more efficient.
Besides sequencing the whole genome of the melon, the researchers have been able to sequence, the genomes of seven different varieties. This study has been published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
The head of the study has been Pere Puigdomènech, from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), and Jordi García Mas from IRTA, who work in the Center for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) in Barcelona. The research group led by Roderic Guigó from the Center for Genomic Regulation collaborated actively with the project.
Nine (9) research centers participated in the Melono-mics project, promoted by the Genoma Spain foundation, with the support of five companies and five autonomous communities.
The results reveal that the genome of the melon
has around 450 million base pairs and 27,427 genes, which is much larger than its closest relative, the cucumber, with 360 million base pairs.
Four hundred and eleven (411) genes with probable involvement in resistance to diseases have been identified in the melon. Another interesting point is the ripening of the fruit, a process in which characteristics such as taste and aroma are defined. The researchers identified up to 89 genes linked to some of these processes: 26 associated with the accumulation of carotenes (which gives the color to the pulp) and 63 with sugar accumulation and, thus, with the flavor of the melon, from which 21 had not been previously described.
Collaboration between many institutions
The project was led by teams from the Research in Agricultural Genomics
(CRAG), a CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB consortium, who sequenced and assembled the genome with the collaboration of the Center for Genomic Regulation regarding the genome.
Groups from the Pompeu Fabra University (Barcelona), Del Segura Edaphology and Applied Biology Center from the CSIC (Murcia), the Center for Genomic Regulation (Barcelona), the Technical University of Valencia, and the University of Wisconsin (USA) also participated in the project. On the other hand, Roche Diagnostics made available technologies to help assembling the genome.
The funding of the project, over four million Euros, was provided by Genoma Spain, five autonomic communities (Andalusia, CastileLa Mancha, Catalonia, Madrid, and Murcia), and the companies Semillas Fitó, Syngenta Seeds, Roche Diagnostics, Savia Biotech, and Sistemas Genómicos.
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Gen
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logyA new model that
explains the biological rhythm of plants
Researchers from the Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) have participated in the discovery of a new clockregulated circadian mechanism in plants.
According to researchers from the CRAG, the essen
tial protein known as TOC1 seems to be the responsible of regulating the rhythm in plants. To date it was believed that this protein activated the genes of the day oscillator, which in turn, suppresses the night oscillator. However, this new study reveals that the TOC1 acts as a general suppressor of gene expression oscillators that act during day and night.
This discovery, published in Science (issue from
March 8), modifies the model that has been used over the last 10 years to explain the functioning of the biological clock.
Studying the 24hour cyclic patter in plants, responsible of many of the processes occurring in these organisms (e.g., germination, growth, flowering time, movement of the leaves, and even response to stress), is essential to control their growth and development.
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Authorization to perform ORTs
IRTA has been authorized by the Ministry of Agriculture to perform Officially Recognized Tests (ORTs), required by the EU for the official registry of new phytosanitary products.
The ORTs are carried out by authorized entities. The aim of these tests is to assess the effectiveness of new phytosanitary products under real conditions. Highly qualified professionals with experience in a wide range of crops, plagues, and products must perform these tests, with knowledge in analytical and statistical methods and the capacity to interpret results under different experimental conditions. The results obtained from these test are part of
a set of information required by the Administration to evaluate its possible commercial use authorization.
IRTA has the ISO 9001:2008 certification (Quality Management System).
Autochthonous plants to restore an old quarry in the Vallès Occidental
Since 2006, the company Servial has been restoring the Sot de Goleres quarry, located in Castellar del Vallès (Barcelona), which stopped its activity around 30 years ago. The aim of this work is the recovery of a natural space.
IRTA has been supplying autochthonous mycorrhizal
plants such as oleander, lavender, geranium, sage, and thyme, besides doing the planting in the slopes of the quarry.
Aromatic and medicinal plant collaboration with India
With this project, IRTA and the Energy and Re-sources Institute (TERI), initiated and established a SpanishIndian collaboration focused in the interactions of beneficial plants and organisms. The aim of the project is to increase the quality and the production of aromatic and medicinal plants using cultivars and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, selected and adapted to low fertility soils. The cooperation between both countries has allowed selecting more effective mycorrhizal fungi for promoting plant growth and increase the performance in the production of essential oils in controlled conditions (greenhouse) as well as in the open. Low fertility soils have been recovered while making profitable use of the soil using an appropriate combination of aromatic plant species with commercial interest and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.
