Castile-La Mancha

Castilla-La Mancha has a long tradition and experience in the primary sector, which translates into the contribution of 10% of the Gross Added Value (GVA) of the agricultural sector in Spain. Its almost 120,000 farms, with an average size of 33 ha. share just over 4 million hectares of useful agricultural land ( European Commission (2024 ).

The contribution of the primary sector of La Mancha is significant in the regional and national economy through the production of cereals, legumes, grapes, olives, and onions, among others. The livestock population is represented primarily by sheep and goats and, to a lesser extent, by cattle and pigs, with the Community being the main producer of eggs at a national level. Finally, the agri-food industry accounts for around 40% of the turnover in the regional manufacturing industry, with the meat industry, dairy products and wines standing out ( UNICAJA (2021). The Agricultural Sector and the Food Industry in Spain: Main features and regional analysis in 2021 ).

The regional AKIS is represented by a cluster of public and private agents grouped together and interacting with each other:

Imagen de agentes públicos y privados que están presentes en el AKIS

The image shows the groups of public and private agents of a regional AKIS:

Agents that generate knowledge.
Public sector 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 Castilla-La Mancha .
Regional Institute for Agro-Food and Forestry Research and Development of Castilla-La Mancha ( IRIAF ): Public centre focused on promoting research, innovation and development, as well as dissemination and technical advice, in the field of agriculture, livestock, agri-food industries and forestry. There are 8 specialised centres and institutes linked to IRIAF : Agroforestry Research Centre ( CIAF ), Regional Centre for Animal Selection and Reproduction ( CERSYRA ), Agro-environmental Research Centre ( CIAG ) "El Chaparrillo", Institute of Vine and Wine of Castilla-La Mancha ( IVICAM ), Apicultural and Agro-environmental Research Centre ( CIAPA ), Agricultural Research Centre " Dehesón del Encinar ", CLaMbe R&D Biorefinery for scaling up biotechnological processes, Viticulture and Oenology Station ( EVE ).
Institute for Research in Game Resources ( IREC ): The mission of the Institute is to generate and disseminate scientific knowledge that allows maintaining a balance between hunting and conservation.

Public sector agents

Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development : public institution that administers the powers in agriculture, livestock, agri-food, rural development and fisheries in the Autonomous Community.
Regional Agricultural Offices (45).

Agents dedicated to training

Agricultural and vocational training schools. You can consult a list of institutes and centres here .

Agents of the agri-food sector

Agri-Food Cooperatives of Castilla-La Mancha.
Professional Colleges of Agricultural Engineers , Agricultural Technicians and Veterinarians ( Albacete , Ciudad Real , Cuenca , Guadalajara , Toledo ).
Professional Agricultural Organizations (OPAs): COAG-CLM , ASAJA Castilla-La Mancha and UPA Castilla-La Mancha .

Other Agents

Castilla-La Mancha Rural Development Network ( RECAMDER ).
Local Action Groups (29).
Operational Groups .
Castilla-La Mancha Science and Technology Park .

Instruments and tools for the dynamization of the AKIS

REGIONAL STRATEGIES FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

For the period 2021-2027:

CAP 2023-2027

In the field of the Common Agricultural Policy, Castilla la Mancha allocates the following budget and actions to the three interventions most directly linked to the AKIS:

7161 (Cooperation of EIP operational groups): €10.8 million.
7201 (Knowledge exchange and information dissemination): €5.3 million.
- Courses and conferences: will include activities of exchange of knowledge and dissemination of information in different formats aimed at a specific group of participants, taught both theoretically and practically. Practical activities may include visits to farms, agri-food companies and environmental services.
- Information and demonstration actions.
- Exchanges: short stays on other EU farms and forestry farms or organised visits to them will allow participants to be directly involved in the learning process.
7202 (Consulting): €3.7 million.
- Grants to help obtain advisory services.
- Grants for the creation of management, replacement and advisory services.
- Grants for the provision of tutoring services.

TOOLS FOR DYNAMIZATION

The importance of the agricultural sector in the economy of the Community and Spain, the climatic, demographic, economic and political circumstances and the current risks must stimulate investment and public-private links through innovative projects and productive collaborations between large and small producers, processors, marketers and researchers.

The revitalization of the regional knowledge and innovation transfer system (AKIS) is materialized in joint modernization and digitalization projects, scientific dissemination conferences and events, technical and professional training, economic missions, advice and publications in different formats and media to reinforce the competitiveness, adaptability and sustainability of the agricultural sector of Castilla-La Mancha and project it to other markets in addition to its net contribution to rural development and the environment. In this sense, "cooperation aims to integrate and improve relations between the agents involved, whether they are producers, processors, public and private institutions, etc., thus facilitating the integration of research groups in order to innovate in primary production" ( European Commission (2024 ) as can be verified in the operational groups and innovative projects existing in the Community ( Viewer of Operational Groups and Innovative Projects of the RedPAC ).