ANNUAL REPORT 2011

Passeig de GrĂ cia, 44, 3a pl.

08007 Barcelona irta@irta.es www.irta.es T. +34 934 674 040 F. +34 934 674 042

ANNUAL REPORT 2011

Publishing: IRTA Writing: IRTA Communications Department Layout: Ingo Terraza Printing: CTC © Passeig de Gràcia, 44, 3a pl.

08007 Barcelona T. 93 467 40 40 irta@irta.es www.irta.es

INDEX

IRTA Director General’s Report / 6 Chief Scientist’s Report / 8 Scientific Structure / 9 IRTA / 10 IRTA in Figures / 14 Plant Production Field Crops / 22 Fruit Production / 26 Postharvest / 34 Sustainable Plant Protection / 36 Genomics and Biotechnology / 42 Animal Production Animal Breeding and Genetics / 46 Nutrition, Health and Animal Welfare / 48 Aquaculture / 50 Animal Health / 56 Food Industries Food Technology / 62 Product Quality / 66 Food Safety / 72 Functionality and Nutrition / 74 Environment and Global Change Organic Waste Integral Management / 80 Aquatic Ecosystems / 82 Environmental Horticulture / 84 Ecological Production and Bioenergy / 86 Efficient Use of Water / 88

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IRTA

Director General’s Report / 6 Chief Scientist’s Report / 8 Scientific Structure / 9 IRTA / 10 5 / Annual Report 2011 /

Director General’s Report External context As we have done in recent years, once again IRTA presents the annual report in a general economic crisis environment, with prospects of improvement that experts agree to set in a horizon each time more distant.

This situation has had practical consequences that have affected the IRTA structure, as detailed in the second part of my report.

However, as shown by the statistics, the food industry is holding up well in Spain, where is leading the Catalan industry and represents 17.5% of Gross Value Added, with 4.344 companies and institutions that generate 76.834 direct jobs, € 18.500 million in net sales and a growing level of exportations that depends on the subsector. Regarding food companies, those with have done a bigger effort to internationalize and strengthen its presence abroad through exportations have best withstood the decline in domestic consumption.

This has been an opportunity to explore new routes for public-private partnership with food industry willing to launch to the market highly competitive technologies and processes by creating new technology-based companies or strengthening its collaboration with IRTA through research and innovation pilot plants.

Regarding the relationship with the Catalan science and technology system it is worth mentioning the draft’s approval of the Strategic Plan for Research, Transfer and Agro-Food Innovation of Catalonia by the Government. This plan has been led by the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Food and Natural Environment, in coordination with IRTA. We look forward to seeing in late 2012 how the fruits of this project are going to bring benefits, with a road map that will allow a better alignment of the different players, and a better return on annually investment performed by the administration in this area of science and innovation.

While saving measures in 2011 have resulted in the closure of California and Panama antennas, the strengthening of IRTA’s international relations remains one of the priorities of this directorate, as seen from the strategic reflection carried out in recent years. For 2012 an ambitious plan has been designed to attend international trade fairs, a jointly task with PRODECA and ACC10, and missions of the DG in countries where we believe that this relationship can contribute to achieve our objectives.

The strategic agenda for the European Innovation (SIA), the next European Framework Program (Horizon 2020) and the impulse of the European Research Council (ERC) and the European Institute of Technology (EIT) to the research and technology in order to provide new and good ideas in the market, able to create value and new jobs, encourage us to lead research and technology in the agro-food business, counting on our unique capacities and traditional agreement with this economic sector.

INTERNAL ASPECTS In 2011 I had the opportunity to explain to IRTA workers the implications of the saving measures generally promoted by the administration and, particularly, by our government, through meetings held in each centre. In December 2011 the Board of Directors adopted a series of structural adjustment measures aimed to facilitate and balance the Institute’s budget management, to suit the present time and to foresight the horizon of recovery environment.

6 / Annual Report 2011 /

IRTA From the structural funding point of view, IRTA faces up 2012 with pre-2007 contributions from the Catalan Government, when we were arranged with 8 centres and 546 people against the current situation of 10 centres and 571 people.

To cope with the decline of resources we have increased the results of our own activity and reduced the item of structural expenses. This has resulted in the absorption of the decline in contributions from the Government by the 2011 liquidation, although we still drag the deficit mainly generated in 2010. Thanks to the two above mentioned aspects, we were able to modulate the internal adjustments to our funding structure. The DG has also boosted a corporate plan for saving overheads, with a significant component of energy consumption and a series of reforms aimed to optimize the internal processes, and regulate working conditions in order to do more with less.

In this regard it should be stressed that the organization is performing a major effort to redirect the general economic crisis and to maintain the IRTA competitiveness. Two examples at different levels could be that this effort has resulted in savings € 380.000 in overheads and in an increase of the scientific productivity corresponding to a rate of 36.74 citations/researcher in 2011, to be compared to 32.08 citations/researcher/year in 2009.

From the internal organization point of view, it is noteworthy the creation of the Transfer and Dissemination Directorate, chaired since September by Mrs. Rosa Cubel Muñoz to promote the Transfer and Dissemination strategic plans for each program, and to start the pilot plan for measuring the t-index for technology transfer and dissemination.

