Events

The General Council of Official Colleges of Agricultural Technical Engineers of Spain collaborates in the organization of the Youth Forum on Spanish Agri-Food Systems , a national event that will be held on May 8 and 9, 2025 in the city of León , with the aim of giving voice to youth in the debate on the future of the agri-food system . Promoted by the Spanish National Chapter of the World Food Forum (WFF) and organized together with the Global Council on Sustainable Food Systems and IAAS Spain , the forum has the support of institutions such as the University of León , the León City Council , the FAO and various entities committed to the sustainability and development of the food system. Inspired by the WFF's flagship event in Rome , the Spanish forum offers a meeting and exchange space for young people from all over Spain , focusing on the main challenges and opportunities facing the agri-food sector, with a special emphasis on generational change, sustainability, food safety, and the key role of innovation and technology. Main topics and activities of the forum Innovation and technology in agri-food systems Food security and international cooperation The role of young women in transforming the food system Politics, youth and decision-making Inspiring experiences led by young people in the sector The event will include thematic panels, roundtables, networking sessions, and cultural activities , and is expected to attract around 100 attendees from different regions of the country. The General Council's participation in this forum reflects its commitment to youth leadership in agriculture , raising awareness of their role in the agri-food and environmental sectors, and forging strategic alliances to address current and future challenges from a sustainable and inclusive perspective. PROGRAM | REGISTRATION

This meeting aims to highlight the opportunities that await those who decide to undertake business in the agricultural and livestock sectors, driven by the power of innovation, technology, and knowledge . The event seeks to be a catalyst for the renewal of the field, exploring how the latest technological trends and scientific advances can optimize production, improve sustainability, and open new paths to profitability. In this endeavor, the role of young entrepreneurs is fundamental. They will be the key players, capable of identifying market niches, developing differentiated products and services, and building resilient and prosperous businesses. It is organized by the Córdoba Technology Park, together with the Higher Technical School of Agricultural and Forestry Engineering (ETSIAM), the International Chair of Artificial Intelligence and Agriculture - CIIAA and the Chair of Agricultural and Food Innovation of the Caja Rural del Sur Foundation, of the University of Córdoba, with the collaboration of the Acelera Pyme Office of CETEMET, the Cajamar Foundation and Yara Iberian. At the opening roundtable, expert voices such as agri-food journalist Elisa Plumed and established professionals from companies such as Covap, Yara Iberian, Almazaras Industriales and Fundación Cajamar will present the business and professional development opportunities offered by the agri-food sector . Four subsequent thematic sessions will address how technology, innovation, and knowledge are key tools for the professional development of these young entrepreneurs . Success stories from various fields will also be shared. The sessions are aimed at entrepreneurs with innovative ideas, young professionals in the agricultural sector, researchers and technologists with solutions applicable to the field, and anyone interested in the transformative potential of innovation in agriculture and livestock.

A conference aimed at all individuals and organizations interested in agricultural testing spaces and the social and solidarity economy. Organized by RETA (Network of Agricultural Test Spaces) in conjunction with the Cooprado Foundation and the Educatierra Association , to promote the Cooprado Farm Agricultural Test Space. COMPLETE PROGRAM

A conference aimed at all individuals and organizations interested in agricultural testing spaces and the social and solidarity economy. Organized by RETA (Network of Agricultural Test Spaces), in conjunction with the Cooprado Foundation and the Educatierra Association , to promote the Arraigados Agricultural Test Space. COMPLETE PROGRAM

On April 7 , Madrid will host a new meeting of The Food Changemakers , Europe's largest think tank dedicated to the transformation of the agri-food sector. This expert forum, sponsored by the Spanish organization KM ZERO Food Innovation Hub , seeks to generate a real impact on the development of long-term policies, strategies, and regulations in the food industry. The event, which will take place at the Tramo gastronomic space, will feature various roundtables addressing the sector's main challenges. Topics to be discussed include geopolitics and the supply chain, open innovation, water management, the future of agriculture, decarbonization, advanced nutrition and longevity, food service and retail, food safety, artificial intelligence and market trends, new proteins, and reducing food waste . This meeting will bring together leaders and experts to promote innovative and sustainable solutions for the future of food.

