University of Salamanca (Castilla y León) and Provincial Council of this province The decade also makes it clear that the primary sector needs to be governed by innovative policies. They have done so by establishing an alliance that encourages the transfer of knowledge and skills, and the application of technology to a more efficient and sustainable sector.
Ten years of relationship. 15 research projects and a joint investment of 600,000 euros The main muscle builders of this alliance were a few days ago within the framework of the Salamac 2023 exhibition.
It’s him Rector of the University of Salamanca, Ricardo Riveroand Javier Iglesias, president of the Salamanca Provincial Council, have announced the two companies’ willingness to enter into a new agreement that recognizes public-private collaboration.
[María González, consejera de Castilla y León: “Automoción y ‘agro’ necesitan políticas digitales para competir”]
The idea is that the two administrations should work together and develop together with the companies New research projects Salamancan encourages the development of companies and professionals connected to the rural world and the primary sector of the province.
Iglesias, this meeting with the Rector was also attended by the Deputy of the Salamac Fair, Santiago Castaneda, the Deputy of Agriculture and Livestock, Jose Roque Matruca and the Representative of the Rector for Transfer Issues, Oscar Lorenzo. This step forward in cooperation will “further strengthen the close relations of the institutions they represent in the future A unique place in Spain, it will be an agro-ecological complex, It combines training and knowledge with primary sector producers. “This is what will allow us to grow in the province of 21st century agriculture and animal husbandry 4.0.”
Los New challenges facing the agri-food sector In the face of the current crisis, the university explained that they are related to technological innovation, human teams, food security and environmental protection.
“These challenges are consistent with the research objectives of the Salamancaan study In the agri-food sector, USAL currently has a large number of researchers working on publicly and/or privately funded projects by organizations promoting their development. A clear example is the Environment and Digital Transformation (TED) projects offered by MICIN/AEI,” they highlight.
[El reto de cohesionar la región más grande a través de la digitalización: así es DIGIS3, el ‘macro hub’ de Castilla y León]
There is also the University of Salamanca A comprehensive list of groups linked to the entire value chain of the agri-food industryand takes into account “the need and importance of cooperation between companies and institutions to create collaborative networks that allow the development of the sector through programs and technical training for workers”.
Talent training and R&D&i are part of the central axis of the strategy Agriculture 4.0 is now a must in the fields of the region.
Regarding training, USAL is spearheading an ambitious project such as the Agro-Ecology Complex, along with other local and regional institutions. It has various centers and specific trainings, among which the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences of Salamanca and the Higher Polytechnic School of Zamora stand out, where you can study agricultural and agro-food engineering, biology, chemistry and pharmacy faculties. Degrees in Biotechnology, Biology, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry or Pharmacology.
A is carried out Specialized training through master’s degrees and own degrees in Industry 4.0 technologies based on IoT and data scienceAgrobiotechnology, Sustainable Environmental Management (reality), Chemistry and Pharmacology of Natural Products, Agricultural Engineering, Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency, Science, Technology and Water Management, Direction and Project Management.
Likewise, IME Business School, the business school of the University of Salamanca, stands out, You can take various postgraduate programs specializing in agri-food companies and training of various profiles from junior to senior, middle managers and managers (MBA in Agri-Food Business Management, Executive Master in Agri-Food Business Management, Management Development Program, Program for Equipment Management in Agri-Food Industry, etc.).
USAL is there for all those opting for distance specialization courses Multiple Accredited Food Safety Courses (HACCP)Traceability in the food industry, food microbiology, rapid methods in water and food microbiology, microbial transformation and shelf life of foods, expertise in water resources management, renewable energies, production of fermented beverages and sensory properties.
Background
It is important to highlight that The university has a center specializing in agricultural research, the Agrobiotechnology Research Institute (CIALE), Coordinating, supporting and promoting research activities in the fields of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Agronomy since 2000.
In terms of R&D&i lines, the University of Salamanca is proud to bet on sustainability, the circular economy and the use of new Industry 4.0 technologies. In this sense, The main lines in which the research groups work are, for example, plant health.
In this section, the app Bacterial biofertilizers, Soil composition, variety selection and genetic improvement, organic production methods, plant growth, agronomic management and development of new yeasts.
From a nutritional point of view, work is being done on the development of functional foods, physicochemical, microbiological and organoleptic quality control, as well as characterization of biological compounds and livestock residues, pesticides and heavy metals. Nutritional and sensory quality studies are also carried out.
Aqueous spills are subject to characterization or ecotoxicity studies. as well as livestock and animal health, with genetic selection and improvement programs.
Another one along the lines of Innovative work is waste recovery. Some research is being done on using waste to obtain high-value by-products, obtaining fertilizers from dye wastes, and remediating pesticide-contaminated soils.
finally, Information and communication technologies are also protagonists, Design and implementation projects of electronic systems, development of computer applications, application of Industry 4.0 in agri-food production, smart farm, sensing, use of drones equipped with high-precision cameras and sensors…