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IRTA and Semillas Fitó perform a tomato tasting in Fruit Attraction
Within the framework of the Fruit Attraction fair
(Madrid, October 2426), IRTA presented a tomato tasting panel associated to an innovation project commissioned by the company Semillas Fitó.
It was explained how this panel was created, aiming to define the organoleptic properties of tomatoes. Furthermore, the people that
assisted to the lecture were able to actively participate in the tasting process and discover the most outstanding values of some of the varieties produced by Se-millas Fitó, uncovering this way the organoleptic benefits of tomatoes using the five senses.
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Ramularia leaf spot, a new disease in barley
A new disease in barley, ramularia leaf spot (Ramu-laria collo-cygni), causes yield loss, both in quantity and quality of the grain. Using varie-ties and applying a combination of triazoles and chlo-rothalonil helps controlling this disease in barley.
Andelos, Bandera, Botticelli, CCB Ingenio, Exotic, Garcia, Innov, Nogal, Paledor, Sollario, Adagio, Aerobic, Idalgo, and Santoyo.
Regarding short cycle barley, the most outstanding have been Belgravia, County, Cristalia, Graphic, Gustav, Pewter, Signora, and Streif, and long cycle barley Anaconda, Anakin, Cierzo, Cometa, Graphic, Meseta, Pewter, Publican, Seduction, Flanelle, Orchesta, Propino, and Rocio.
Recovery of the traditional cereal varieties
The results of a research project of the National Rural Network performed by IRTA and the CCAA from Navarra, were presented during the 11th Interregional Congress on Arable Crops. The research project focused on the
Extensive farming for winter and re-commendations for the 2012-13 campaign in Catalonia
During the 20112012 winter farming campaign, the cereals that occupied the larger cropping areas in Catalonia were barley (58%) and soft wheat (32%). Over 296.000 ha were planted with cereals.
The rainfall was very high in November (delaying the planting period) and very low in winter (limiting plant development), while temperatures were very low in January and February. Regarding the quality of the cereals, their specific weight was higher than in previous campaigns.
The most outstanding varieties of rape, wheat, and barley
After five years of study, IRTA has observed that the highest yields are obtained from the following rape varieties: Es Hydromel, Hybristar, Champlain, Toccata, and Aviso.
The most outstanding short cycle varieties of wheat have been Artur Nick, Gades, Galeon, Anforeta, and Nogal, and the long cycle varieties Aguila,
use of traditional varieties of wheat and other cereals in Catalonia. This recovery of the biodiversity is not only important for its historical and environmental value, but also because it provides the opportunity to obtain products with added value, which could significantly contribute to the sustainability of this sector.
On the other hand, a successful recovery case of traditional wheat varieties for the production of the “Tramontana Bread” (Pan de Tramontana) was presented. This project aims producing quality wheat, developed in collaboration with the Artisanal Baker´s Guild from the Gerona Region and IRTA´s Mas Badia. The goal is to give value to the local production of a traditional cereal and promote the consumption of regional products.
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Wheat drought tolerance
The project titled Dis-section of phenotypic and genotypic components of drought tolerance and its implications or improving wheat: study on the gene-tic and molecular bases of chlorophyll content, studied the effect of several characteristics associated to drought tolerance on the agronomical and physiological behavior of wheat. The feature “pigment content” served as a study model for the genotypicphenotypic relationship and for identifying candidate genes associated to it that could regulate carbohydrate metabolism in conditions of water stress.
Adaptation patterns of hard wheat
Phenological and genetic basis of adaptation patterns of hard wheat at different photothermal conditions and use for germplasm development within the fra-mework of Spain-CIMMYT relation ship. This project aims generating scientific information for the design of allelic combinations of
genes involved in photoperiodic responses. Pairs of nearisogenic lines with spring growth carrying all the possible combinations of the known alleles from the major Ppd-A1 and Ppd-B1 genes habit were evaluated. Due to the studied latitudes, the presence of alleles that confer insensitivity to the Ppd-A1 locus resulted in longer grain fill duration, a higher harvesting rate, and higher yield.