This index must complete the triple objective measure of IRTA’s mission and vision: the science progress measure (h-index), the industry’s competitiveness and the self-financing system measure (e-index) and the transfer to industry measure (t-index).

This report also presents a summary of the most relevant actions that IRTA has performed in 2011 in all of the programs we participate. I would just like to highlight two of them. The first one is the official opening of the IRTA-Ordesa Mixed Unit that represents an example of public-private partnership, and that was inaugurated by His Royal Highness the Prince of Asturias.

The second one is the CRAG official opening as an example of public collaboration between CSIC, UAB, UB and IRTA, and that was inaugurated by the Minister of Science and Innovation. In the present context, both projects give us hope and strengthen our ability to fight for a unique and powerful reference in the R&D agro-food industry.

Josep Maria Monfort General Director

7 / Annual Report 2011 /

Chief Scientist’s Report The creation of the IRTA’s scientific structure in 2009 had, as a starting point, the will to organize the management of our activities from the Institute’s scientific lines, rather than on the geographical distribution. This new organization should lead towards a better management of available resources, promoting a jointly management of similar or complementary activities within the same discipline carried out by centres spread throughout the territory, allowing small and separate groups to have the support of other groups with more critical mass, and facilitating the transversal character of several disciplines. In 2011, the existing structure of the Operative Units, responsible for managing human resources and the economy of the R&D activities, were integrated into the scientific organization, eliminating a management level. The result of this reorganization resulted in the integration of the 23 Operative Units within 16 scientific programs, with a reduction of the sub-programs number from 37 to 31. The tasks of the Program Coordinator (now called Program Chief), and of the Sub-program Manager have been adapted to the new situation. Now the Program Chief assumes most of the responsibilities previously owned by the Operative Units Coordinator. With these changes the internal organization started with the creation of scientific Programs and Sub-programs, comes to an end.

The Strategic Plans evaluation of each Program, which ended in January 2011, has progressed this year with the Chief Scientist’s report addressed to the IRTA directorate. From now on, a new phase begins. The management team of IRTA will develop a comprehensive Strategic Plan that take into account, in addition to the existing information (Strategic Plan for each Program, the reports of the evaluators and of the Chief Scientist), the positioning reports for each Program developed by the Technology Watch Unit. This Strategic Plan will include specific objectives for each Program and for the IRTA operative direction, one of the key elements for the preparation of the Action Plan that each Program Chief must prepare every two years after the external evaluation - once every four years -, and two years later. The action plans, which begin on the last quarter of 2012, represent road maps to be carried out by each Program. The level of performance will also serve as an element to determine the economic productivity allowances of the responsible programs.

The scientific indexes of IRTA and their Programs, particularly the r-index which measures the number of citations of the mean IRTA researcher in the last year, continue its steady progression since 2009. Its value has been 36.74 citations/researcher in 2011, and 32.08 in 2009. This positive trend should increase in the future if we want to improve the quality of our scientific production and research, to be a reference for other nationally and internationally researchers and to be able to attract the best companies to perform research and innovation programs with IRTA researchers. An essential element in this regard is the internationalization growth of our research activity that we are following up with several indexes. One is the y-index, defined as the ratio between the number of SCI and each IRTA Program publications performed with authors from foreign research institutions, and the total number of SCI publications of IRTA. This index had an average corporate value of 0.35 in 2011, with a very wide range between Programs that ranged from 0.68 to 0.13. The y-index is well correlated with the number of citations (annual or global) for each Program, suggesting that the articles we publish with foreign research groups have more impact. Besides being an important way for IRTA funding, European projects are an obvious way to increase the group’s internationalization, so it must be an object of special attention from both IRTA and their Programs.

Pere Arús, Scientific Director

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Scientific Structure. Organization chart Area

FOOD INDUSTRIES

ENVIRONMENT AND GLOBAL CHANGE

SCIENTIFIC STRUCTURE Pere Arús

ANIMAL PRODUCTION

Programme

Sub-programme

Functionality and Nutrition José Antonio García

• Functionality and Nutrition / José Antonio García

Product Quality Mª Àngels Oliver

• Carcass Quality / Maria Font • Animals Products Quality / Mª Àngels Oliver

Food Safety Margarita Garriga

• New Preservation Technologies / Margarita Garriga • Abiotic Food Safety / Massimo Castellani • Biotic Food Safety / Teresa Aymerich

Food Technology Jacint Arnau

• Food Engineering / Pere Gou • Food Industry processing / Jacint Arnau • New Food Industry Processing Technologies / Josep Comaposada

Aquatic Ecosystems Carles Ibáñez

• Aquatic Ecosystems / Carles Ibáñez

Organic Waste Integral Management Xavier Flotats

• Agricultural Characterisation and Assessment • Management, Planning and Decision Making Tools • Environmental Technology

Environmental Horticulture Robert Savé

• Ecophysiology / Felicidad de Herralde • Ecological Production and Bioenergy / Pere Muñoz

Efficient Use of Water Joan Girona

• Efficient Use of Water / Joan Girona

Aquaculture Dolors Furones

• Aquatic Cultures / Alícia Estévez • Marine Environment Monitoring / Jorge Diogene

