Rioja, The
The Riojan AKIS system covers a territory of 5,045 km², of which 41.7% is agricultural land and 28.7% is forested. In the second-smallest region in terms of geographical area, 50% of farms have an area of less than 5 ha, although the average farm size reaches 22.5 ha. ( European Commission, 2023 ).
The primary sector is of great importance, contributing almost 5% of gross added value. The predominant crops in terms of final agricultural production are wheat, sugar beets, mushrooms, pear trees, grapes, and olives ( Statistics Institute of La Rioja ).
The Riojan livestock sector is mainly represented by poultry/chicken (88%), followed by pigs (6%) and sheep/goats (3%) (Statistics Institute of La Rioja).
The Riojan regional AKIS is represented by a group of public and private agents that interact with each other:
The image shows the groups of public and private agents in a regional AKIS and their links to each other:
- R&D&I agents that generate knowledge or promote knowledge transfer.
- Agents of the Public Administration.
- Agents dedicated to training.
- Agents of the agri-food sector.
- Agents involved in the incorporation of innovation in the agri-food sector.
- Agents that stimulate innovation through cooperation and associationism.
- Other AKIS agents.
AKIS agents and interactions
Agents dedicated to the generation of knowledge
- University of La Rioja , a generator of regulated and non-regulated knowledge, with great research and dissemination capacity .
- Campus of International Excellence (CEI) of the Ebro Valley ( Campus IBERUS) promoted in strategic aggregation by the public universities of the Autonomous Communities of Aragon and La Rioja, the Foral Community of Navarre, as well as that of the province of Lleida in Catalonia.
- Institute of Vine and Wine Sciences ( ICVV ): Research center in Viticulture and Oenology, created by the Government of La Rioja (through the Ministry of Agriculture), the Higher Council for Scientific Research and the University of La Rioja. Its objective is to generate new knowledge and new technologies in Viticulture and Oenology that serve as a basis for technological development and innovation in a sector, the wine sector, which is inherent to our culture and our agrarian economy, as well as to promote the transfer of scientific and technological results to society, so that its research activity has practical implications and in this way contributes to the development of the sector .
- The Agricultural Research Service develops research projects in the areas of viticulture (genetic material, minority varieties, soils, etc.) and oenology (microbiology, yeasts and bacteria, and winemaking technology). The Agricultural Research Service also includes:
- Institutional Winery of La Grajera .
- La Grajera Experimental Oil Mill .
- Pazuengos agricultural exploitation .
- La Rioja Mushroom Research Technology Centre ( CTICH ): A centre dedicated to research and technological development, improving production quality, increasing competitiveness and encouraging the modernisation of companies in the sector, by providing services to its members and carrying out scientific research and technological development projects aimed at the cultivated mushroom sector.
- FUDin : A platform for innovative solutions and high-value services created as a result of the merger of the Meat Industry Technology Centre (CTIC) and the Food Research and Technology Centre of La Rioja (CITA), which address the technical and research needs of the agri-food industry, both meat and plant-based. The centre is managed by the Association for Research, Development and Innovation in the Agri-Food Sector ( AIDISA ). It will merge with the National Centre for Food Technology and Safety ( CNTA ) in 2024 , creating the first private technology centre specialising in the agri-food sector in Spain.
Public sector agents
- Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Environment and Environment : public institution that administers the responsibilities of agriculture, livestock, agri-food, rural environment and the environment of the Community.
- Regional Agricultural Offices (8).
- Economic Development Agency of La Rioja ( ADER ) : Agency whose mission is to stimulate and promote business development in La Rioja, providing active services, granting financial aid and supporting business financing.
- Agroclimatic Information Service ( SIAR )
- Agricultural Knowledge Management and Transfer Unit . A multidisciplinary team that manages project acquisition, R&D contracts, and the establishment of international collaborations. It also organizes various courses aimed at the agricultural and agri-food sector in the Autonomous Community of La Rioja. This team disseminates the results of R&D&I in these areas so that scientific, technical, and technological advances reach all agricultural holdings in La Rioja.
- Regional Laboratory of the Government of La Rioja , as a support laboratory for R&D&I.
- Haro Oenological Station , A benchmark in analysis and technical assistance to public and private organizations in the wine sector, both regional and national, and a leading laboratory for analyzing the fingerprints of all Spanish wines.
- Ministry of Economy, Innovation, Business and Self-Employment .
