Valencian Community

The Valencian Community is the fourth largest Spanish economy with a contribution to the national GDP of 9.3% ( Caixabank Research (2023) ) . The Valencian Community has 100,258 agricultural holdings, of which 78% are farms smaller than 5 ha. By crop, citrus fruits, almonds, persimmons, olive groves, vineyards, rice, barley and carob are those to which the largest area is allocated, with 455,180 ha (88%). More than three-quarters of the Valencian livestock population corresponds to pigs, followed by sheep (17%) and to a lesser extent goats and cattle ( Valencian agricultural sector report 2022 ).

The Valencian agri-food sector represents 7.2% of the Spanish sector. In 2022, the number of agri-food companies was 2,532 (8.4% of Spain's total). By sector, the production of bakery products and pasta accounted for 45.4%, followed by other food products (cocoa, sugar, prepared meals, and dietary foods) at 14.7%, beverage production at 11.5%, the meat industry at 8.1%, and the processing and preservation of fruits and vegetables at 5.8%. ( Valencian Agricultural Sector Report 2022 ).

The Agri-Food System (AFS) is made up of a set of economic activities that make it possible to meet society's demand for food in sufficient time, quantity, and quality. Thus, the AFS includes the input and services industry for agriculture and the food industry, agricultural production, the food industry, transport and storage, and agri-food distribution. The GVA generated by the AFS of the Valencian Community reached €10.718 billion in 2020, representing 11.2% of the total GVA of the economy ( The agri-food system of the Valencian Community) .

The challenge of the viability of Valencian agriculture is associated with opportunities for coordinating the food chain, adjusting the fragmentation of land ownership, joint management of production, the mobility of the land market, the availability of tools that facilitate planning for sector professionals, and public and private investment for the benefit of sustainable and job-creating agricultural activity. ( Law 5/2019 on agricultural structures of the Valencian Community ).

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

The image shows the groups of public and private agents in 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 the generation of knowledge

Cardenal Herrera-CEU University .
Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir .
European University of Valencia .
University of Alicante .
University of Valencia .
Jaume I University .
Miguel Hernández University .
Polytechnic University of Valencia .
AINIA : Private technology center with areas of expertise such as food quality and safety, green transition, and digital transformation.
Center for Desertification Research ( CIDE ): Joint research institute of the Spanish National Research Council, the University of Valencia and the Valencian Government focused on the analysis and study of the risk and potential impact of desertification and climate change on ecosystems and humans.
Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology ( IATA ): A center of the Higher Council for Scientific Research focused on agrochemical activity and food technology.
Primo Yufera Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Plants ( IBMCP ) : Joint research institute of the Spanish National Research Council and the Polytechnic University of Valencia focused on research into key processes of growth and development of plant organisms and their capacity to adapt to the environment.
Institute of Integrative Systems Biology ( I2SYSBIO ) : Joint research institute of the Spanish National Research Council and the University of Valencia.
Institute for Innovation and Knowledge Management ( INGENIO ) : Joint research institute of the Spanish National Research Council and the Polytechnic University of Valencia.
Institute of Chemical Technology ( ITQ ) : Joint research institute of the Higher Council for Scientific Research and the Polytechnic University of Valencia.
Valencian Institute of Agricultural Research ( IVIA ): Entity of the government of the Generalitat Valenciana dedicated to promoting scientific research and technological development in the Valencian agri-food sector and integrating this contribution to the progress of agricultural science into the system of collaborative and cooperation relationships inherent to research activity. The Institute is made up of a series of centers: Center for Agroengineering , Center for Citrus Growing and Plant Production , Center for Sustainable Agriculture Development , Genomics Center , Center for Plant Protection and Biotechnology , Animal Technology Center , Post-harvest Technology Center and Irrigation Technology Service .

Public sector agents

Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries : public institution that administers the agricultural, livestock, agri-food, and rural development responsibilities of the Community. The Ministry has several technical services for technology transfer and advisory services:

1. Plant Health Service. It has three centers, in Almassora (Castellón), Silla (Valencia), and Alicante, serving as Agricultural Warning Stations. After learning about the phytosanitary problems affecting crops in each province, it disseminates data gathered from life cycle monitoring, trials, and experiences throughout the Community, either through the Warning Bulletin and/or by telephone.

2. Organic Production, Innovation and Technology Service, with functions of development and implementation of new technologies, continuous innovation in organic production.

3. Animal Production and Health Service.

4. Technology Transfer Service (STT): This is the Regional Ministry's service responsible for providing advice, disseminating information on technological advances, coordinating research, experimentation, and adapting innovations in agricultural production techniques, as well as providing ongoing training in the agri-food sector. The service provides technical advice to the agri-food sector, provided directly and personally from the EEAs (the Spanish Agricultural and Forestry Associations) and manages the online advisory service . The service has its own training plan ( PLAFORM ) and manages and supervises the training of professional users of phytosanitary products.

5. Agricultural Experimental Stations (EEA). These stations, which depend on the STT, implement the Service Experimentation Plan .

Territorial Directorates and Regional Agricultural Offices: Alicante (8), Castellón (8), Valencia (19).
Organic Agriculture Committee of the Valencian Community ( CAECV ).
Valencian Innovation Agency (AVI).

Agents dedicated to training

Institutes, agricultural training schools, and vocational training. A list of centers can be found here .

