Events

On May 8, Brussels will host the "Vision for Agriculture and Food" Conference at The Square. Under the theme "Shaping the Future of Agriculture and the Agri-Food Sector," the event will bring together key stakeholders from the European agri-food sector, civil society, rural communities, and policymakers. The conference aims to strengthen consensus around the vision for the future of EU agriculture and its roadmap, discuss key initiatives, and collaborate on the future direction of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) beyond 2027. Plenary sessions will be streamed online without registration. The "Vision for Food and Agriculture" initiative seeks to ensure the competitiveness and sustainability of the sector by ensuring a stable food supply in the EU. It is based on the report of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture and consultations with the European Agriculture and Food Council. The event will take place at La Plaza, Mont des Arts, Brussels, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (CEST). Wide participation, both in person and online, is expected for this key event for the future of European agriculture. Social media: #EUAgriVision | @euagrifood

The General Subdirectorate of Innovation and Digitalization of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is organizing the information session: "Aid for the preparation and execution of innovation projects of general interest by supra-regional operational groups of the European Innovation Partnership in agricultural productivity and sustainability (AEI-Agri), within the framework of the Strategic Plan for the CAP of Spain (PEPAC)", which will take place on Wednesday, May 7, at 11:00 a.m., in the Auditorium of the Palacio de Fomento (MAPA) behind closed doors and will be streamed on the PAC Network channel and the AKIS Advisors Platform YouTube channel. This event will feature key information on both Royal Decree 366/2023, of 16 May , which establishes the regulatory framework for granting cooperation subsidies for the preparation and execution of innovation projects of general interest carried out by supra-regional operational groups of the European Partnership for Innovation in Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (AEI-Agri) , and the 2025 call for these grants and their application forms . In addition, time will be set aside to address the most common questions from potential applicants that have been previously received via email at idiagri@mapa.es . The event can be followed via streaming on the RedPAC channel. For any questions, please write to the following email address: idiagri@mapa.es . PROGRAM OF THE DAY

Objectives: Knowledge of the Spanish water reuse regulations. Risk management, additional requirements, and preventive measures to ensure the safe use and management of reclaimed water. Integrated irrigation management with reclaimed water. Advantages and disadvantages. Mixing water for fertigation. Aimed at: Technicians serving Irrigation Communities and managers of administrations, universities, companies and professionals related to irrigation and the latest technologies applied to agriculture For any questions you may have, please contact us by phone at 913475990 or by email at: bzn-formregadios@mapa.es REGISTRATION | TRIPTYCH

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food is organizing the event "A Decade of Innovative Projects from Operational Groups: Success Stories" to highlight the remarkable results of innovative projects in the agri-food, forestry, and rural sectors of the supra-regional Operational Groups of the AEI-AGRI . These projects, co-financed by the EAFRD under the Rural Development pillar of the CAP, are success stories that drive the transformation of the sector. Event program: 12:00 p.m. | Institutional welcome Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. 12:20 PM | Innovation in the Agri-Food Sector: Success Stories Presentation of supra-regional operational groups that have driven innovation in the sector: RETA – Network of Agricultural Test Spaces. Presented by Albert Puigvert i Tuneu and Laura Megías Garriga of the Association of Rural Initiatives of Catalonia (ARCA) . SMARTOM – Comprehensive management platform for tomato cultivation. Presented by Jesús Gil Soto of the Business Association of Research of the National Agro-Food Technology Center of Extremadura (CTAEX) . SUBALMA – Improving the productivity and sustainability of subterranean drip irrigation systems using nanobubbles and olive mill waste as fertilizer. Presented by Beatriz Masdemont Hernández of Sistema Azud, SA (AZUD) . REBO2VINO – Circular economy in the wine sector: reusing glass bottles. Presented by Trinidad Márquez García of the Spanish Wine Federation (FEV) . CARBOGAN – Digitalization of extensive grazing management as a carbon sequestration strategy. Presented by Javier Alejandre of the Union of Small Farmers (UPA) . 1:30 p.m. | Perspectives and future of agrifood innovation Isabel Bombal Díaz Director General of Rural Development, Innovation and Agri-Food Training (DGDRIFA). Key insights into the evolution of innovation support, the multi-stakeholder approach, and the creation of a collaborative ecosystem in the agri-food sector. New 2025 call for proposals: €46.25 million to finance innovative supra-regional projects. 1:50 PM | Closing of the event 2:00 PM | Networking and closing session ( Nouvel Lobby ) Access the dossier of innovative PNDR projects Access the list of PNDR and PEPAC innovation projects Prior registration required REGISTRATION until April 8

The Simbioliva Operational Group plans to hold an informative presentation on April 9 at the Orujera Interprovincial Conference in Fuente de Piedra. As part of a training program run by an educational institution in collaboration with the University of Malaga (UMA) , students from the NCEC (Saudi Arabia's National Center for Environmental Control) will be visiting the Simbioliva Operational Group project. The goal is to raise awareness of the Spanish model for valorizing alperujo (a type of olive oil), as well as the various R&D&I alternatives and initiatives applied to this byproduct. This project is also presented as a benchmark for innovation in the use of alperujo (a type of olive oil), serving as an inspiration for other agricultural sectors worldwide.