Agents dedicated to training
- Agricultural and vocational training schools in the Community. You can find a list of schools and centers here.
- Agricultural sector training courses 2023-2024 offered by various organizations. You can view the list of courses by clicking here .
- School of Shepherds of La Rioja , A project that emerged as an initiative of the Brieva de Cameros Town Council, reflecting on how to find alternatives for the future of the town and, in general, for the mountain areas where livestock farming has been the main activity.
Agents of the agri-food sector
- Quality products “Foods of La Rioja”: DO and PGI
- Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives of La Rioja ( FECOAR ), Cooperatives, SAT, other agricultural groups and associations, ATRIAS , etc.
- Professional Associations of Agricultural Engineers, Agricultural Technicians and Veterinarians
- Professional Agricultural Organizations ( OPAs ): Union of Farmers and Ranchers of La Rioja, UAGR-COAG , ARAG-ASAJA , UPA-La Rioja
- Agricultural and agri-food companies
- Advisory entities :
- ASEGAR 2024 UTE is an entity formed by the union of Ingeniería Carna, Bricalvet, Agrovidar and Clean Biotec.
- Servicoopr UTE is an entity formed by the union of FECOAR , AGER Technology and ASER.
- Riojan Association of farmers and ranchers ( ARAG-ASAJA ).
- Union of small farmers and ranchers of La Rioja ( UPA ).
- Union of farmers and ranchers of La Rioja ( UAGR-COAG ).
- FOOD+I Cluster , a private entity that brings together more than 90 companies in the sector, knowledge centers, and other entities related to food innovation. Its objective is to promote the competitiveness and development of the Ebro Valley agri-food sector by anticipating business trends, incorporating technology, and developing market-leading R&D+I solutions within the European context.
- The Association of Professional Substrate and Mushroom Producers of La Rioja, Navarra, and Aragón ( ASOCHAMP ) is a non-profit professional organization that brings together all fungiculturists in these three Autonomous Communities. It manages the CTICH (Center for the Conservation of Mushrooms) to provide the sector with a research, revitalization, and development component.
Other agents
- Riojan Rural Development Network composed of 3 Local Action Groups: Association for the Development of La Rioja Alta ( ADRA ),ADR Rioja Oriental and CEIP-Rural .
- Operational Groups on agricultural productivity and sustainability, and innovation teams for climate change mitigation and environmental projects. You can view information on the Groups since 2017 by clicking here .
Instruments and tools for the dynamization of the AKIS
SMART SPECIALIZATION STRATEGY (S3) 2021-2027
The S3 Smart Specialization Strategy 2021-2027 represents the strategic guidelines that bring together the key priorities, challenges, and needs of each region. The new strategy for the period 2021-2027 prioritizes promoting all areas that comprise the agri-food industry's value chain as the main regional productive sector.
Within Area of Specialization 2 – Competitive Industry, which pursues the evolution and transformation of the regional production model to achieve an industry with improved and greater capabilities, differentiation, and innovation intensity, in an increasingly competitive and global environment. Two of its Specialization Priorities are the Agri-Food Value Chain, including the development of precision agriculture in the region, as well as the incorporation of new technologies (artificial intelligence, big data analysis, etc.) throughout the agri-food value chain ( Smart Agro, Agriculture 4.0, and Food Industry 4.0 ), to move toward more sustainable and efficient agri-food management and production, greater integration of consumers into innovation processes, and the development of collaborative networks to reduce inefficiencies, save costs, and enhance traceability control throughout the value chain; and Enorregión, with the aim of becoming a global benchmark in research, innovation, trend-setting, differentiated training, and wine tourism worldwide.
La Rioja Science and Technology Plan 2022-2024
The Strategic Plan for Science and Technology identifies two areas of specialization related to the agricultural sector: "Competitive Industry" and "Sustainable and Cohesive Ecoregion." The first aims, among other things, to prioritize the agri-food value chain. The second emphasizes a line of specialization focused on the circular economy. In line with the functioning of an AKIS system, the strategic axes "I. Culture of Science, Technology, and Innovation" and "II. Collaborative and Open Environments and Infrastructures for Cooperation" emphasize collaboration, innovation, and knowledge transfer among the region's economic stakeholders.
I STRATEGIC PLAN FOR ORGANIC PRODUCTION IN LA RIOJA
In terms of organic production , the plan is to strengthen knowledge transfer and specialized training in organic production at the various stages of the chain (production, processing, and marketing), facilitating the professionalization of the organic production sector. In this sense, the AKIS system serves as a catalyst for development opportunities in organic production by aligning the needs, strengths, and opportunities of the various stakeholders involved.