Animal Breeding and Genetics Raquel Quintanilla

• Poultry Breeding / Amadeu Francesch • Rabbit Breeding / Miriam Piles • Pig Genetics and Breeding / Raquel Quintanilla

Nutrition, Health and Animal Welfare Joaquim Brufau

• Animal Welfare / Antoni Velarde • Monogastric Nutrition / Enric Esteve

Ruminants Àlex Bach

• Ruminants / Àlex Bach

Animal Health

PLANT PRODUCTION

AGRO-FOOD ECONOMY

Field Crops Conxita Royo

• Field Crops / Conxita Royo

Fruit Production Simó Alegre

• Sweet Fruit / Joan Bonany • Olive Production, Oil Processing and Nut Production / Ignasi Batlle

Genomics and Biotechnology Jordi García Mas

• In vitro Culture / Ramon Dolcet • Genomics / Jordi García Mas

Postharvest Josep Usall

• Fruit and Vegetables Postharvest / Christian Larrigaudiere • Processed Fruits and Vegetables / Immaculada Viñas • Postharvest Pathology / Josep Usall

Sustainable Plant Protection Soledad Verdejo

• Entomology / Jordi Riudavets • Plant Pathology / Cinta Calvet

Agro-food Economy José Mª Gil

• Agro-food Markets • Micro-economic Analysis of the Agro-food Sector • Agro-food Economy Information Systems

Natural Resources and Agro-food Development Economics José Mª Gil

• Natural Resources Economics • Sustainable Development

9 / Annual Report 2011 /

IRTA The Institute of Agro-food Research and Technology was created in 1985 as a public organism of the Government of Catalonia and adscribed to the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Food and Natural Environment (DAAM). The IRTA aims to become the strategic ally of the food industry and also the scientific point of reference and engine of innovation and technology transfer for this sector.

VISION To be the scientific reference point and engine of innovation and technology transfer for this sector and to become the strategic ally of the food industry.

MISSION

INNOVATION LEARNING

To contribute to the modernization, improvement and promotion of competiveness and sustainable development in the Agriculture, Food and Aquatic sectors, providing safe, quality foods to the final consumer and generally contributing to the global improvement of human welfare.

RESPECT

IRTA VALUES

COMMITMENT

LEADERSHIP CREATIVITY

The guiding values of the IRTA are:

1

COMMITMENT

2

CREATIVITY

3

LEARNING

4

INNOVATION

We are all committed to a common goal, where everyone belongs to the group and is needed. At the IRTA, we always give our best.

Our purpose is to stimulate our team’s creative capacity whilst continuously looking for opportunities to better ourselves and achieve a level of excellence.

We value the capacity to share knowledge, communicate openly, learn from our mistakes and work as a team.

SERVICE ORIENTATION

5

LEADERSHIP

6

RESPECT

7

SERVICE ORIENTATION

Our aim is to predict the needs of the sector and those of our clients, bringing to bear our scientific and technical capacity in order to deliver quality, objectivity and sustainable solutions.

10 / Annual Report 2011 /

We have the capacity to accept responsibilities and to motivate people. We reach our objectives through generous leadership and trust in the abilities of others.

We foster interpersonal relationships based on honesty and proximity, understanding that no one is better than anyone else.

We work with independence, reliability, accuracy and always with our client in mind.

CENTRES The IRTA has 10 Centres and Field Stations of its own and also 9 associated centres. These are at 26 different locations spread throughout Catalonia.

• 19 Centres • 26 sites • 8 in Barcelona • 6 in Tarragona • 8 in Lleida • 4 in Girona

Llesp

Mas Badia F. S. Semega

Monells Centa Gimenelles Lleida

Torre Marimon

Alcarràs Field Station

Cabrils

Lleida Field Station Borges Blanques Mollerussa

CReSA CREAF

Valls

CRAG Corporate Services

CREDA

Mas de Bover Ascó

Gandesa IRTA work centres

Ebre Field Station Sant Carles de la Ràpita

Associated centres IRTA field stations Associated field stations Collaborating farms

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Centres Our own Centres and Field Stations T. 93 467 40 40 irta@irta.es www.irta.es

Monells Food Technology Pig Monitoring & Assessment Finca Camps i Armet 17121 Monells (Girona)

Sant Carles de la Ràpita Ctra. Poble Nou, Km 5,5 43540 Sant Carles de la Ràpita (Tarragona)

Corporate Services Pg. de Gràcia, 44 3a pl.

08007 Barcelona

Torre Marimon 08140 Caldes de Montbui (Barcelona)

Lleida (2) Lleida Field Station Av. Alcalde Rovira i Roure, 191 25198 Lleida

Cabrils Ctra. de Cabrils, Km 2 08348 Cabrils (Barcelona)

Lleida (1) Av. Alcalde Rovira i Roure, 191 25198 Lleida

Amposta Ebre Field Station Ctra. Balada, Km 1 43870 Amposta (Tarragona)

Mas Bover Crta. De Reus - El Morell Km 4,5 43120 Constantí (Tarragona)

Alcarràs Partida Montagut s/n 25180 Alcarràs (Lleida)

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Centres Associated Centres

MAS BADIA Mas Badia Foundation Field Station Ctra. De la Tallada, s/n 17134 La Tallada (Girona) T. 972 78 02 75 / F. 972 78 05 17

