Asturias, Principality of
In Asturian agriculture, the majority of the cultivated area is apple trees and, to a lesser extent, other small fruits such as blueberries and other varieties of fruit. On the other hand, a distinctive feature of the Asturian agricultural sector is its cattle raising tradition for the production of milk and derivatives, and meat. In addition, the agri-food sector is one of the strategic economic pillars of Asturias, occupying second place in regional industrial production, contributing 1.7 billion euros to the regional Gross Domestic Product ( Government of the Principality of Asturias (2022) Smart Specialisation Strategy of the Principality of Asturias 2021-2027 ).
In relative terms, the weight of the primary sector in the Gross Added Value of Asturias has had a downward trend in recent years, standing at 1.32% in 2021. This trend is associated with problems of a structural nature linked to a small territorial base that impacts on productive capacity. This productive context leads to the consideration of a series of challenges for the maintenance and development of the agricultural sector: restructuring of the SAU, extension of the activity to underused areas and diversification towards crops with higher profitability per hectare. ( Government of the Principality of Asturias (2015). Strategy for the competitiveness of the primary sector and economic development of the Asturian rural environment: 16 ).
The regional AKIS is represented by a cluster of public and private agents grouped together and interacting with each other:
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 Oviedo
- Regional Service for Agri-Food Research and Development ( SERIDA ): a public body whose purpose is to contribute to the modernization and improvement of the capacities of the regional agri-food sector by promoting and implementing agri-food technological research and development. The territorial structure of the Regional Service has 2 centers, 2 stations and 1 experimental farm distributed across several municipalities.
- Institute of Dairy Products of Asturias ( IPLA ) : institute belonging to the Food Science and Technology area of the CSIC focused on research into dairy products.
- Joint Institute for Biodiversity Research ( IMIB ): IMIB investigates the effect of environmental changes caused by human activities on biodiversity, ecological and evolutionary processes.
Public sector agents
- Department of Rural Environment and Agricultural Policy : public institution that administers the powers in agriculture, livestock, agri-food, rural development and fisheries in the Autonomous Community.
- Foundation for the Promotion of Applied Scientific Research and Technology in Asturias (FICYT ).
- Regional Agricultural Offices ( OCA ).
- Asturian Agency for Science, Business Competitiveness and Innovation (SEKUENS ): Its purpose is to promote innovative ecosystems that attract talent and investments, allowing the creation of new companies and research groups.
- Council for Organic Agricultural Production of the Principality of Asturias (COPAE ): management entity for carrying out official control of organic production.
Agents dedicated to training
- Agricultural and vocational training schools. You can consult a list of institutes and centres by clicking here
Agents of the agri-food sector
- Agri-food cooperatives of Asturias: is the organization that groups and defends the economic and social interests of the Asturian agri-food cooperative movement represented by 10 Cooperatives .
- Association of Meat Industries (ASINCAR): Agri-Food Cluster and Agri-Food Technology Centre . Association of companies in the agri-food sector focused on meeting the demands, concerns and opportunities of its members.
- Asturian Dairy Control ( ASCOL ): Brings together more than 800 milk producers.
- Asturian Cider Association (ASSA).
- Asturian Association of Cider Apple Growers (AACOMASI).
- Foods from Natural Paradise : DOP, IGP. Organic Agricultural Production.
- Professional Colleges of Agricultural Engineers, Agricultural Technicians and Veterinarians .
- Professional Agricultural Organizations (OPAs): COAG-Asturias , ASAJA , UCA-UPA-Asturias , Union of Agricultural Sectors of Asturias ( USAGA ) and Asturian Rural Union ( URA ).
Other agents
- Asturian Rural Development Network ( READER ).
- Rural Development /Local Action Groups.
- Asturias Digital Innovation Hub ( AsDIH ): promoted by the Government of the Principality of Asturias, it coordinates the resources available in the region to accelerate the digitalization process of the Asturian industry and is a space where companies can experiment with technology.
- Asturias Technology Park .
- European Centre for Business and Innovation ( CEEI ): a non-profit association that supports the start-up and growth of innovative and technology-based companies in different areas of specialization such as Bioeconomy.
Instruments and tools for the dynamization of the AKIS
REGIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY
The Principality's R&D&I ecosystem is part of the Science, Technology and Innovation Plan aimed at organizing and guiding innovation, research and knowledge activities, and the Smart Specialization Strategy for Asturias 2021-2027 , which recognizes "Agri-food" as an area of specialization of the Strategy, the objective of which is to turn Asturias into a strategic benchmark for green and digital agri-food production.
CAP 2023-2027
In the area of interventions directly linked to AKIS, Asturias has budgeted 1 million euros for agricultural advice, 1 million euros for training and knowledge transfer and 1.06 million euros for operational groups. You can consult the CAP Strategic Plan (PEPAC) in the Principality of Asturias here .