Next Tuesday, March 25, at 11:00 a.m., the PROVACUNO stand at FIGAN (Hall 6, Stand CD 31-36) will host the presentation of the SECUESVAC Operational Group , an innovative project focused on optimizing carbon sequestration in agricultural soils associated with beef production in Spain. Javier López, director of PROVACUNO , the entity representing the project, will be in charge of explaining the objectives and progress of SECUESVAC, which seeks not only to contribute to climate neutrality by 2050, but also to preserve the rural environment where beef production takes place. The SECUESVAC Operational Group is 100% funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, within the framework of the National Strategic Plan for the CAP (PEPAC) 2023-2027. The project's total investment amounts to €548,889.40, and the Directorate-General for Rural Development, Innovation and Agri-Food Training (DGDRIFA) is the managing authority for the aid. It is recommended to confirm attendance to facilitate the organization of the event.

The 17th edition of the International Fair for Animal Production ( FIGAN ) will take place from March 25 to 28, 2025 at the Feria de Zaragoza facilities. FIGAN aims to become the meeting point for the livestock sector in the Iberian Peninsula once again. At the last edition, 987 exhibiting companies presented the most outstanding technological innovations , in 77,083 m2 of surface area. Among the main attractions of FIGAN 2025: An outstanding selection of pure breeds Various competitions and exhibitions Genetics Health Feeding Equipment Aquaculture A prominent presence of the equine sector

The ETSIA in Seville will host a series of seminars on the Common Agricultural Policy with various experts We would like to inform you about the holding of several seminars with qualified experts who will come to the ETSIA in Seville (Ctra. de Utrera, Km. 1) to discuss the Common Agricultural Policy , which will be open and of great interest. The first and second sessions, dedicated to “The evolution of the CAP and the current CAP” , were held on 6 and 12 March. The third session will be on Thursday, March 13. The session, which will take place from 8:30 to 10:20 a.m. in classroom 8, will focus on "Rural development interventions." Juan Antonio Jaén Téllez, Technical Advisor and Official of the Junta de Andalucía, will address this topic. To attend, simply send an email to the attention of DANIEL ALBARRACIN SANCHEZ: dalbarracin@us.es

The ETSIA in Seville will host a series of seminars on the Common Agricultural Policy with various experts We would like to inform you about the holding of several seminars with qualified experts who will come to the ETSIA in Seville (Ctra. de Utrera, Km. 1) to discuss the Common Agricultural Policy , which will be open and of great interest. The first session on “The evolution of the CAP and the current CAP” was held on 6 March. The second session will be on Wednesday, March 12, from 12:40 to 14:30, in classroom 3. Armando Martínez, Coordinator of Agriculture and Food at the Andalusian Government, will participate in this session as a speaker on the topic. On Thursday 13 March, the conference will focus on “Rural development interventions”. Juan Antonio Jaén Téllez, Technical Advisor and Official of the Andalusian Government, will address this topic. To attend, simply send an email to the attention of DANIEL ALBARRACIN SANCHEZ: dalbarracin@us.es

The ETSIA in Seville will host a series of seminars on the Common Agricultural Policy with various experts We would like to inform you about the holding of several seminars with qualified experts who will come to the ETSIA in Seville (Ctra. de Utrera, Km. 1) to discuss the Common Agricultural Policy , which will be open and of great interest. The first of the sessions dedicated to "The evolution of the CAP and the current CAP" will take place on March 6. (from 8:30 to 10:20 a.m., in room 8), Thursday, and March 12, Wednesday, (12:40-2:30 p.m., in room 3) Armando Martínez, Coordinator of Agriculture and Food at the Junta de Andalucía, will speak to give an account of . On Thursday, March 13, Juan Antonio Jaén Téllez (8:30-10:20 a.m., classroom 8), Doctor in Agricultural, Food, Forestry and Sustainable Rural Development Engineering, Technical Advisor and Official of the Andalusian Government, will discuss "Rural development interventions." To attend, send an e-mail to the a/a. from DANIEL ALBARRACIN SANCHEZ: dalbarracin@us.es