Genetic improvement of wheat
This project provides continuity to the improvement program developed by IRTA, the IFAPA (Andalusia), the ITACyL (CastileLeon) and the ITAP (CastileLa Mancha), were over 60,000 lines have been evaluated, from which more than 95% were crosses made by these entities. The ENEAS variety has been registered in the OEVV, and has provided a mean yield of 106% above the testimonies from the OEVV tests and 107% in the GENVCE network. Currently two new varieties are registered in the trials of the registry, one flour wheat and one hard wheat.
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Intensive clearing up of fruits during drought
Fruit production in Mediterranean areas has been lately compromised due to drought related water restrictions.
Studies carried out by IRTA had already confirmed that the negative effect of droughts on fruit growth (and consequently on the final commercial caliber) could be alleviated by performing a clearing up of the fruit in the trees when there are irrigation cuts.
Clearing up reduces the competition between the fruit regarding the nutrients supplied by the tree, and improves the water content of the tree.
To better understand how the clearing up increases the water content of the tree, two experiments were performed in IRTALleida and in the Experimental Station in Lleida, financed by the Ministry of Science
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and Technology. The first experiment was done with the “Conference” pear and the second on the O’Henry peach variety.
Better caliber after the clea-ring up. In pear trees, a significant reduction in the number of fruit in the trees leads to a clear and sustainable reduction of the opening of the stomata in the leaves. The clearing up improved the content of water in the tree as well as their caliber.
The outcome of the clearing will depend on the moment at which it is done. This is because the response from the tree is not immediate, but increases 15 days up to a month after the clearing. Thus, it is important to do the clearing up before water restrictions occur. The communities of irrigators should inform in advance of any expected water restrictions.
The best results were obtained with a clearing up of 20% of the fruit (130 fruits/tree) in conditions of 20% water restrictions. When res
trictions are more strict, the clearing up should be more intense.
Clearing up also impro-ves root growth. Besides the stomata, the tree also improves its water content due to the increase or reduction of its root system. A second experiment was carried out with peach trees in IRTALleida. In this experiment, it was shown that clearing up the fruit causes the roots of the trees to grow. Larger root systems combined with the opening of stomata are the two factors that help increase the water content in the trees.
Despite the fact that the clearing up of the fruit is an expensive technique that reduces the productive capacity of the tree, it can be very useful in drought situations, particularly if, as previously discussed, the clearing up is made before water restrictions and adjusting it to the stress levels that the tree will suffer.
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Effic
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simulating and optimizing irrigation
The Irrigation Expert Simulator (IES) is a project financed by the European Commission within the LIFE+2011 framework and made up by a consortium of three entities: the Department of Agriculture, IRTA, and the technological center BARCELONA DIGITAL.
The IES will be a set of decisionmaking and simulation tools integrated in a web platform that will behave as an expert offering customized and optimized irrigation programs used by the farmers. The farmers will be able to introduce the data regarding their farm, see the effects of their management, and obtain personalized re
commendations.The main objective of this
project is to optimize the use of the water in the irrigations. Using real data from different Catalonian plots and irrigators, the project will also test the defined models and the closeness between the most efficient agronomical use and the real use. Specifically, three validation sites will be available: an experimental IRTA farm in which the models will be validated globally, a real in situ water set, and high number of irrigators that are also users of Ruralcat, that will make their water consumption and production data available during one campaign.
The IES project will be accessible from the RuralCat portal (www.ruralcat.net), has the support of the Department of Agriculture of the Catalonian Government (DAAM), will last three ye
ars, and counts with a budget of 1 M €.
Collaboration with Lebanon on irrigation
During its visit to Lebanon last January 12, the minister of Agriculture, Mr. Josep Maria Pelegrí, offered the support from Catalonia to the Minister of Energy and Water in Lebanon, Mr. Gibran Bassil, regarding irrigation efficiency and technological transfer applied to the agrifood sector. Mr. Pelegrí met with the Lebanese Minister to explore new collaboration routes on rural and agroforest matters and offered support and expert IRTA knowledge for developing training and knowledge transfer projects on irrigation improvement and effectiveness to farmers.
