Balearic Islands

Agricultural indicators released by the Balearic Islands Statistics Institute show a decline in agricultural and livestock production, which is also reflected in the export of other products such as potatoes, locust bean gum, wines, and spirits.

The Balearic Strategy for Improving Agricultural Knowledge 2021-2025 is the operational framework for developing a regional knowledge and innovation system on the islands with national and international reach.

The Balearic AKIS system is closely linked to the island status and the decentralization of powers to the Island Councils of Mallorca , Menorca , Formentera , and Ibiza , which assume responsibility for agriculture, livestock, and fishing, as well as the quality, traceability, and quality of agricultural and livestock products and derived food products. The result is a conglomerate of public and private stakeholders that primarily interact within their territories and with regional authorities. The general outline of the AKIS is as follows:

The image shows the AKIS Balearic agri-food innovation system and its relationships:

Agents that generate knowledge.
Agents of the Public Administration.
Agents dedicated to training.
Agents of the agri-food sector.
Other AKIS agents.

AKIS agents and interactions

Agents dedicated to the generation of knowledge

University of the Balearic Islands : It is a central agent that performs the traditional functions of training, creating and developing scientific knowledge and innovations through research.
Institute for Agro-Environmental and Water Economics Research (INAGEA) : The Institute aims to train and generate scientific and technological knowledge and transfer it to the agri-food and environmental sectors of the Balearic Islands.

Public sector agents

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and the Natural Environment: Institution of the regional government responsible for agricultural matters. The Ministry is responsible for the areas and services specialized in food, agriculture, livestock, and fisheries.
Island Council of Mallorca .
Island Council of Menorca .
Formentera Island Council .
Island Council of Ibiza .
The Balearic Islands Institute for Agri-Food and Fisheries Research and Training (IRFAP) : It generates knowledge through research projects and transfers agricultural and food knowledge to the public and private sectors. This institute supplies the public company SEMILLA.
Institute of Agri-Food Quality of the Balearic Islands (IQUA) : This institute is attached to the Ministry and is responsible for centralizing all responsibilities related to the promotion and control of agri-food quality.
Agricultural and Fisheries Guarantee Fund (FOGAIBA) .

Agents dedicated to training

There are agricultural vocational training institutes and centers in the region offering agricultural training programs. You can consult the centers by clicking here.

Agents of the agri-food sector

Association of Agricultural Production of Mallorca (APAEMA) : The main goal of the association is to provide a platform for the defense and promotion of organic farming and agroecology.
Association of Organic Agriculture Producers of Eivissa and Formentera (APAEEF) : Association that carries out training, consultancy and promotion activities for organic agriculture.
Balearic Council of Organic Agricultural Production (CBPAE) : This is the body responsible for the certification of organic agri-food products in the Autonomous Community.
Association of Agricultural Business Owners of Menorca (AGRAME) : In Menorca, it represents companies that are complementary to the primary sector.
General Agricultural Association of Mallorca (AGAMA) : Mallorcan association that promotes the development of the dairy industry.
Ibiza Produce : A foundation that advocates for the consumption of local products, encouraging an increase in cultivated land in an environmentally friendly manner.
Union of farmers of Mallorca : Professional organization representing the farmers of the island of Mallorca.
Balearic Tree Association : Independent, non-profit organization made up of professionals and volunteers concerned about the loss and degradation of the Islands' tree heritage.
Association of Local Varieties : A non-profit organization that includes farmers, technicians, and scholars of the islands' agrobiodiversity. Its mission is to recover local varieties of vegetables, legumes, cereals, and fruit trees, as well as the associated farming knowledge.
AGROILLA : Agricultural production and marketing company in Mallorca.
AGROMART : A company whose purpose is to dignify and professionalize the art of Balearic pagesia.
PIMELAB Technology Centre : Located in Menorca, this centre promotes R&D and the implementation of quality systems in agriculture (soil, irrigation, fertilization, animal feed), as well as offering laboratory services for food and beverages (PIMELAB Laboratory).
Professional Colleges: Veterinarians , Agronomists , Agricultural Technicians .
Professional Agricultural Organizations (OPAs): UPA-AIA , ASAJA-Balears , COAG-Unió Pagesos, AGRAME and FAGME.

Instruments and tools for the dynamization of the AKIS

REGIONAL STRATEGY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

Law 7/2022 , of August 5, on science, technology and innovation in the Balearic Islands, aims to promote research, technological development and innovation, understood as a common good in the Balearic Islands, and the coordination and planning of the Science, Technology and Innovation Ecosystem of the Balearic Islands (ECTIB) . It also aims to promote transparency, dissemination and transfer of knowledge within the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands.

This Law defines the instruments used to develop the science, technology, and innovation strategy of the Balearic Islands: on the one hand, the Science, Technology, and Innovation Plan of the Balearic Islands and, on the other, the state and European strategies developed within the framework of the recommendations and scenarios proposed by the European Union, with the aim of generating a smart, sustainable, and inclusive economy.

CAP 2023-2027

Within the scope of the common agricultural policy, the Balearic Islands allocates the following budget and actions to three of the interventions most directly linked to AKIS:

7162 (Cooperation not related to EIP operational groups): €0.33 million.
7201 (Training): €1.70 million.
7202 (Advice): €0.26 million.

TOOLS FOR DYNAMIZATION

There is a great variety of people on the Islands. that intervene in the AKIS ecosystem. This variety is conditioned by the island itself, which fosters a less cohesive system from an autonomous perspective. However, island nature influences the development of strong local relationships.

The dynamics of the system are supported by the central role of knowledge creation and development agents, as well as by the collaborative and financial capacity of regional institutions with local administrative structures, associations, and individuals. In this regard, informative publications, as well as initiatives by associations and organizations, materialized in workshops, fairs, and events, are valuable tools for the sustainability and development of the regional AKIS and the Balearic agricultural and livestock sector.