The Zafra Spring Fair, held from April 4th to 6th, will once again feature cattle. The three-day fair will feature exhibitions and sales of select livestock, three technical sessions, dressage and western competitions, official auctions, and other leisure activities. CONTACT | PROGRAM

National technical conference to present the results of the MAXI-CoberLEG Operational Group (Maximizing the benefits of cover crops through the selection of winter legume species and crop management), which will take place in person in Pontevedra and online through TEAMS. This initiative responds to a comprehensive approach that combines aspects of agrodiversity, genetic improvement, physiology, production and plant quality, and links them to the techno-economic demands and preferences of both producers and end consumers, to improve through R&D&I actions the competitiveness of a key export sector for the Spanish agri-food economy. The Supra-autonomous Operational Group MAXI-CoberLEG is made up of the Galician Business-University Foundation (FEUGA), Biological Mission of Galicia (MBG-CSIC), the Centre for Soil Science and Applied Biology of Segura (CEBAS-CSIC), the companies Masía el Carmen SL, Bio Varsella SL and the Agricultural Cooperative of Pego, Coop. V., and as subcontracted members the following entities: University of Valencia (UV), Valencian Institute of Agricultural Research (IVIA), and Darwin Bioprospecting Excellence SL Program: 16:15 – Welcome to the Biological Mission of Galicia of the Spanish National Research Council (MBG-CSIC); Registration of attendees and delivery of promotional material. 16:30 – Presentation of the MAXI-CoberLEG Supra-autonomous Operational Group Beatriz Calviño Vázquez , Innovation and National Projects Manager at FEUGA 16:40 – Native biodiversity of legumes: lupine and its potential as winter groundcovers Dr. Marta Santalla Ferradás , Scientific Researcher of the Plant Development Genetics Group (DEVOLEG), of the Biological Mission of Galicia of the Higher Council for Scientific Research. 16:55 – Role of winter legume covers in the conservation of natural enemies in citrus Dr. César Monzó Ferrer, Senior Researcher at the Entomology Unit, Valencian Institute of Agricultural Research, Moncada (IVIA). 17:10 – Questions and answers 17:20 – Visit to the experimental test plots and germplasm bank of the seed collections 18:10 – Networking Aimed at farmers, cooperatives, production companies, companies related to increasing citrus productivity, business associations in the sector and clusters, Designations of Origin/Protected Geographical Indication, Public Administrations related to agriculture, the environment and/or rural development, universities, Research Groups and Technology Centres, end consumers and the general public. REGISTRATION

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, Luis Planas , will present the Agrifood Training Strategy "Sow, Grow, and Harvest Your Future" at an event to be held on Thursday, March 20, at 10:00 a.m. at the ministry's headquarters. This strategy is an initiative of the Ministry to promote the professionalization of the agri-food sector through training, capacity building, and talent attraction, within the framework of the ecological and digital transition. The meeting, which will be closed by the Secretary of State for Agriculture and Food, Begoña García , will feature professionals from various fields participating in a panel discussion that will address the sector's challenges , entrepreneurship opportunities, and showcase success stories. The importance of using technology as an incentive for new generations will also be analyzed. Participating in the panel will be Gabriel Trenzado , director general of Cooperativas Agroalimentarias, and José Emilio Guerrero, professor of Animal Production at the University of Córdoba. Also participating will be the director of the ES San Isidro Secondary Education Institute in Talavera de la Reina (Toledo), Teresa Valero , whose school teaches the new higher level training cycle in Livestock and Animal Health Assistance, the young entrepreneur Sergio Arribas , who will present his vision of new crops in Castilla La Mancha, and the director of Talent at Hispatec, Inma Trapero, a human resources specialist.

This event will focus on the study of the current management of the Asturian and Galician milk production system, considering the joint analysis of the farm and the value chain, which will allow the selection of the best practices associated with the different types of farms. Discussion and sharing of information on the weaknesses, threats, strengths and opportunities of livestock farms. Discussion and sharing of the most relevant production, environmental and social indicators. About the CLIMALACT Task Force The CLIMALACT project aims to identify and standardise farm/landscape/value chain management practices associated with the “CLIMALACT” brand and to provide, through co-creative processes (multi-actor methodologies), idiotypes of dairy agri-food systems in Asturias and Galicia based on the calculation of simple sustainability and climate neutrality indicators in order to achieve transparency in farm and value chain management and continuous improvement of sustainability.

