Balearic Islands, Illes

The agricultural indicators published by the Balearic Islands Statistics Institute show a decline in agricultural and livestock production, which is also reflected in the export of other products such as potatoes, carob gum, wines and liquors.

The Balearic Strategy for the Improvement of Agricultural Knowledge 2021-2025 is the operational reference framework for the development of a regional knowledge and innovation system on the islands with national and international projection.

The Balearic AKIS system is closely linked to the island status and the decentralisation of powers to the Island Councils of Mallorca , Menorca , Formentera and Ibiza, which are responsible for the agriculture, livestock and fishing; quality, traceability and conditions of agricultural and livestock products and derived food products. The result is a conglomerate of public and private agents that mainly interact in their territory and with the autonomous authorities. The general scheme of the AKIS is represented as follows:

The image shows the agri-food innovation system of the Balearic AKIS and its relationships:

Agents that generate knowledge.
Public Administration Agents.
Agents dedicated to training.
Agents of the agri-food sector.
Other AKIS agents.

AKIS agents and interactions

Agents dedicated to knowledge generation

University of the Balearic Islands : It is a central agent that carries out the traditional functions of training, creating and developing scientific knowledge and innovations through research.
Institute for Agro-Environmental and Water Economics Research (INAGEA) : The Institute aims to train and generate scientific and technological knowledge and transfer it to the agri-food and environmental sector of the Balearic Islands.

Public sector agents

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment: Institution of the regional government responsible for agricultural matters. The department includes areas and services specialising in food, agriculture, livestock farming and fisheries.
Island Council of Mallorca .
Island Council of Menorca .
Formentera Island Council .
Ibiza Island Council .
Balearic Islands Institute for Agri-Food and Fisheries Research and Training (IRFAP) : Carries out knowledge-generating activities through research projects and the transfer of agri-food knowledge to the public and private sectors. This Institute replaces the public company SEMILLA.
Institute for Agri-Food Quality of the Balearic Islands (IQUA) : This is an institute attached to the Ministry that is responsible for centralising all powers in the area of promotion and control of agri-food quality.
Agricultural and Fisheries Guarantee Fund (FOGAIBA) .

Agents dedicated to training

In the Community there are Institutes and Centres for vocational agricultural training with agricultural training programmes. You can consult the centres by clicking here

Agents of the agri-food sector

Association of Agricultural Production of Mallorca (APAEMA) : The main goal of the association is to have a platform for the defense and promotion of organic farming and agroecology.
Association of Organic Agriculture Producers of Eivissa and Formentera (APAEEF) : Association that carries out training, consultancy and promotion activities for organic agriculture.
Balearic Council for Organic Agricultural Production (CBPAE) : This is the body responsible for certifying organic agri-food products in the Autonomous Community.
Association of Agricultural Business Owners of Menorca (AGRAME) : In Menorca, it represents companies that are complementary to the primary sector.
General Majorcan Agricultural Association (AGAMA) : Majorcan association that promotes the development of the dairy industry.
Ibiza produces : Foundation that advocates for the consumption of local products, promoting an increase in the cultivated surface area in an environmentally friendly manner.
Union of peasants of Mallorca : Professional organisation representing the peasants of the island of Mallorca.
Balear Tree Association : Independent, non-profit organisation made up of professionals and volunteers concerned about the loss and degradation of the Islands' tree heritage.
Associació de Varietat Locals : A non-profit organisation that includes farmers, technicians and scholars of the agrobiodiversity of the Islands. Its mission is to recover local varieties of vegetables, legumes, cereals and fruit trees, as well as the peasant knowledge associated with them.
AGROILLA : Agricultural production and marketing company in Mallorca.
AGROMART : A company whose purpose is to dignify and professionalize the art of Balearic peasantry.
PIMELAB Technology Centre : The centre located in Menorca promotes R&D&I and the implementation of quality systems in agriculture (soil, irrigation, fertilisation, animal feed), as well as offering laboratory services for food and beverages (PIMELAB Laboratory).
Professional Colleges: Veterinarians , Agronomists , Agricultural Technicians .
Professional Agricultural Organizations (OPAs): UPA-AIA , ASAJA-Balears , COAG-Unió Pagesos, AGRAME and FAGME.

Instruments and tools for the dynamization of the AKIS

REGIONAL STRATEGY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

Law 7/2022 , of August 5, on science, technology and innovation in the Balearic Islands, aims to promote research, technological development and innovation activity, understood as a common good in the Balearic Islands, and the coordination and planning of the Science, Technology and Innovation Ecosystem of the Balearic Islands (ECTIB) . It also aims to promote transparency, dissemination and transfer of knowledge within the scope of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands.

This Law defines the instruments used for the development of the science, technology and innovation strategy of the Balearic Islands: on the one hand, the Science, Technology and Innovation Plan of the Balearic Islands and, on the other, the state and European strategies developed within the framework of the recommendations and scenarios proposed by the European Union, with the aim of generating a smart, sustainable and integrative economy.

CAP 2023-2027

In the field of the common agricultural policy, the Balearic Islands allocates the following budget and actions to three of the interventions most directly linked to AKIS:

7162 (Cooperation not related to EIP operational groups): €0.33 million.
7201 (Training): €1.70 million.
7202 (Consulting): €0.26 million.

TOOLS FOR DYNAMIZATION

There are a great variety of people on the Islands. that intervene in the AKIS ecosystem. This variety is conditioned by the insularity itself, which fosters a less cohesive system from the autonomous perspective. However, insularity influences the development of strong local relations.

The dynamics of the system are based on the centrality of the agents of creation and development of knowledge and innovation, and on the collaborative and financial capacity of the autonomous institutions with the administrative structures, associations and individuals at the local level. In this sense, the informative publications, as well as the initiatives of the associations and organizations materialized in conferences, fairs and events are good tools for the sustainability and development of the regional AKIS and the Balearic agricultural and livestock sector.