Archives: Agenda

Zaragoza, 22 June 2023.- Forty experts from 15 countries took part in a pilot training session on integrated pest management on 20 and 21 June at CIHEAM Zaragoza. The trial was part of the European project IPMWORKS, and has served to make adjustments to the content and format of the training activities that will be conducted across Europe up until October 2024 to implement sustainable agriculture strategies of proven effectiveness and cost-efficiency in pest and disease management.

Through a network of 250 farms, the IPMWORKS project gathers success stories in five agricultural sectors: arable crops, orchards, greenhouse crops, outdoor vegetable crops and vineyards. The project’s training activities offer resources and tools to farmers, advisors and practitioners to help them progress towards a more sustainable production model that is less dependent on plant protection products. CIHEAM Zaragoza is the organization responsible for training in the project that brings together 31 partners from 16 countries (Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom).

Joaquín Balduque, IPMWORKS project manager at CIHEAM Zaragoza is very satisfied with the results of the pilot training session, where participants have discussed the best way to use the training materials developed. “Over the last two days we have exchanged experiences and advanced in a common strategy so that farmers, advisors and practitioners in each country can use our training programme to find sustainable solutions to the specific problems they face on their farms”.

Integrated pest management consists of applying different pest control measures (prevention, monitoring, decision-making, non-chemical methods, among others) to limit the application of plant protection products solely to situations where they are really necessary. These measures are combined on the farms to reduce reliance on pesticides and minimize exposure of the environment and individuals to these substances, and at the same time ensure the farm’s profitability.

Besides the specific training activities, the materials developed in IPMWORKS will be made publicly available as a resource for agricultural professionals on the project’s website: ipmworks.net.

Zaragoza, 17 June 2023.- The 20th Workshop on Animal Production concluded with a commitment to continue research efforts in animal production and explore how climate change is affecting livestock systems. The workshop, organized by the Interprofessional Association for Agricultural Development (AIDA) took place at CIHEAM Zaragoza and the Agri-Food Research and Technology Centre of Aragon (CITA) on 13 and 14 June

A record number of participants gathered to discuss Genetics, Nutrition and Feeding, Livestock Systems-Economics and Management, Product Quality, Livestock Precision Farming, Welfare and Health, and Reproduction.

Students of CIHEAM Zaragoza presented 6 oral communications on the individual projects they are conducting in their second year of the  International Master in Animal Nutrition (2021-2023), a programme that trains specialists that will take on technical responsibilities and carry out high-impact research in the field of animal nutrition.

Animal science as a driver of the livestock sector

Guillermo Ripoll, researcher at CITA and coordinator of the workshop, has pointed out that “the return to physical attendance after the pandemic has been a huge success. The impressive turnout of participants is a sign that animal science has not been inactive over this time,on the contrary, it is back with renewed energy to share advances in different fields and continue research efforts to strengthen the livestock sector.”

Albina Sanz adds that this workshop on animal production is “more necessary than ever, enabling animal scientists to share their knowledge on nutrition, reproduction, farming systems, genetics, welfare and health to mitigate the environmental impact of livestock farming and at the same time satisfy the growing demand for animal protein worldwide”.

The workshop has had a record participation of over 300 animal science researchers and practitioners from across the country. The sessions began with the keynote speech “The role of the livestock sector and animal science in achieving the sustainable development goals“, delivered by Dr Badi Besbes, head of the Animal Production and Health Division of the FAO and former student of CIHEAM Zaragoza to a packed auditorium keen to hear about the latest trends in the livestock sector.

Raúl Compés, director of CIHEAM Zaragoza, Lucía Soriano, managing director of CITA, and Albina Sanz, researcher at CITA and vice president of AIDA (soon to assume the role of the next president) jointly inaugurated the workshop.

Climate Change and Animal Production

The round table on climate change and animal production, organized by the Union of Spanish Animal Science Organizations (UEECA) and AIDA, highlighted the role of livestock farming in the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Among the participants in the debate were researchers from CITA Daniel Martín-Collado who talked about farmers’ perception of climate change, and Margalida Joy who addressed the impact of climate change on plant production and the development of better adapted new varieties and use of co-products. Roberto Brasero, the popular TV weather forecaster, participated via video.

AIDA held its annual assembly during the workshop and for the first time UEECA – with its 14 associations – held an extraordinary assembly presided by Juan Manuel Corpa of the University CEU San Pablo.

Collaborators in the workshop include the Agri-Food Research and Technology Centre of Aragon (CITA), the University of Zaragoza (the Agri-Food Institute of Aragon and the Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences of Aragon), CIHEAM Zaragoza and the Spanish National Scientific Research Council (CSIC). The event was sponsored by Humeco, the Aragonese Association of Pig Veterinarians (A.V.P.A.), the cooperative group Pastores and the ARAPARDA breeders’ association. Albeitar, Mundo Ganadero, Tierras Vacuno and Zoetis.

• On 20 and 21 June experts from 15 countries will be in Zaragoza to simulate an IPMWORKS training programme for farmers, advisors and technical specialists

• Directive 2009/128 on the sustainable use of pesticides is currently under discussion in the European Union

Zaragoza, 15 June 2023.- The rural landscape is in the midst of a process of change towards a more sustainable production model, less dependent on phytosanitary products. This process requires time, training and technical support. In order to help farmers during this transition, and within the framework of the IPMWORKS European project, CIHEAM Zaragoza has drawn up a series of training modules on integrated pest management as part of a suite of strategies that will help to reduce pesticide use.

On 20 and 21 June, 40 experts from 15 countries, all partners of the project, will meet at CIHEAM Zaragoza on the Campus of Aula Dei to review the modules they have developed and define how they can be applied in training activities targeting farmers, advisors and technical specialists across Europe.

IPMWORKS aims to demonstrate and promote cost-effective IPM strategies. In this sense, the project will provide contributions and arguments for the current debate on the proposal for an EC Regulation on the sustainable use of plant protection products in the framework of the Farm to Fork Strategy, that seeks to update the regulations that date back to 2009 (Directive 2009/128) concerning the use of pesticides.

Joaquín Balduque, IPMWORKS project manager at CIHEAM Zaragoza talks about the project: “IPMWORKS shows that integrated pest management can contribute to the reduction in pesticide use and grow healthy products for the consumers and the environment, and at the same time guarantee yields and profitability for farmers”. He goes on to say: “The IPMWORKS training module tool will be made available for farmers, technical specialists and advisors to share the knowledge generated by all the experts involved in the project”.

CIHEAM Zaragoza is in charge of the dissemination, communication and training work package of the project, and has designed these training modules with the experts in the international consortium (IPMWORKS has 31 partners from 16 countries) and with external collaborators. The workshop organized in Zaragoza will be an opportunity to test this training material through simulations so that participants can determine the best way to use them in different contexts. Likewise, the experts from other countries in Europe will have the opportunity to find out what is being done in Aragón in terms of insect pest management.

Besides the specific training activities, all material created will be made publicly available as a resource for agriculture professionals.