SEMEGA

CRAG

Livestock Improvement Service Finca Camps i Armet s/n 17121 Monells (Girona) T. 972 63 02 88 / F. 972 63 06 25

Centre of Agrigenomic Research Campus UAB - Edifici CRAG Bellaterra - Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193 Barcelona T. 93 563 66 00 / F. 93 563 66 01

GIRO CREAF Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona Facultas de Ciencias-Departamento de Ecología 08193 Bellaterra (Barcelona) T. / F. 93 581 13 12

Global Management of Organic Waste - Technology Centre Pompeu Fabra, 1 08100 Mollet del Vallès (Barcelona) T. 93 579 67 80 / F. 93 579 67 85

CREDA Centre for Research in Agro-food Economics and Development Parc Mediterrani de la Tecnologia Edifici ESAB Av. del Canal Olímpic, 15 08860 Castelldefels (Barcelona) T. 93 552 10 00 / F. 93 552 11 21

CENTA

CReSA Animal Health Research Centre Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona 08193 Bellaterra (Barcelona) T. 93 581 32 84 / F. 93 581 44 90

Centre for New Food Technologies and Processes Finca Camps i Armet s/n 17121 Monells (Girona) T. 972 63 00 52

Plant Production Animal Production Food industries Environment and Global Change Agro-food Economy

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IRTA IN FIGURES HUMAN RESOURCES The IRTA has a staff of 571 employees spread among 9 centres; 208 of these people are researchers and 412 are support personnel; 53% are women and 47% men.

A total of 1,105 people are employed within our wider network of collaborators.

The total number of employees at the IRTA and associated centres is 751 people.

• 571 workers

• 53% women

• 9 Centres

• 47% men

• 204 researchers

• 751 IRTA employees

• 367 support staff

• 1,105 people within our wider network

Finances In 2011, the IRTA had total financial resources of € 46.04 million.

35.78% of these resources were structural funds provided by the Catalan Government: the Generalitat de Catalunya.

The other 64.22% corresponded to equity.

In 2011, the IRTA invested € 9,686,828.35.

• Total financial resources: € 46.04 millions • 35.78% of funding provided by the Generalitat de Catalunya • 64.22 % from our own resources • In 2011, € 9,686,828.35 were invested

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IRTA IN FIGURES Projects and Contracts The IRTA is currently involved in 1,049 different activities, 284 of which started in 2011.

Of the 2011 public competitive calls, IRTA had 71.7% success in INIA’s, 59.3% in MICINN’s, and 33.4% in the EU ones.

369 current contracts correspond to € 8.49 million; 166 of these have already begun, involving 233 totals clients, 63 of whom are new, while 170 are repeating clients.

In 2011, the IRTA participated in 183 research projects, 25 of which were EU projects.

Evolution of clients over recent years

Projects obtained in 2011

Client evolution

2011

2010

2009

Obtained

MICINN

INIA

UE

Total clients

233

273

255

2011

16

19

8

New

63

91

84

Budget, M €

1,8

1,6

1,9

Repeating

170

182

171

Successful funding

59,3%

71,7%

33,4%

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IRTA IN FIGURES Scientific and Technical Output In 2011, the IRTA produced 704 publications, while there were 1,446 publications by the wider network of collaborators. These can be subdivided into the following categories:

2. Communications at conferences

361 1. Scientific Publications Network of Collaborators

IRTA 217

Scientific articles

300

35

Books and chapters in books

50

2

Other scientific articles

19

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER In 2011, 10 new plant varieties were registered (9 of Prunus and 1 of common wheat) and 4 patent applications were presented.

One community trademark (IRTAMAR) and 3 PCT international patent extensions were requested.

Network of Collaborators

IRTA Papers and posters for conferences

292

3. Technology transfer communications Network of Collaborators

IRTA 15

PhD Theses

35

42

Completed undergraduate final project dissertations

63

82

Technical and dissemination articles

71

COMMUNICATIONS 329 Press releases prepared, which can be divided into the following areas:

• 140 Plant Production • 307 Current Technology Transfer Contracts

• 73 Animal Production

• 247 Technical and Demonstration Conferences

• 30 Environment and Global Change

• 5 Economy

• 13,720 Attendees at Technical and Demonstration Conferences

• 72 Food Industries • 9 IRTA • 1,328 Impacts in the press and media • 393,738 Visits to the web in 2011

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IRTA His Royal Highness the Prince of Asturias and Girona inaugurates the IRTA-Ordesa pilot plant On February 25th, His Royal Highness, the Prince of Asturias and Girona, presided over the inauguration of the IRTA-Ordesa Pilot Plant which is located within the facilities of IRTA-CENTA in Monells (Girona).

At the opening ceremony, the Prince of Asturias was accompanied by: the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Food and the Environment; the President of the IRTA, Josep M. Pelegrí; the Chairman of the Ordesa Group, Josep M. Ventura; the CEO of the IRTA, Josep M. Monfort; and Ordesa’s CEO, Josep Campos. The aim of the pilot plant is to produce food at the preindustrial level; this allows companies and research centres to study and conduct trials with new food products that offer added value.

