IA2

Founded in 2015, the Aragon Agri-Food Institute (IA2) is a mixed-funded university research structure (CITA-UNIZAR). Its creation responds to the desire of a large community of researchers in different areas of agri-food sciences to form an entity that creates new synergies, optimizes resources and encourages interdisciplinary collaboration. The IA2 thus offers an ideal environment to carry out ambitious and competitive R&D activities of the highest level, with the best possible financing and the maximum potential impact in the region.

The main objective of IA2 is to foster collaboration between leading researchers who conceive ambitious multidisciplinary research projects on a global scale. Its mixed structure guarantees that it can create synergies and encourage collaborations between different institutions and researchers.

• ACTIVITY: agri-food research.
• LOCATION: Saragossa.
• CONSTITUTION DATE: 22/09/2014. 
• CATEGORY: Research Organization, University.
• CONTACT: Rafael Pagán Tomás.

• NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 299.
• INCOME: 6.000.000 €.

• Genetic resources and improvement
• Optimization of agri-food production
• Development of sustainable agricultural systems
• Sustainability and environment
• Food Technology
• Food safety
• Food quality
• Functional foods, nutrition and health
• Economic analysis of the agri-food chain
• Sustainability of agri-food systems

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

• RTI2018-096018-R-C32. Mechanisms that mediate infections and host range in Xanthomonas arboricola and development of disease control strategies. Challenges 2018. Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.
• Lettuce biofortification (Lactuca sativa L.) using local varieties and related wild species as a source of variability and genomic and biotechnological tools. Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness. 2017.
• Genetics, genomics and improvement in cherry trees, phenology and fruit quality (CHERRY_GENs). Ministry of Science and Innovation. 2019
• Valuation of the genetic diversity of the native apple tree for greater added value in fresh and processing: bioactive compounds and molecular mechanisms – APPLECUT. Ministry of Science and Innovation. 2019.
• Sustainability of the Use of Land and Water in Agricultural Activities and Protection of Ecosystems against Droughts and Climate Change. INIA. 2017.
• GRAPEVINE GRAPEVINE / hiGh performAnce computing services for preVentIon and control of pests in fruit crops (Agreement number INEA/CEF/ICT/A2018/1837816). (CEF Telecom) Public Open Data. 2018.
• INNOFARMING: Innovative Indoor Farming Applications for Future Urban Farmers. ERASMUS+. 2018.
• Wine, Innovation and International Competitiveness (Interreg VB Southwestern Europe Cooperation Program - SUDOE - SOE3/P2/F0917). Interreg SUDOE.
• AGL2017-90787-REDT. Thematic Excellence Network “National network on mycotoxins and toxigenic fungi and their decontamination processes” (MICOFOOD). MINECO.
• GOSA FRUIT CARE. Replacement of PPPs in stone fruit, red fruits and table grapes. National Rural Development Program (2014-2020). Supra-autonomous operational groups. 2019.
• GOSA TICS4FRUITS. ICTs to optimize the post-harvest and fruit distribution chain. National Rural Development Program (2014-2020). Supra-autonomous operational groups. 2019

COMPLETED PROJECTS

• AGL2014-57069-R: Aflatoxins and climate change: integrated strategies for prevention and risk reduction in the food chain. MINECO. 2014.
• REDVALUE– Technological Alliance to complete the agro-industrial and forestry production cycle (Interreg VB Southwestern Europe Cooperation Program – SUDOE – SOE1/P1/E0123). SUDOE INTERREG IVB 2015.
• LIFE ZERO WASTE LIFE Zero Residues (LIFE12/ENV/ES/0902): Towards a sustainable production and supply chain for stone fruit. LIFE+ program.
• Biocontrol of pathogens in the field: development of early detection systems and integrated control tools. PATBIOCONTROL. MINECO. 2015.
• VALOVITIS / Valuation of minority vine varieties of the Pyrenean foothills EFA 017/15. Co-financed to 65% by the European Regional Development Fund through the Interreg VA Spain/France/Andorra Program – POCTEFA 2014-2020. YoNTERREG VA Spain-France-Andorra.