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CO2 recycling: from large power plants to intensive agriculture
IBERDROLA and IRTA have carried out a study on the possible use of the carbon dioxide generated by cogeneration plants (those producing simultaneously electric and thermal energy) as a fertilizer for growing plants in greenhouses.
This fertilization method in parallel to a specific management of the cultivation parameters has increased the productivity in plants such as tomato, gerbera, yew, and palm, among others. The results of the research provide new opportunities for intensive production of these plant species recycling one of the residual
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global warming.IRTA´s research, framed
within the SOSTCO2 project, has analyzed the complete cycle of the CO2 discharged by a carbon plant and a natural gas plant, both owned by IBERDROLA. The researchers studied the capture stages and the application of the carbon dioxide to a wide spectrum of vegetable species in intensive agricultural exploitations.
Good results in terms of productivity for growing certain herbaceous and woody plants in greenhouses were obtained with the gas from the natural gas plant. In the case of the tomato, for example, the yield is higher when growing commercial plants with carbonic fertilization in comparison with growing
plants without CO2.On the other hand, the stu
dy discards the carbonic fertilizer from the carbon plant due to high levels of sulphur dioxide, ethylene, and other compounds mixed with the CO2.
The conclusions of the study cn be found in the “Manual for CO2 use in horticultural farming”, in which IRTA´s scientists cover the different aspects related with the adaptation of the mentioned combustion gases for achieving a better production and increase yield in intensive horticulture.
The SOSTCO2 project, financed by the National Strategic Consortia for Technical Research (CENIT) program of the Spanish government to increase public and private investment in R&D lasted four years (20082011).
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A project from the Olive Oil Council to determine the carbon footprint of the olive oil
A meeting was held in the headquarters of the International Olive Oil Council (OOC) to create a multidisciplinary team of experts in olive oil, sustainability, and climatic change to promote a technicalscientific discussion to analyze the viability of preparing a protocol of the ecological footprint of olive oil. The starting point is the analysis of the carbon footprint of olive oil, but bearing in mid extending it to other
categories of environmental impact, particularly the water footprint. Diverse national and international olive oil experts participated in the meeting, as well as members of the OOC.
Course for greenhouse vegetable producers in warm climates
IRTA, the Center for Advanced Technologies in Agriculture (CEATA), and the SpanishJamaican Foundation, organized a course on protected horticulture,
addressed to horticultural technicians and producers in the Caribbean countries. The course took place in Jamaica in October.
For the second year in a row, the course was possible thanks to the funding the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARI-COM). This training program was developed for the participants to put into practice what they learnt during the theoretical sessions and among the objectives of this edition was to learn how to build a greenhouse with materials that could be found locally.
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Project : the Fluvià, Tordera, and Siurana ba-sins against clima-tic change
Within the framework of the ACCUA project, IRTA has participated (with funding from the Social Project Work Foundation of the Caixa de Catalunya) together with the CREAF, the Polythechnical University of Catalonia, and the European Topic Centre for Spatial Information and Analysis (ETC/SIA).
ACCUA (acronym for Adaptaciones al Cambio Climático en el Uso del Agua Adaptations to climate change on the water use) is a project initiated in 2008. The aim of the project is to assess the vulnerability of the Catalonian region against the first effects of
climate change regarding the availability of fresh water and, at the same time, determine which measures are the most recommended to respond to the vulnerability and minimize the negative consequences.
The study focused on the availability of fresh water. Innovating technology was used, as for example, the integration of very different databases (climatic, ecological, economic, social, etc.) approaching the problem from a local scale. Thus, the study was carried out in three basis representative of the Catalonian coast: the Fluvià, the Tordera, and the Siurana.
Results indicate there will be a relevant decrease in the availability of water in the future, as expected for the rest of the Mediterranean Basin. The decrease will be different for each of the studied basins and their areas (water masses, forests,
agriculture, urban uses, etc.).