This is a unique facility in Southern Europe. It is the result of a total investment of € 2.3 million and was designed to help create new knowledge (R&D) and new opportunities for domestic companies through a public-private partnership; in this case, between the companies involved and the IRTA. The pilot plant is multifunctional and can produce milk-based foods and test other dairy products like vegetal milk (orgeat, almond milk, etc.), isotonic beverages or fruit juices. This means that it can test the research that the IRTA and Ordesa are working on and also analyse projects “on demand” from other companies that do not have the possibility to test their processes at scale. The new facility is designed for batch production with a maximum of 500 kg; this also represents a significant saving on the cost of production (approximately 70% less than for an industrial plant in a big company). The pilot plant has a total floor area of 387.52 m2 and includes drying tower equipment that is unique in Spain.

THE IRTA IS AMONG THE BEST SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH CENTRES IN SPAIN According to the “Bibliometric indicators of Spanish scientific activity in 2008”, the IRTA is among the best scientific research centres in Spain. According to this study, the IRTA is amongst the scientific

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IRTA research centres with the greatest levels of production. Furthermore, the IRTA’s normalised scientific impact comfortably exceeds the average for Spain’s scientific research facilities, which stands at 1.1.

The IRTA is also among the scientific institutions that are most productive at the international level; in this case, over 70% of its works is done through collaborations with organizations and companies from other countries. The study of scientific production in Spain was produced by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) in collaboration with the SCImago research group.

The IRTA receives the scientific merit plaque from the Lleida City Council On 6th May, the Mayor of Lleida presented the medals and plaques that “La Paeria” (Lleida City Council) awards to distinguished people and entities. According to the mayor, Mr. Àngel Ros, these awards emphasize the IRTA’s contribution to improving the quality of life of local citizens. He also stressed how it has carried out its labours with tenacity and continuity, year after year, to achieve its objectives. He also observed that, in this way, the IRTA has contributed to social cohesion in Lleida, providing an exhibition of solidarity in citizenship,

Promoting precision agriculture

sports, education, science, art and culture. For this reason, “La Paeria” awarded the IRTA the scientific merit award, which was presented to the CEO of the IRTA, Mr Josep M. Monfort.

Collaborative AGREEMENT between the IRTA and the CEAP (Chile) The Director of the Centre for the Study of Processed Foods (CEAP in Spanish) and the National Coordinator of Research and Development (INIA), of Chile, visited several IRTA centres during their stay in

The CEO of Food Quality and Food Industries, Domènec Vila, the CEO of the Institute of Agricultural and Food Research and Technology, Josep Maria Monfort, and the CEO of the Cartographic Institute of Catalonia, Jaime Miranda, have signed an agreement of collaboration for the promotion and development of precision agriculture in Catalonia.

More specifically, a Management Committee will be created to target the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of cooperative activities for developing precision agriculture. The Management Committee will train work groups that will carry out research and design work and also give practical demonstrations and run pilots trials in order to decide the validity of the technology used.

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IRTA Catalonia to prepare a programme of collaborative activities for the

recently submitted a request for financing involving funds from

period 2011-2012.

FEMCIDI, a North American organization.

The Chilean delegation also met the deputy manager of the IRTA, Agusti Fonts, with the aim of identifying opportunities and mechanisms for cooperation involving third-party financing. An agreement to establish a framework for cooperation was established between the two institutions.

The Plant Health Laboratory of Barcelona has moved to Cabrils The Catalan government is currently reorganizing its livestock health laboratories and mechanisms for collaboration involving third-party

Institutional collaboration INTA-IRTA

funding; this forms part of a project to rationalize and optimize its structure and to adapt it to meet current needs. The Catalan government currently has 5 laboratories and 11 centres. The current reorganization will focus activity in 4 labs which depend on 8 centres; this would imply a saving of â‚Ź 233,000 in installation facilities and services.

It was decided to move the Plant Health Laboratory of Barcelona, which is currently located in the Zona Franca, to IRTA Cabrils. With this transfer, the Catalan government seeks to exploit synergies between the laboratory techniques used at IRTA Cabrils and in the plant health laboratory. The facilities available at Cabrils (such as greenhouses) would also help to improve diagnostic techniques.

In December, the Process and Quality Manager of INTA (the National Institute of Agricultural Technology of Argentina) took part in an exchange aimed at strengthening quality management in agriculture and food research organizations.

The IRTA and INTA are the promoters of a series of international seminars on Quality Management, the last of which was held in Panama in 2010. The two institutions have worked together to establish a network of leaders in quality management (QRed) and

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20 / Memoria 2012 /

EXTENSIVE CROPS

Extensive Crops / 22 Fruit Production / 26 Postharvest / 34 Sustainable Plant Protection / 36 Genomics and Biotechnology / 42 21 / Memoria 2012 /

EXTENSIVE CROPS Recovery of cultivated biodiversity for the preparation of food products with high added value applied to the case wheat-flour-bread

The project has provided valuable information on the plant material that is being recovered, its agronomic characteristics and suitability for the preparation of bakery products. The results of the technology analysis, nutrition and sensory perception indicate that the quality, taste and beneficial effects of the product on health is based more on the traditional procedures used in the preparation of the final product than on the raw material used.

