Alvaro Vega | Córdoba (EFE).- Rabanalus Experimental Science Farm, a jewel in the crown. University of Córdoba Don’t know. Nevertheless, its vice rector for science policy, María José Polo Gómez, has no doubt that it is a “state-of-the-art field laboratory with the best technology.”
María José Polo is Professor of Hydraulic Engineering at the Higher Technical School of Agricultural and Forestry Engineers (ETSIAM), where she graduated in 1992 and received her PhD in 1997. The farm “brings everything together,” he said. At the same time high efficiency and high yield technology. By this, it “maintains” a sustainability in agriculture, so we can say that it is 21st century and future-oriented agriculture.
The vice chancellor explained to EFE the dimension of the 186 hectares of agricultural land acquired by the University of Córdoba from the Social Security in 1989. They are located in the area between the grain and olive groves and the administrators of the university and catering are setting it up for the visit of community leaders on Monday.
Recognize the value of cutting-edge research
Agriculture ministers from the twenty-seven countries of the European Union will receive two views on regional agriculture during an informal meeting (RIM) in Córdoba.
One is Montilla-Moriles winemaking. Another “recognize the value of this experimental science facility in the context of agri-food and cutting-edge research” -. Polo has European leaders on the farm.
They will learn specific data about the results of research projects carried out there. It was able to reduce fuel consumption by 58.3% and increase grain production by 11% or the total profit of the crop by 57.2%.
And how precision irrigation systems or remote sensing applications are used. Therefore, last year the technical director of the Rabanales farm, Francisco Márquez García, implemented an irrigation system from the Alps.
Digital and sustainable agriculture
At the farm, hidden behind the university campus of the same name, each course is attended by 8,000 students who work in an “ecosystem based on digital agriculture and sustainable agriculture,” explains Marquez. What is “digital agriculture that focuses on the most efficient use of natural resources”?
It’s a process that begins “since we started implementing a new management model, sustainable agriculture, conservation agriculture combined with digital agriculture.” If the rain had not prevented it, the European Ministers had only then begun the feats to be learned from the mouths of the four explorers at the base of the field.
That was ten years ago, in 2013. “This is the defining moment as an experimental science farm.” “When the University of Córdoba’s own staff and other own resources are provided, more than what is obtained with projects and specific collaborations”. This was stated by the Vice-Chancellor for Science Policy.
That’s when, insists María José Polo, “he makes a bet because it will really be a state-of-the-art field laboratory with the best technology.” Then, “not only the capacity for innovation is shown, but the reality of innovation in this sector where the University of Córdoba is developing”.
A clear career of public service
Gregorio Blanco Roldan is Professor of Agroforestry Engineering at the Higher Technical School of Agricultural and Forestry Engineers. He teaches Agriculture and Forestry Mechanization. In addition, he is the professor in charge of Rabanales Farm. It considers “the activities of the university, namely research, teaching and transfer as a clear profession of public service”.
145 hectares of the farm are dedicated to broadleaf crops and the rest to olive groves. It also houses one of the two olive germplasm banks in Córdoba. The other is at the Andalusian Institute for Agricultural, Fisheries, Food and Organic Production Research and Training of the Junta de Andalucia. As for Rabanales, it has about 500 species from all over the world.
According to Blanco, thanks to international projects and its innovative nature, the farm “has brought together continuously advanced technological infrastructures.” They are “existing laboratories for new technologies and the digital transformation of the agroforestry and livestock sector.”
At the forefront of any technology
Thus, he notes, patents and utility models (an industrial property title that recognizes exclusive ownership over an invention, although with fewer registration complications than patents) and other advances have been achieved. These are “at the forefront of any of the most innovative technologies available for use in the market.”
Additionally, he emphasizes, “It’s not just about staying here at the university, it’s about transferring. This is a fundamental point from which all projects and many innovations are considered. Later, manufacturers collaborating with the university on co-development of these prototypes incorporated them into their production lines.
For this exchange to be effective, ecologically sustainable practices “are also economically sustainable for farmers, and that’s what we do, a combination of practices that improve the economic and environmental performance of crops,” says Francisco Marquez.