Negative effects will be larger in the most humid basins (Fluvià and Tordera) (particularly in the headwaters). On the other hand, regarding the Siurana basin, in spite of being the most arid, the effects can be important due to an amplification caused by changes in soil use.
The forests will be the most vulnerable areas due to decreased water availability, the changes in life conditions, or because the risk of fires will always be higher.
The agriculture can also be affected if the farming is not adapted to the new conditions, particularly regarding the advance or delay of certain annual cycles of the plants (flowering, pollination, or fruition), or the water use efficiency.
In general, the results point to gradual changes in shortterm (in the next 1015 years) that will accelerate in medium and long term. However, extreme episodes can eventually occur (intense heat waves or severe droughts), which could interfere with these changes.
The authors of the study point out the importance of promoting medium and longterm measures recommended in the project, at forest, agricultural, and urban level to buffer the effects of climate change.
For additional information see: http://www.creaf.uab.cat/accua/ACCUA_divulgativa_internet.pdf
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horticulture
IRTA, together with the Catalan Federation of Nursery, has promoted the presentation and execution of a knowledge transmission project addressed to the enterprises (TRACE) and funded by the MEyC. The efforts have been focused on the design and application of tools and methods that control irrigation to increase water and nutrientuse efficiency in these nurseries.
The project has the
support of the Department of Agriculture of the Catalan Government (DAAM), the Catalan Waste Agency (ARC) within the Department of Planning and Sustainability, and the companies COPERSA, Establiments Sabater, TervexTerres Vegetals, and the fertilization plant of Ca-brils. Besides the previously mentioned topic, the project has another branch of study focused on the use of autochthonous substrates in them growth of potted plants.
It is worth pointing out, for example, that the use of an element that continuously
measures substrate water content (electrotensiometer), connected to a controllerswitch of the irrigation valve, has saved 37% of the supplied water in comparison with the regular irrigation performed by the irrigator, by cutting out unnecessary irrigation and without affecting plant growth.
Regarding the two irrigation control systems developed and tested by IRTA thanks to the TRACE project, the technologies are currently mature enough to promote the manufacturing of commercial models and spread its use.
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INCASÒL transfers a farm for the LIFE project
The Catalan Institute of Soil has transferred the use of the Violí farm in which a restoration and management project of the habitats in La Alfacada and La Tancada lagoons will be carried out. IRTA participates in this project.
The agreement establishes the transfer for a period of 20 years of the farm within the Xarxa Natura 2000 from the Ebro river delta. The surface area of the farm is 63 hectares and will be completely incorporated in the European LIFE+DELTALAGOON project for the restoration and management of the habitats in the Alfacada and Tancada lagoons located in the coast of the Ebro delta, limiting with Sant Jau-me d’Enveja.
It is a 4year project with the participation of IRTA, acting as coordinator, the Social Project Work Foundation
of the Caixa de Catalunya, the Natural Park of the Ebro Delta, the Directorate General for the Sustainability of the Coast and the Sea within the Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs, and the company Forestal Catalana S.A.
The Violí farm is located of the sites of previous wetlands as part of La Afacada lagoon and were dried out to transform them into rice fields. With this project, it will be transformed back into a wetland, which will allow increasing its use for the public with observatories and itineraries designed for bird watching and/or enjoy the landscape. Thus, the nearest most sensitive areas of the Alfacada and the Illa de Buda will be better preserved, some of the most important reserves in the Park of the Ebro Delta.
Reintroduction of the pond turtle in the lagoon
During the 60s, the pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) was
a very
abundant species in the Ebro delta. Despite this, to date this species has almost disappeared in this wetland as well as from most humid areas in Catalonia.
To try to improve the situation of this turtle in the Ebro delta, the LIFE+ DELTALAGOON project titled Renovation and management of the habitat of two coastal lagoon en the Ebro delta: La Alfa-cada and La Tancada has programmed, among other actions, its reintroduction in the Alfacada lagoon.
Thus, once the renovation works of the hydrological network in La Alfacada lagoon are finished, the second release of turtles programmed within the Life project will be carried out, which aims reintroducing a minimum of 20 turtles every year until 2014.