The Agricultural and Agri-Food Technology Centre ( ITAGRA ) is organizing the conference “Agrovoltaics = energy + crops. A double use of the land” , which will take place on Wednesday, February 26 at the Palace of the Provincial Council of Palencia. Experts in the subject will talk about the current state of this technology, the financing of projects, and the innovative examples that exist in Castilla y León, among other issues. During this conference, the GO CONTROL project will be disseminated. About the CONTROL Operational Group The Task Force on Optimization and improvement of the efficiency of solar irrigation through the use of digital technology, applying artificial intelligence (GO CONTROL), is framed in the context of water needs in the field. One of the greatest limitations in agriculture is knowing when to irrigate and in what quantity. Technological innovation is the key to solving this and the great revolution of ICT technologies, sensors and automatic processing capacity has opened up new possibilities for water and energy optimization. The compatibility of solar irrigation with digital technology would make it possible to stop this phenomenon of depopulation in rural areas, contributing to improving economic performance and creating value in these spaces. Women have a key role in the rural world that can be enhanced by activities that generate economies induced by the principal. The group's objectives are: Transforming agriculture into a smart and highly technological sector, applying digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in solar irrigation and crop development. Digital technologies and AI, through the use of sensors and drones to validate results, will improve the efficiency of solar irrigation, making the most of natural resources and reducing water and energy consumption. Process analysis and definition of control algorithms will enable the development of applications for farmers' devices.

During this session, the Recicland project will be presented , and theory will be taught on the environmental consequences of hazardous waste management and on the internal management of pesticide containers, broth residues, and expired or discontinued products on the farm, as well as on the management of this hazardous waste off-farm.

The Economics, Post-harvest and Industry Working Groups of the Spanish Society of Horticultural Sciences (SECH) are organizing a new online Congress on "The agri-food challenge in the face of climate change" that will take place online on December 3 and 4 . The challenges of the agri-food sector in the current climate change scenario and the 2030 Agenda require a response from the entire agri-food chain, from production, through industry, process improvement, marketing and responsible food consumption, and influencing the responsibility of society itself. These challenges become challenges and opportunities that will be addressed at the Congress. The conference will be organised in sessions that will include oral presentations and invited speakers with works related to fruit and vegetable production, post-harvest, circular economy and environmental sustainability.

Digitalisation in the agricultural sector is a crucial challenge, especially for a wide range of small and micro-sized agricultural companies (SMEs), as well as for the state administration, which must coordinate with the Autonomous Communities and the European Union. In this context, the event will analyse the challenges and opportunities posed by digitalisation within the legislative framework of the CAP-27 and the Nature Restoration Law , including aspects such as the Digital Exploitation Notebook (CUE) and its integration with the databases managed by FEGA in Spain. The event will bring together experts from the administration and private companies who will share their experiences in the development of technological solutions for connectivity and data management. After the presentations, there will be a round table where attendees will be able to interact directly with the professionals.

10th annual EU conference on EAFRD financial instruments , organized by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI), and the European Investment Bank (EIB). Registration will open in Summer 2024. 10th Annual EU Conference on EAFRD Financial Instruments organised by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI) and the European Investment Bank (EIB). Registration will open during summer 2024.

The 2nd Congress of Agricultural Engineering, organised by the Council of Official Colleges of Technical Agricultural Engineers of Spain and the Official College of Technical Agricultural and Forestry Engineers of Catalonia, will take place on 13 and 14 November at the Higher Technical School of Agri-Food and Forestry Engineering and Veterinary Medicine of the University of Lleida. The central themes of its seven sessions include water management, the food chain, agrivoltaics, green spaces and urban trees, hydrological forest management and plant health. PROGRAM | REGISTRATION

The 57th edition of the Lorca livestock, industrial and agri-food fair, SEPOR, will be held on October 28, 29, 30 and 31, 2024 in Lorca, Murcia Its programme includes the presentation of new products and solutions for the sector, as well as an extensive programme of conferences and talks.

The 3rd Catalonia Biogas Forum will take place on 24 October, as part of the European Biogas Week. Organised by the Bioenergy Cluster of Catalonia, it will address various aspects of the production and use of this energy source, showcasing various success stories and offering a space to discuss its future and build relationships between the various actors in the sector who will participate in the meeting. REGISTRATION

The E4Advice project , funded by the European Commission's Horizon Europe programme, aims to boost the role of advisors in Short Marketing Channels (SMC) and direct selling to transfer knowledge by creating an EU network of Advisors with knowledge and experience in these areas within the AKIS reference framework. You can sign up for the EU4Advice and Entretantos Foundation Living Lab by clicking here

Synergy Days is the leading conference connecting digital innovators in the European agri-food sector . The event provides a space for the agri-food community to meet, discuss and exchange knowledge by bringing together EU projects, policy makers, European and digital innovation hubs, farmers and more. Over two days , discussions, workshops, live demonstrations and presentations of EU projects will take place, designed to create more networking connections than ever before. You can register by clicking here . You can watch the program (in English) by clicking here .