Agents of the agri-food sector

Quality brands and “ Molt de Gust ”: list of quality brands and guarantee mark for the Community's differentiated quality and ecological products.
Agri-Food Cooperatives of the Valencian Community : 374 cooperatives organized into 7 sectoral councils: Fruits and Vegetables, Wine, Oil, Rice, Nuts, Rural Development, Supplies.
Agri-Food Business Federation of the Valencian Community ( FEDACOVA ).
Business Confederation of the Valencian Community ( CEV ).
Citrus Management Committee ( CGC ).
Professional Colleges of Agricultural Engineers , Agricultural Technicians of Valencia and Castellón , Alicante , and Veterinarians of Alicante , Castellón and Valencia .
Agricultural Professional Organizations (OPAs): CCPV-COAG , AVA-ASAJA , Alicante-ASAJA , UPA-PV , Unió de Llauradors i Ramaders del País Valencià (ULRPV ).
Associations for Treatments in Agriculture (ATRIA).
Health Defense Groups (ADS).

Other agents

Valencian Rural Development Network ( REDAVER ).
Local Action Groups (11).
Operational Groups and innovative projects .
Cercle Agroalimentari of the Valencian Community .
Network of Valencian Science Parks ( RePCV ): Espaitec - Scientific and Technological Park of the Universitat Jaume I ; Scientific Park of the University of Valencia ; Polytechnic City of Innovation - Universitat Politècnica de València ; Alicante Science Park - University of Alicante , Science Park of the Miguel Hernández University of Elche .

Instruments and tools for the dynamization of the AKIS

REGIONAL STRATEGY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

The Smart Specialization Strategy of the Valencian Community integrates the three specialization challenges of the sector in the environment "Innovative Valencian Community by its origin and destination": "Increase the technical development and sustainable innovation in agricultural holdings; support the adoption of new technologies and materials in the agri-food sector through investment in R&D&I; promote the applications of green biotechnology and other innovative solutions for healthy and sustainable food (new foods, new sources of protein, etc.)" ( Generalitat Valenciana (2021). Smart specialization strategy of the Valencian Community 2021-2027 ). This area is a reference framework for the development of the regional AKIS System for innovation and the transfer of knowledge and experiences between stakeholders.

CAP 2023 – 2027

Within the scope of the Common Agricultural Policy, the Valencian Community allocates the following budget and actions to two of the interventions most directly linked to AKIS:

7162 (Cooperation other than EIP operational groups): €1.85 million.
7201 (Training): €2.50 million.

TOOLS FOR DYNAMIZATION

Sectoral competitive tensions are an incentive to strengthen alternative models of relationships between agents in the food chain and implement new forms of management that mobilize agrarian structures for the benefit of innovative activities and entrepreneurship. ( Law 5/2019 on agrarian structures of the Valencian Community ). In this sense, the Valencian AKIS System faces the challenge of increasing innovation among producers, the transfer of experiences through training for system agents, and the production of synergies ( Ramos, 2017 ; Pérez Ledo, Pau and Pérez, Mónica, 2021 ) for a competitive and sustainable sector.

The momentum achieved among stakeholders is reinforced by the activation of innovative projects and productive collaborations between large and small producers, processors, marketers, researchers, and government agencies such as the AVI and IVIA . Therefore, the sustainability of the Valencian AKIS system and sectoral innovation are strengthened by links through shared mechanisms and agendas embodied in projects, hybrid organizational structures, scientific outreach conferences and events, training in innovation and the adoption of new technologies, and specialized advice that impact the competitiveness, adaptability, and modernization of the Valencian agricultural sector.

Finally, the dynamics of the network of agents of the regional AKIS system influences the territorial articulation and fixation of the social fabric through the coordinated action of companies, organizations, consultants, public entities and the Local Action Groups (11) and Rural Development ( Viewer of Operational Groups and Innovative Projects of the RedPAC ). Each and every one of the agents contributes significant value to the sector by facilitating the transfer of knowledge, experiences and innovations that impact the productivity and competitiveness of the sector and social well-being.

MEASURES TO SUPPORT KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER, TRAINING AND INNOVATION

Grants for training and skills acquisition for agri-food activities within the framework of the RDP CV/Knowledge Transfer and Training and Information Activities PEPAC 23-27. Support for the training plans of entities that provide training services, specifically professional agricultural organizations, federations or unions of agricultural cooperatives in the Community of Valencia, and other non-profit entities directly related to the agri-food sector and rural areas, whose objectives include training professionals in the agri-food sector.
Pilot cooperation projects within the framework of the RDP (PEPAC): Support and promotion of innovative pilot projects in the agricultural and food sectors, derived from cooperation approaches developed by Innovation Teams. These teams are comprised of farmers, associations, and cooperatives, who propose and implement an innovative project to solve a problem, implement an innovative solution, and disseminate the results. In short, support for multi-stakeholder projects that promote innovation.
Technological innovation in collaborating farms: The purpose of the aid is to generate and finance a technology transfer network by supporting collaborating farms or operations that develop innovative projects, complementing the experimental network of the Agricultural Experimental Stations (EEA) .

INTEGRATION OF ADVISORY IN AKIS

Advisory grants are an important development lever for improving the sustainable management and overall performance of agricultural and forestry holdings, and are a key factor in stimulating the transfer of knowledge and innovation among regional AKIS stakeholders.

In the Valencian Community, entities interested in providing advisory services must have legal personality, as must unions or federations of these or cooperatives related to agricultural activity, and include in their bylaws the provision of assistance and advice to farmers and ranchers as one of their corporate purposes.