Strategic analysis shows that the future offers many opportunities in this sector, such as: i) the prospect of increased consumption of homemade breads and organic products in a sector of the population with sufficient purchasing power, ii) the growing interest in learning about cultivated biodiversity and iii) the presence in Catalonia of a public research program to improve wheat varieties, performed by IRTA, which can provide important support to the industry both for varietal conservation and development of adapted germplasm.

This project was developed in 2011 as an innovative experience under the National Rural Network. Operational objectives were to identify initiatives in production, processing and marketing in Catalonia involving old varieties and/or traditional grain for bread, the collection of information on the industry, determination of the technological and nutritional quality of samples provided by the producers and manufacturers, study of the commercial viability of more frequent production models and dissemination of the results.

Twenty two initiatives have been identified in Catalonia in common

Rice fertilization with chicken manure

farms from 20 to 50 ha, normally diversifying their agricultural

The increase in fertilizer prices and the reduction in grain production in

production, and often complementing it with other activities. Crops

agriculture have stimulated a search for more competitive alternatives

are mostly organic. The most frequently cultivated species is bread

to mineral fertilization and have led the IRTA to promote the use of

wheat (Triticum aestivum L. ssp. Aestivum), cultivated as a single

organic fertilization.

variety or as a mixture of several ancient varieties, such as the trio Arag贸n03, Candeal and Xeixa Osona. Among the improved ancient

This approach returns nutrients to the field and recycles those

varieties Florence Aurora and Moncada can be found. The production

contained in livestock manure. Chicken manure is a very important

of emmer (Triticum aestivum L. ssp. Spelta), small emmer (Triticum

source of nutrients and organic matter for soil; its composition varies,

monococcum L.), rye (Secale cereale) and tetraploid wheat (Triticum

but with an analysis of its composition, it is possible to establish a

turdigum L.) as Kamuti and Forment are also very significant.

good fertilization plan.

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PLANT PRODUCTION The IRTA’s Ebro Field Station in Amposta is currently conducting a

coexistence of conventional agricultural production and the transgenic

rice fertilization trial with chicken manure that is funded by the INIA.

one within the food chain.

The project also involves centres belonging to CITA (Aragon), INTIA Nowadays every EU member state set independently the culture

(Navarra), UdL and DAAM.

conditions, transportation and marketing of conventional and genetically modified agricultural products. However little is known about the consequences for consumers. For this reason, fourteen organisms jointed the PRICE consortium, where IRTA is represented

by Mas Badia Foundation centre, to compare the agricultural outputs of EU countries.

A software module based on models resulting from previous projects will be developed with the aim to combine the natural science-based knowledge of cross pollination including biological containment methods at farm and regional level with solutions based on farmers’ The aim is to study the use of nitrogen manure in paddy-fields. Four

knowledge and experience with co-existence measures. In the case

doses of chicken manure (85, 170, 255 and 340 kg of N/ha) were

of maize, IRTA Mas Badia researchers will analyze the results obtained

applied and compared with the use of a standard mineral fertilizer

from the distance between conventional and GM-cereals plots.

(150 kg of N/ha) and a control (0 kg N/ha). The results of the first year of the project were highly positive: seed germination and subsequent

PRICE is an EU-funded project with € 4 millions and is coordinated by

seedling development were normal and no problems of major disease

German researchers of the Universität München.

were reported on the plots fertilized with chicken manure. It is important to wait for the results obtained in future campaigns in order

More information: http://ec.europa.eu/research/bioeconomy/

to estimate the possibilities offered by organic mineralized nitrogen.

agriculture/projects/price_en.htm

A brief economic study has also been made, analyzing three cases and considering the cost of fertilizing with chicken manure as opposed to mineral fertilization. Each case presented its own singularities and therefore the cost of fertilization was different in each case. However, in all of the cases studied, fertilization using chicken resulted in savings that ranged from 130 to 195 €/ha.

PRICE project: ¿can conventional and transgenic agricultural products coexist?

Researchers from fourteen European countries have launched the “Practical Implementation of Coexistence in Europe (PRICE)” project.

Along the next three years, the research project will study the

23 / Annual Report 2011 /

EXTENSIVE CROPS Collaboration Agreement between the IRTA and ARVALIS A collaboration framework agreement was signed between the IRTA and ARVALIS the Institut du Végetal. The aim of this agreement is to share knowledge about European field crops as well as: promoting international development, creating synergies to increase the services offered to producers, companies and institutions, and organizing cofounded research programmes.

- IRTA’s Extensive Crop Programme Coordinator - as the representative of the Spanish scientific research community for the International Research Initiative for Wheat Improvement (IRIWI).

This initiative, which emerged from the G20 conference in June 2011, has the following primary objectives: 1) internationally coordinating research into wheat improvement relating to genomics, genetics and agronomy, 2) fostering public and private collaborations, 3) promoting the use of genetic resources in research and improvement, 4) supporting the development of publicly-available databases and data standards, 5) evaluating the progress of international activity and

The IRTA and IFAPA collaborate on a research project on cereal improvement

the organization of knowledge transfer, 6) establishing priorities in wheat research, and 7) communicating the financial requirements of international bodies that work in wheat (flour and durum) research to organisations that are key sources of funding.