CAP 2023-2027
Within the scope of the Common Agricultural Policy, La Rioja allocates the following budget and actions to four of the interventions most directly linked to AKIS:
- 7161 (Cooperation of EIP operational groups): €0.99 million. The types of operations are established based on their purpose:
- Create added value by linking research and agricultural practices, as well as promoting the use of innovative measures.
- Connecting innovation agents and projects.
- Promote the rapid translation of innovative solutions into practice.
- Inform the scientific community of research needs in agricultural practice.
- 7162 (Cooperation other than EIP operational groups): €1.98 million. This intervention will provide funding for the following operations through the establishment of a Cooperation Group (CG) not related to the EIP:
- Implementation of pilot projects aimed at productive and sustainable agricultural practices.
- Development of innovative actions aimed at mitigating and adapting to climate change.
- Development of joint approaches to environmental projects and the promotion of sustainable agriculture.
- 7201 (Knowledge Exchange and Information Dissemination): €1.99 million. This intervention will involve the following actions:
- Aid for vocational training and skills acquisition.
- Aid for demonstration and information activities.
- Grants for short-term exchanges related to the management of agricultural and forestry farms and rural businesses, as well as visits to agricultural and forestry farms and rural businesses.
- Aid for the training of advisors.
- 7202 (Advice): €4.13 million
- Aid to contribute to obtaining advisory services.
- Aid for the creation of management, replacement and advisory services.
- Aid for the provision of tutoring services.
TOOLS FOR DYNAMIZATION
Digitalization in the agricultural sector
Within the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, component 3: "Environmental and digital transformation of the agri-food and fishing sector" includes the investment: "Plan to Promote the Sustainability and Competitiveness of Agriculture and Livestock (III): investments in precision agriculture, energy efficiency and the circular economy and in the use of renewable energies and gases in the agricultural and livestock sector" (€2,517 million ).
This component seeks to adopt a strategy to promote the digitalization of the agri-food sector and rural areas as a whole, which is key to its modernization and improvement in aspects such as competitiveness. Therefore, factors such as disseminating its usefulness and training users are vital to harnessing its full potential. The Agricultural Knowledge Management and Transfer Unit is responsible for this dissemination and training.
Intervention 6501.2 - Sustainable Crop Commitments, which includes aid for the Management of agricultural inputs through variable dosage technologies for phytosanitary products and fertilizers (€3.23 million), has also been included in the PEPAC 2023-2027 , thus supporting the modernization of the sector.
Thus, the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan provides a specific line to accelerate the modernization of equipment and the use of these technologies that allow for more efficient use of natural resources in production processes and the incorporation of more energy-efficient equipment, increasing the environmental performance of the agricultural sector.
Dynamics between agents
The regional agricultural knowledge transfer and innovation system of the region is supported by public-private collaborative initiatives and actions aimed at modernization and digitalization, training, specialized advice, and the dissemination of ready-to-use experiences and knowledge.
Finally, the synergies originating in the regional system favor the territorial articulation and consolidation of the social fabric with the participation of public and private organizations, advisors, and the Local Action and Rural Development Groups ( Viewer of Operational Groups and Innovative Projects of the RedPAC ).
Innovation and Knowledge Transfer
Demonstration fields 2023: The La Rioja government's Agricultural Experimentation Service is conducting demonstration activities coordinated from the Grajera farm. More information about the fields here :
Aid for innovative cooperation actions
Within the scope of the CAP, both Operational Groups and innovative non-AEI-AGRI projects are implemented in La Rioja. For more information on the Operational Groups and Projects developed, click here .
Regional wine projects
Among the projects financed with ERDF funds are those aimed at transferring knowledge to the wine sector and research projects, also co-financed with these funds, in the agri-food sector, developed by technology centers within the Autonomous Community of La Rioja.
Technical Conferences
Technical workshops are part of the Ministry of Agriculture's activities to transfer to the agri-food sector the knowledge generated through demonstration fields, innovation projects, or other innovative topics that may be of interest to farmers, ranchers, or technicians in their daily work. You can view the presentations from technical workshops held in recent years in this section here .
Integration of counseling in AKIS
Potential users of the advice must choose between the advisory entities selected by La Rioja:
- Resolution with the selected advisory entities of the agricultural holdings 2025
