Emerging pests, plant diversity and sustainability are the focus of INAGEA’s advances in agri-food matters.
The Institute celebrates a transfer session and awards the Hipólito Medrano award for the best final degree project for research on extensive herbaceous crops.
Scientists from the Institute for Agrifood Research and the Economy of Water (INAGEA) of the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB) have announced the projects they develop in lines of research related to the field of the agri-food sector. It was within the framework of the transfer session “Agriculture of the XXI century in a scenario of global change”, which was held in the auditorium of the ParcBit (Palma).
During the meeting, the Hipólito Medrano award was presented by the UIB professor and professor emeritus. The winner was the final degree project, from the Agri-Food Engineering and Rural Environment (GEAM) studies, on the “Characterization of extensive herbaceous crops as game pasture in an olive grove in Mallorca”, by Josep Bauzà Vanrell. Emilio Palenzuela Campaner has also been given a special mention for his research “Permeance of the cuticle of the ramallet tomato: genetic and environmental effects”.
The day began with a conference by Miguel Ángel Miranda, from the UIB’s Applied Zoology and Conservation research group, and Diego Olmo, from the Plant Health Laboratory of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, who presented the latest advances in the knowledge of Xylella fastidiosa in the Balearic Islands, focused especially on the diagnosis, genetic structure and host range of this disease to optimize eradication programs.
The subsequent round table, dedicated to the impact of Xylella on Balearic agriculture and other emerging pests, had the participation of Fernando Fernández, general director of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development; Francesca Parets, from Cooperativas Agroalimentarias; Margalida Sureda, from the company CAROB SA; and Josep Rodríguez, from the Denomination of Origin Binissalem.
Subsequently, the results of two research projects related to the most efficient varieties in the use of water were presented by Josefina Bota and Miquel Àngel Conesa, both from the research group on Plant Biology in Mediterranean Conditions, PLANTMED: the first, based on local vine varieties, and second, on the adaptation to drought of tomato, melon and pepper.
The session continued with a round table dedicated to plant diversity as a tool for sustainability, in which Samuel Shoshan, from Hort Seed Mediterrani; Carme Garau, from the Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research and Training; Juan Antonio Vives, from the Laboratory of Innovation for Agriculture; and Maria Massanet, from the Association of Local Varieties.
The third conference has been dedicated to new products of biological origin. The round table will be attended by Miquel Coll, from the Association of Producers of Organic Agriculture of Mallorca (APAEMA), and Joan Ignasi Barceló, from Regenerative Agriculture. Previously, a project on soil management and the use of biofertilizers, led by Elena Baraza, from the PLANTMED research group, was announced.