The IRTA and Andalusia’s Institute for Agriculture, Fishing, Food and Organic Production Research and Training (IFAPA) signed a contract to collaborate in the project “The basis for, and phenological genetic patterns of, the adaptation of durum wheat to different photochemical conditions and their usefulness in the development of germplasm, within the context

CAYCSA joins the buckwheat improvement programme

of the relationship between Australia’s CIMMYT”, which is funded by the INIA and managed by the IRTA researcher Dr. Dolores Villegas.

This project, which also involves the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), seeks data in order to design a strategy to improve the adaptation of new wheat varieties to growing areas. This contract is an example of coordination between different Spanish regional administrations in order to solve common problems and also of support and cooperation between different research groups.

Dr. Conxita Royo to be Spain’s representative in IRIWI

The company CAYSA (Cereals of Aragon and Catalonia) has joined the programme for the selection and improvement of common wheat

The General Secretariat of the

(Triticum aestivum ssp. espelta) led by Dr Jose Luis Molina Cano of

Rural Environment and the Minis-

the IRTA centre in Lleida. Accordingly to the contract, the company

try of the Rural Environment and

will have access to varieties of common wheat produced within the

Rural and Marine Environments

framework of the programme for their subsequent registration and

has appointed Dr. Conchita Royo

use in collaboration with the IRTA.

24 / Annual Report 2011 /

PLANT PRODUCTION

Other Activities • Workshop on Recommendations for the 2011 Maize Campaign, at Mas Badia, on February 3rd • Technical Seminar on Rice, at Deltebre (Tarragona), on February 8th • 10th Technical Seminar on Wheat Growing, at Linyola (Lleida), on March 4th • Workshop on Potato Growing: fertilization and plant health, at Camprodon (Girona), on March 31st • Group Meeting to Evaluate New Varieties of Extensive Crops, at Girona, on May 4th and 5th • Interregional Technical Seminar on Oilseed Rape, at Caldes de Malavella (Girona), on May 11th • Workshop on Organic and Mineral Fertilization of Winter Cereals, at Les Franqueses del Vallés (Barcelona), on May 17th • 10th Interregional Workshop on Herbal Crops, at Calaf, on May 26th • 1st Alícia Foundation - IRTA Technical Seminar on Extensive Crops, at Gimenells (Lleida), on June 2nd • Technical Seminar on rainfed Winter Cereal Crops, at Tàrrega (Lleida), on June 3rd • Field Workshop on Rice, at Amposta (Tarragona), on August 25th • Recomex Workshop: Presentation of test results from trails with extensive crops. Recommendations for extensive winter crops for the 2011-2012 campaign, at La Tallada d’Empordà, on August 30th • Interregional Technical Workshop on Maize, at IRTA Mas Badia, on September 7th • Technical Workshop on the Fertilization and Irrigation of Extensive Crops, at Torelló, on September 14th • Workshop on the Fertilization and Irrigation of Extensive Crops, at IRTA Mas Badia, on September 14th • Course on “innovations in Extensive Crops”, at Les Franqueses del Vallès and Caldes de Malavella, on May 19th

VISITS

IAMZ students visit the Wheat Genetics Improvement programmes.

Rice experts from Argentina at the Ebro Field Station.

25 / Annual Report 2011 /

Technicians from seed companies visit the experimental field station for maize at Poal.

FRUIT PRODUCTION Inno-Var: a new service to provide advice on varietal innovation Inno-Var is a new contract service offered by the IRTA to help fruit companies to decide the best market varieties to plant.

of the European Union. In contrast, the consumption level of peaches and nectarines in the EU has remained stable, even considering that it has fallen in recent years, despite its important varietal innovation.

The current consumption in Spain is about 4 kg / inhabitant / year and is in good standing, having declined 46% since 1989.

This service is based on four basic points: 1. Choosing varieties based on reliable information about the market, thereby reducing risks.

2. Balancing production over the year, making more efficient use of infrastructure and avoiding peaks and troughs in production.

3. Identifying and replacing obsolete varieties that are not of interest to the market and introducing varieties that are appreciated by consumers.

4. Facilitating contacts to help obtain plant material.

Consumers indicated, as major causes of low consumption, lack of taste, inappropriate state of ripeness, variable quality and lack of identification in market stands according to taste (sweet or acid).

INNO‐VAR

Ser ei d’d Assessora Servei Assessorament e t en e Innovació I o ació Varietal

From the point of view of sensory quality, the taste of pip and stone fruit depends on a delicate balance of sugars, acids and volatile aromatic compounds, as well as a number of additional factors, such as the texture of the flesh or the state of maturity of fruit.

Thus these parameters play a major role in consumer satisfaction, greatly influencing the fruit sector and are the most important quality attributes in these varieties.

