Castile and Leon

The agricultural sector in Castile-León is of utmost importance for the economy of the community and Spain (9% Gross Added Value). In the sector there are 98,300 agricultural holdings with an average size of 55 ha.

The economic estimate of agriculture in Castilla y León for 2022 ( Junta de Castilla y León. Cuentas Económicas de la Agricultura (CEA)) indicates that the value of plant production in the Community amounts to €3,812 million, with the production of cereals, forage plants and industrial plants standing out. Regarding animal production, the Community contributes a production value of €3,836 million, with the production of pigs and cattle and milk production standing out.

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 Burgos .
University of Leon .
University of Salamanca .
Miguel Cervantes European University .
University of Valladolid .
Agrarian Technological Institute of Castilla y León ( ITACYL ). It includes other specialized centers and stations: Zamadueñas Farm , Castilla y León Oenological Station , Milk Technology Station , Meat Technology Station , Pork Testing Center , Aquaculture Research Center and Biofuels R&D Center .
Mountain Livestock Institute ( IGM ): Joint centre of the University of León and the CSIC in which research projects are developed in areas related to nutrition, production and animal health, especially of sheep, goats and cattle, and the relationship between livestock systems and land use.
Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Salamanca ( IRNASA ): Multidisciplinary research institute in different fields related to agricultural crops and their products, environmental conservation and animal health.

Public sector agents

Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development: public institution that administers the powers in agriculture, livestock, agri-food and rural development of the Community.
Regional Agricultural Sections (52)

Agents dedicated to training

Agricultural and vocational training schools. You can consult a list of institutes and centres here .

Agents of the agri-food sector

Quality brands and “ Tierra de Sabor ”: list of quality brands and guarantee mark for quality products from the Community.
Regional Union of Agri-Food Cooperatives of Castilla y León .
Association of the Food Industry of Castilla y León ( VITARTIS ).
Professional Colleges of Agricultural Engineers , Agricultural Technicians , Agricultural-León , and Veterinarians ( Ávila , Burgos , León , Palencia , Salamanca , Segovia , Soria , Valladolid , Zamora ).
Professional Agricultural Organizations (OPAs): COAG -Castilla y León, ASAJA Castilla y León , UPA Castilla y León and Union of Peasants of Castilla y León ( UCCL ).

Other agents

Rural Development Network of Castilla y León ( HUEBRA )/ 29 Local Action Groups .
Operational Groups .
CYL Technology Centre Network ( NODDO ).
Technology Centre for Automation, Robotics, Information and Manufacturing Technologies (CARTIF) .
Castilla y León Cereal Technology Centre ( CETECE ).
Technological Centre of Castilla y León ( ITCL ).
Technological Center of the León Institute of Biotechnology ( INBIOTEC ).
Agricultural and Agri-Food Technology Centre ( ITAGRA ).

Instruments and tools for the dynamization of the AKIS

REGIONAL STRATEGY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

The Research and Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialisation (RIS3) of Castilla y León for the period 2021-2027 is built on the progress achieved in the RIS3 2014-2020 and constitutes a further step towards advancing the economic transformation of our economy and our society. This transformation faces, for this new period, the challenges of the digital transition and the ecological transition, as well as the need to make Castilla y León competitive, sustainable and resilient (with organisations and structures capable of withstanding critical situations).

The three priorities for smart specialisation in Castilla y León are Castilla y León, a territory with quality of life; Castilla y León, carbon neutral and fully circular; and Castilla y León, a commitment to smart manufacturing and cybersecurity; in which aspects such as Agri-Food, Agriculture and Livestock 4.0, Bioeconomy or the sustainable approach to primary sector activities, preserving biodiversity, promoting the circular economy and minimising the carbon footprint have a great weight.

The strategic opportunity of the sector is evident in the general objective and axes 8 and 10 of the IV Framework Agreement for Competitiveness and Business Innovation by “promoting the adaptation of our economy and our productive fabric to the transformation process that is being experienced globally, based fundamentally on the ecological transition and the digital transformation, which facilitates sustainable economic growth aimed at achieving secure, stable and quality employment” ( IV Agreement for competitiveness and business innovation in Castilla y León 2021-2027: 37 ).

CAP 2023-2027

In the area of the Common Agricultural Policy, Castilla y León allocates the following budget and actions to four of the interventions most directly linked to AKIS:

7161 (Cooperation of EIP operational groups): €0.66 million. The type of operations is established based on their destination:
- Creating added value by linking research and agricultural practices, as well as promoting the use of innovative measures.
- Connecting innovation agents and projects.
- Promote the rapid transposition of innovative solutions into practice.
- Inform the scientific community of research needs in agricultural practice.
7162 (Cooperation other than EIP operational groups): €6.88 million.
- 7201 (Knowledge sharing and information dissemination): €3.39 million. To meet the needs listed above, this intervention will focus on the following actions: Aid for vocational training and skills acquisition.
- Support for demonstration and information activities.
- Grants for short-term exchanges relating to the management of agricultural and forestry farms and rural businesses, as well as visits to agricultural and forestry farms and rural businesses.
- 4. Aid for the training of advisors.
7202 (Consulting): €9.53 million
- Grants to help obtain advisory services.
- Grants for the creation of management, replacement and advisory services.
- Grants for the provision of tutoring services.

TOOLS FOR DYNAMIZATION

The production of knowledge and innovations in the Community is rich, as are the agents that form part of the regional system that facilitates the transfer of these. In this sense, the inertias achieved are complemented by new and reinforced synergies and collaborations between the agents of the Castilian-Leonese regional AKIS system to facilitate the management of climatic, demographic, technological, economic and social circumstances, and stimulate investment and public-private links through innovative projects and productive collaborations between large and small producers, processors, marketers and researchers.

Therefore, the regional knowledge and innovation transfer system (AKIS) must strengthen its dynamics with new commitments and shared agendas, joint modernization and digitalization projects, scientific dissemination conferences and events, technical and professional training, advice and publications in different formats to reinforce the competitiveness, adaptability and sustainability of the Castilian-Leonese agricultural sector and project it to the local, national and international market in line with smart specialization ( Smart Specialization Strategy (RIS3) of Castilla y León 2021-2027 ). In this sense, it becomes more relevant to strengthen the system of alliances and activate "an open innovation model (for) the articulation of knowledge transfer mechanisms that allow not only to enrich the activity developed, but also to promote the culture of innovation." ( ITACYL. Knowledge Transfer Program: 4 ).

Finally, the importance of the activity of the regional system in the articulation and territorial establishment of the social fabric through companies, organizations, consultants, public entities and Local Action and Rural Development Groups ( RedPAC Operational Groups and Innovative Projects Viewer ) should not be overlooked. Each and every one of the agents, within their framework of action and available resources, facilitate the transfer of knowledge, experiences and innovations among themselves to ultimately impact the productivity and competitiveness of the sector and social well-being.

INTEGRATION OF ADVISORY IN AKIS

Support for advisory services is an important lever for development to help improve sustainable management and the overall performance of agricultural and forestry farms, and is a key factor in boosting the transfer of knowledge and innovations between the regional AKIS stakeholders.

In Castilla y León, aid can be requested by providers of advisory services to agricultural and forestry farms that are, in general, entities, organizations or legal persons, with or without profit motive, directly related to the agricultural, forestry, agri-food and/or rural environment sectors.