The BOVIEX 4.0 Operational Group: “Technological improvement in extensive cattle production in Spain” is organizing its final day of presentation of results , during which the partners and subcontractors of the project will present the achievements and progress obtained, as well as the conclusions derived from its execution, which are expected to be of great interest to the livestock sector. This Operational Group was created for the technological improvement in extensive cattle production in Spain.

On February 19th at 6:30 pm , the Madrid College of Veterinarians (C. del Maestro Ripoll, 8, 28006 Madrid) will host the presentation of the results of the EQUIGENOM Operative Group, a key project for the application of genomics in the improvement and selection of the Purebred Spanish Horse (PRE) and the equine sector in general . This is a project led by the National Association of Purebred Spanish Horse Breeders (ANCCE) based on the application of genomics in the equine sector. The presentation will feature prominent figures from the livestock sector, as well as experts in genomics and animal production, who will present the advances achieved and the impact that genomic selection will have on the future of the sector. The results to be presented are based on the development of an economical medium-density (MD) chip (array) that simultaneously allows for the analysis of parentage with SNPs, the diagnosis of hereditary diseases, the detection of economically important traits and genomic selection in the PRE. This advance will facilitate the decision-making of breeders regarding the selection of their breeding stock and represents a significant milestone in the genetic and genomic improvement of the Purebred Spanish Horse and the equine sector. Provisional programme 18:30 h. – Opening. Activities of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and application of genomic selection in the livestock sector. Ms. Ana Rodríguez Castaño, Secretary General of Agricultural Resources and Food Security of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. 18:50 h. – Results of the GO EQUIGENOM. Importance of genomics. Impact on the equine sector and future prospects. Mrs. Arancha Rodríguez Sainz de los Terreros and Mr. Pedro Azor Ortiz, technical director and deputy technical director of the PRE Genealogical Book. 19:25 h. – Towards a New Era in Equine Selection: From Phenotype to Genomic Selection with EQUIGENOM. Ms. Mercedes Valera Córdoba, Professor of Animal Production at the University of Seville. 19:45 h. – Closing. Mr. Gabriel Rodríguez Alarcón, Animal Health Key Account Manager, Thermofisher. Mr. José Luis Urquijo y Narváez, president of the Royal Spanish Federation of Select Livestock Associations (RFEAGAS). Mr. José Juan...

The following topics will be addressed in this technical session to present the FOSNAT project: Problems with phosphonates in organic crops. Hypothesis of origin and detection; recent studies. Determination of phosphonates: Methods of analysis Project presentation: FOSNAT-Origin of phosphonates in organic crops of economic importance in Andalusia. FOSNAT project. First results COLLOQUIUM AND QUESTIONS

The Royal Spanish Federation of Select Livestock Associations (RFEAGAS) has launched the Innovation Week , an initiative that will take place from January 27 to 30 in virtual format through the Zoom platform and that will have different sessions scheduled at 12:00 noon. The purpose of this event is to present the progress and results of the Supra-autonomous Operational Groups in which the Royal Federation participates and, therefore, the programme includes the presentation of these groups, as well as presentations by experts in innovation and a round of questions open to attendees. The fourth of these talks focuses on the E-LocalHUB Operational Group. Digital technological innovations to improve the commercial competitiveness of extensive livestock farming and promote short distribution circuits. The planned program is as follows: 12:00 : Presentation of project objectives – Teresa Antoñanzas, RFEAGAS technical department. 12:10 : From the Field to the Screen: Opportunities and challenges of e-commerce for our breeds – Jose M. Perea (UCO) and Fernando Lianes (Teckpyma). 12:30 : Native breeds on labels: A gateway to responsible consumption – Rosa Díez, Deputy Director General of Livestock Production Resources at MAPA. ZOOM LINK

The Royal Spanish Federation of Select Livestock Associations (RFEAGAS) has launched the Innovation Week , an initiative that will take place from January 27 to 30 in virtual format through the Zoom platform and that will have different sessions scheduled at 12:00 noon. The purpose of this event is to present the progress and results of the Supra-autonomous Operational Groups in which the Royal Federation participates and, therefore, the programme includes the presentation of these groups, as well as presentations by experts in innovation and a round of questions open to attendees. The second of these talks focuses on the Equigenom Task Force. Development of an economical MD Chip for parentage, disease diagnosis, genomic selection in PRE and digital tools for its use. The planned program is as follows: 12:00 : Presentation of project objectives – Juan Mª Gallardo, technical director of RFEAGAS. 12:10 : Genomics: The hidden language of DNA – Arancha Rodríguez Sainz de los Terreros, technical director of the PRE Horse Genealogical Book. 12:30 : Applications and advantages of genomics in the equine sector – Pedro Azor, technical deputy director of the PRE Horse Stud Book. ZOOM LINK

