Archives: Agenda

• The economic analysis reveals that automatic feeding systems can improve the profitability of seabass on-growing farms.

• The results of the research, conducted in the framework of the European project MedAID, have been published by the Journal of the World Aquaculture Society.

CIHEAM Zaragoza has participated in a study that has analysed the economic impact of automatic feeding systems in different-sized European seabass farms in the Mediterranean. The research results have been published by the Journal of the World Aquaculture Society.

This study has been led by José Luis Fernández Sánchez, professor of the University of Cantabria, and concludes that investing in this type of technology can make European seabass production more profitable, independently of farm size.

The study has been conducted in the framework of the European project MedAID that was coordinated by CIHEAM Zaragoza with the collaboration of IRTA’s Aquaculture Centre in La Ràpita (Spain). The project concluded in 2021.

Bernardo Basurco, coordinator of the area of Fisheries and Aquaculture of CIHEAM Zaragoza and co-author, speaks about the results: “What we have seen in this study is that the investment in automatic feeding systems could be a good economic decision for aquaculture farms. The results can be useful for seabass producers, especially small and medium-sized farms, and help them to make better management and investment decisions”.

MedAID was an integrated multidisciplinary research project made up of 34 partners (R&D groups, firms and institutions) from 13 countries working together to provide the European aquaculture sector with state-of-the art and applied knowledge, and draw up guidelines to improve zootechnical performance, business plans and integrated solutions for governance.

The complete results of the study are available at: Journal of the World Aquaculture Society.

Between 1975 and 1988 Miguel Mut Catalá was Director of the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Zaragoza, known today as CIHEAM Zaragoza. Following the sad news of his passing on 17 March, we convey our sincere condolences to his family and take this opportunity to pay tribute to Miguel and highlight the contribution he has made to our institution.

Miguel was born in 1938 in Benimeli, a village surrounded by citrus trees in the county of Marina Alta, Alicante. He obtained a doctorate in agricultural engineering and specialized in agricultural economics in Hannover (Germany) and Newcastle (United Kingdom). He continued to pursue these topics of interest throughout his career, focusing on economics, marketing and agricultural markets.

He embarked upon his professional journey in Zaragoza at the agricultural research and development at the Centro Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario del Ebro, situated on the Campus of Aula Dei. He was director of the Centre which, upon accreditation from CIHEAM in 1969, became the institute of this intergovernmental body in Spain.

His time as director was marked by a close professional rapport and mutual comprehension with Ramón Esteruelas, founder and first president of the international body between 1962 and 1983. Miguel’s mandate spanned thirteen years, during which he forged the Institute’s working model that still prevails today, basing the training offer on guest lecturers chosen for their excellence, and providing English and French interpretation.

As director, he played a decisive role in the creation of the Master in Agro-food Marketing, and to the Masters in Seed Production and Animal Production (Breeding, Nutrition and Reproduction). He also established the training offer in citriculture. Besides academics, he also paid special attention to the economic management side, skilfully balancing the budget to incorporate information technologies for the first time, and personally developing an accountancy program and databases. Miguel’s ability to foster a harmonious working relationship with the guest lecturers was undoubtedly a key factor in upholding the Institute’s excellence in training.

Following his time at the Institute, he returned to Valencia where he took over as director of the agricultural research institute Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (IVIA), from 1988 to 1993.

Miguel was a magnificent person. In all the posts he held, he left his mark of commitment with education and training, which he considered to be fundamental elements of genuine social progress. I had the opportunity to meet him in 2022 when I visited him one spring day at his place of retirement in a village near Alicante where he tended his orange orchards. We spent a very pleasant afternoon sitting on the veranda of his country home, accompanied by the aroma of orange blossom, engaged in conversation and sharing memories. When we parted we had agreed to continue chatting about the Institute over a tasty Valencian paella. Unfortunately this second encounter was not to be.

Rest in peace, Miguel. You have been a source of inspiration to those of us arriving at CIHEAM Zaragoza in later years. We will strive to carry forward the excellent work that you began at this international organization, which is still as necessary today as it was during its foundational years so many years ago.

Raúl Compés López
Director of CIHEAM Zaragoza

• CIHEAM was present at the 15th edition of the International Agricultural Show in Morocco (SIAM) hosting an institutional pavilion devoted to international cooperation and research

• Visitors, students and researchers had the chance to discuss with CIHEAM representatives the training and capacity-building activities offered by the 4 CIHEAM Institutes

CIHEAM was present at the 15th International Agricultural Show of Morocco (SIAM) hosting a pavilion to present the training offer of its 4 Institutes, the current activities as well as the broader institutional mission. This year SIAM’s theme was “Green Generation: for sustainable food sovereignty” and CIHEAM presented its many projects in the Mediterranean region aimed at strengthening food security in rural communities, an objective achieved thanks to the active participation of young people and women. 

Moreover, SIAM was an opportunity for CIHEAM to become known beyond the Mediterranean and share its expertise in cooperation and political dialogue for the construction of sustainable agri-food systems.

CIHEAM, a key player in agricultural training

For CIHEAM, the Agricultural Show was an opportunity to present its 4 Institutes –CIHEAM Bari, CIHEAM Chania, CIHEAM Montpellier and CIHEAM Zaragoza. Thanks to this strong representation and a diversified training offer, the Institutes have been attracting students from all over the Mediterranean for more than 50 years and supporting them in their training projects.

During the show, CIHEAM was able to meet other players in agricultural training such as the Agronomic and Veterinary Institute Hassan II, represented by its Director, Abdelaziz El-Hraiki, and its Director of Cooperation, Partnership and Development and former President of the CIHEAM Advisory Board, Lamiae Ghaouti.

The International Agricultural Show in Morocco

The International Agricultural Show in Morocco (SIAM), organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Maritime Fisheries of Morocco, was launched in 2006 and is now in its 15th edition. With more than 1,400 exhibitors, 65 participating countries and around 900,000 expected visitors, SIAM is one of the most important exchange and dialogue platforms in the agricultural sector at global level.

This year’s exhibition, held from 2 to 7 May in the imperial city of Meknes, is devoted to “Green Generation: for sustainable food sovereignty”. The Show is organized around 10 different poles (‘Regions’, ‘Institutional and sponsors’, ‘International’, ‘Products’, ‘Agricultural supply’, ‘Life and nature’, ‘Terroir products’, ‘Breeding’, ‘Agricultural machinery’ and ‘Conferences’) and hosts nearly 40 conferences on different themes related to the topic of the show.

Lecture

One of the fundamental principles of quality management is the objective approach to decision-making that should be based on the analysis of data and available information. A well-designed indicator system plays an essential role in these processes, since it provides accurate, organized information for analysis.

The “CIHEAM Zaragoza-Campus Aula Dei Lecture Series”, commences with a talk by José Miguel Carot Sierra, professor at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, who will provide practical insights on how to design and implement indicator systems. The lecture will use real examples drawn from the scientific and academic community.

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Speaker

• Date: Tuesday 16 May 2023 at 11:00h
• In-person: Aula D at CIHEAM Zaragoza (Av. Montañana 1005, Zaragoza)
• Online: choose this option when you register and we’ll send you the connection details
• Series: CIHEAM Zaragoza-Campus Aula Dei Lectures

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