The final goal of these reintroductions is to create a viable population of pond turtles in freedom in the. This wetland is owned by the Caixa de Catalunya and is part of the Natural Park of the Ebro Delta (PNDE).
The turtles came from the rearing in captivity program of the Canal Viejo Wildlife Center (PNDE) and after staying three years in the rearing premises they were taken to a habituation site in the Alfacada, were they stayed for almost one year.
All the turtles are marked with microchips placed under their skin (same as the ones used in pets), a code mark in their shell plaques (a system commonly used to mark turtles), and a radio
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tracking device. Follow up of the turtles, which will last for over a year, is very important, as it is the only way to determine their survival and consolidation of this new population. IRTA´s technicians also participate in the weekly follow up stage.
A species of the American mud crab is detected for the first time in Catalonia
Researchers from the University of Regensburg (Germany), the Institute of Marine Sciences (CSIC), and IRTA, have communicated the discovery of a population of the mud crab (Dyspanopeus sayi) in the Alfacs Bay (Ebro delta). This is the first time this new marine species is observed in Catalonian coasts, a predator of bivalve mollusks.
Although Dyspanopeus sayi mud crab has been introduced in diverse sites of Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, and has previously been seen in the lagoon of Venice (Italy), it is the first time its presence is reported in Catalonia. The authors of the study suggest the primary introduction mean of this species into the West Mediterranean Coast could be by the transportation of larvae in the ballast water of ships, from populations of the Atlantic Europe or the Black Sea, were they have also been
seen.The Dyspanopeus sayi
crab is considered a great predator of bivalve mollusks. Massive presence of this crab could negatively affect autochthonous populations of mollusks as well as those grown in the Ebro delta farms.
The presence of this crab,
originally from America, has been corroborated by the finding in the Ebro delta of females carrying eggs, in different years. DNA analysis has confirmed the identity of the species, which has great genetic variability, allowing the establishment of the population in our territory.
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The GIRO Joint Research Unit IRTA-UPC is created
The new GIRO Joint Research Unit IRTA-UPC has moved to the Torre Marimon center, creating a multidisciplinary working unit with IRTA researchers and academic staff from the UPC. The different people that form this new unit belong to diverse areas of knowledge and will jointly develop research and technological development, technological transfer agreements, and counseling services in the fields of integrated waste and organic subproduct management.
Clean an aquifer contaminated by organochlorinated residues in an old factory
For the next three years, an international consortium made up by researchers from the University of Barcelona, the GIRO Joint Research Unit IRTA-UPC, and the Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung, in Leipzig, Germany, will study the use of isotopic and molecular techniques to determine biodegradation mechanisms and design of strategies for the bioremediation of aquifers contaminated with organochlorinated com
pounds. The research will be per
formed Òdena, in a location exhibiting high complexity and linked to an old factory in which pesticides and other chemical products were produced. The presence of diverse contaminants stored in buried tanks and the inadequate residue management are the primary factors of the contamination of an aquifer in the region of Anoia.
Specifically, the mechanisms of tetrachloroethylene and trichloroethylene microbial degradation will be stu
died, i.e, the capacity of the microorganisms to decompose the contaminants in smaller chemical elements, innocuous for the environment. The researchers aim determining the efficacy of the new methods by using molecular biology and precise geochemical tools, such as the analysis of stable isotopes, to find out the degradation mechanisms of the two organochlorinated compounds. The different bioremediation systems (clean technology that incentivizes the natural potential of the microorganisms to eliminate
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GIR
Oor transform contaminants into compounds that are more innocuous) will also be assessed for future in situ use in the area.
The IMOTEX-BOX research project is funded by the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).
Exploiting cattle manure
The CowCompost project frorm the GIRO Joint Research Unit IRTA-UPC has launched. The main objective is to study and develop a new process for producing
a highquality organic substrate from cattle manure in farms for products with added value to be used by two different markets:
the farming/horticultural market
the market of extractive industries and remediation of soils.
Passeig de Gràcia, 44, 3r
08007 [email protected]
www.irta.eu T. +34 934 674 040
F. + 34 934 674 042
ANNUALREPORT
2012
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