The Royal Spanish Federation of Select Livestock Associations (RFEAGAS) has launched the Innovation Week , an initiative that will take place from January 27 to 30 in virtual format through the Zoom platform and that will have different sessions scheduled at 12:00 noon. The purpose of this event is to present the progress and results of the Supra-autonomous Operational Groups in which the Royal Federation participates and, therefore, the programme includes the presentation of these groups, as well as presentations by experts in innovation and a round of questions open to attendees. The first of these talks focuses on the BOVIEX 4.0 Operational Group and is entitled Technological Improvement in the Production of Extensive Bovine Livestock in Spain . The programme is as follows: 12:00 Presentation of project objectives , by Juan Mª Gallardo, technical director of RFEAGAS. 12:10 Extensive cattle farming: Keys to sustainable well-being , presented by Marta Elena Alonso, professor at the Department of Animal Production at the University of León. 12:30 Remote sensing to characterize the spatial and temporal evolution of pastures , with Julio Villodre, PhD in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences from AgriSat Iberia. The day will conclude with a round of questions to encourage the exchange of ideas and perspectives. ZOOM LINK

From 10 to 12 December 2024 , Brussels will host the second edition of the EU Agri-Food Days . This annual event brings together key players in the agri-food sector from across the European Union to discuss the latest trends in agriculture, policy options and market developments, as well as the impact of research, innovation and digital technologies on the future of European agriculture. Over three days, the event will provide a unique platform for dialogue between stakeholders in the agri-food system, civil society, academia and policy makers. EU Agri-Food Days Programme The future of agriculture and food in the EU. Farmers' perspectives on modern agriculture. Position of farmers in the food value chain. Agricultural market outlook in the EU. Sustainable competitiveness and trade policies for food sovereignty. Research, innovation and digitalisation in the agri-food sector. Challenges and opportunities for young farmers. Practical information: Dates: December 10 - 12, 2024. Location: Brussels, Belgium. Live streaming: available without prior registration. Organizer: EU Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development. Social media: Follow the event with the hashtag #EUAgriFoodDays . This event will provide an opportunity to reflect on the current and future challenges of the European agri-food sector, and how policies such as the CAP and the European Green Deal can help build a greener, fairer and more competitive agriculture.

The co-funded European Partnerships are associations of national and regional R&D funders, research organisations and the European Commission. Their mission is to promote the advancement of science in specific sectors. Several partnerships have been launched in the field of agri-food, including FutureFoodS and Agroecology . One of its activities is to launch calls for funding for R&D&I projects in the agri-food sector through which both public and private institutions can obtain funding to participate in international R&D&I projects . Join us on Friday, November 29, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. , for an online event where the latest developments in these partnerships will be explained, as well as the conditions and requirements for Spanish institutions to participate in the first call for FutureFoodS and benefit from its financing grants. Join us via Teams: https://bit.ly/WebinarFutureFoodS

CARINA is a four-year transnational Innovation Action (until October 2026), supported by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme. The project focuses on new sustainable and diversified agricultural systems, including two new oilseed crops, carinata and camelina, capable of providing multiple low-iLUC feedstocks for the bio-based economy.

The Aragonese Cluster of Agricultural and Livestock Production Means (CAMPAG) and the Technological Institute of Aragon ITA, are pleased to invite you to the Dialogue on “Agriculture of the future: Robotics and new solutions for the agri-food sector ”. We will explore future technologies and solutions for the agri-food sector, with a focus on robotics and automation. We will discuss trends, current business needs and market expectations.

The 1st National Meeting of Young People and Hosts participating in the Cultiva Program will take place in Madrid on November 27. This program promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food provides young people from rural areas with access to on-site training, guided by the managers of model farms, examples of good practices and the implementation of innovation in the sector. In order to bring together the participants of the CULTIVA Programme (young people, hosts of model farms and management entities) from the 2020 to 2023 editions, and to create a network among all of them to discuss this initiative and the generational change in the agricultural sector, this meeting will take place, which will include discussion panels and activities that promote the exchange of experiences. REGISTRATION until Friday, November 15th.