A recent study by IRTA researchers has related emissions of volatile compounds and quality parameters in eleven standard peach and

Consumer acceptance of different varieties of peach and nectarine

nectarine varieties. This has made it possible to find the varieties that have more influence on consumers’ acceptance and to discriminate the ones that have a more balanced assessment of the aforementioned variables. The study reveals that the highest level of satisfaction for the

Based on results of the ISAFRUIT European project, which involved

consumer is associated with an increased number of soluble solids

IRTA researchers from different scientific areas, varieties of sweet

and higher emissions of different volatile compounds (d-decalactona,

taste (nectarine, peach and flat peach) have won the higher

g dodecalactona, 1-pentanol, octane of butyl acetate pentil, hexanoat

preference index (72%) among consumers from different countries

2 - metilpropil octane and ethyl). The investigation also established

26 / Annual Report 2011 /

PLANT PRODUCTION that the more accepted varieties were ‘Nectalady’, ‘Honey Royale’ and

and founder varieties to be used in future breeding programmes.

‘Nectagala’, whereas the group of less satisfaction includes ‘Royal

Researchers will work on genome-wide DNA markers, relating them to

Glory’, ‘Elegant Lady’ and ‘Venus’.

specific characteristics. Thanks to cutting-edge tools and techniques, they will be able to find which are associated with horticultural characteristics such as resistance to disease or such fruit qualities as

Improving the efficiency of breeding new fruit varieties through molecular genomics: FruitBreedomics

crispness and juiciness, which are relevant for consumer acceptance of the product.

FruitBreedomics strives to improve the efficiency of existing fruit breeding programmes by bridging the gap between research into

The “FruitBreedomics” project aims to provide the European fruit growing

fundamental molecular genetics and fruit breeding.

sector with cutting-edge genomics tools to improve the efficiency of breeding new varieties and to meet grower and consumer demands

This large collaborative project brings together 24 full partners and 3

for disease-resistant cultivars of high quality that can be grown in

invited ones from 10 different European countries, plus South Africa,

sustainable agriculture systems within the context of climate change.

New Zealand, Israel, China and the USA.

To achieve its goals, FruitBreedomics will select the genes regarded

The IRTA contribution to FruitBreedomics includes providing

as necessary to improve the main horticultural characteristics of

researchers from its Plant Production area, and more specifically from

targets fruits; its work will focus on apple and peach, two of the most

its Genomics and Biotechnology, Fruit Production and Postharvest

important fruits grown in Europe. Given the close relationship between

programmes.

these two fruits and others from the rosaceous family (stone fruits, pear, strawberry, raspberry, rose, etc.), the knowledge gained from the

FruitBreedomics started on the 1st March 2011, with a budget of €

project will also have applications for other fruit crops.

10 million. It is co-financed by the 7th Framework Programme (FP7) of the European Commission, with a contribution of € 6 million. The start

The research that will be carried out over the next 4.5 years will

up meeting for the project was organised by INRA in Angers (France)

provide genetic and phenotypic information about the pool of parent

from 29th to 31st March 2011.

27 / Annual Report 2011 /

FRUIT PRODUCTION REDHOTGEN: chosen by the European Commission as a successful project

Meeting of the European Fruit Research Institutes Network On March 9th and 10th, the European Fruit Research Institutes Network (EUFRIN) variety testing evaluation group meeting on new varieties of apple and pear was held at the CreSo Experimental Centre in Manta (Cuneo, Italy). This annual event is held at different locations in Europe.

Among the different activities, the IRTA presented the ‘Carmencov’ (early harvest) and ‘Elliotcov’ (tanned skin and mid-September ripening) pear varieties. The partners involved in this project unanimously agreed that the next meeting of the EUFRIN variety testing group would be held in March 2013 at the new Fruitcentre in Lleida.

16th Fruit Workshop in Mollerussa The traditional fruit workshop in Mollerussa (Lleida), annually organized by IRTA, took place on October 26 (in Catalan) and October 27 (in Spanish).

The PEOPLE programme is part of the Directorate General for Education and Culture (DG EAC) of the European Commission and is operational during the period 2007-2013, under the 7 th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP-7), with a budget of € 4.75 million. It is the continuation and extension of the Marie Curie Actions, which began back in 1996, and includes three types of action: IRSES (International Research Staff Exchange Scheme), IOF (International Outgoing Fellowships) and IIF (International Incoming Fellowships). The IRSES programme aims to support and further promote exchanges involving researchers, managers and technicians from research organizations in Europe and in other (29 so far) countries with which the EU has signed agreements for scientific cooperation.

In order to assess the development of the different projects within the IRSES programme, the European Commission chose four examples of successful international cooperation in research and quality of the research by participating staff.

One of the 4 projects chosen was the IRTA’s REDHOTGEN, which focuses on the genetic and physiological regulation of red apples in warm climates: the economic exploitation of genomics.

28 / Annual Report 2011 /

PLANT PRODUCTION The event represents a meeting point for the national fruit industry, with an attendance of more than 1.400 professionals. The program included a differentiated agenda, both on fruit transfer activity results from IRTA’s variety trials and on the challenges for the fresh fruit sector.

During the morning and afternoon sessions, topics as the “russeting” in Conference pear, hail nets and irrigation needs, container recycling plant, various pathologies such as sharka, xanthomonas or fire blight, and apple production in the United States and future prospects were addressed.

It was also noteworthy the two exhibitions conducted by IRTA experts.

The behaviour of the different varieties of apple and pear on one hand, and the peach, nectarine, platerine and Saturn peach, on the other were presented, taking into account the results obtained in the Lleida and Girona’s IRTA fields stations. In each afternoon, several visits to field trials were organized, where new plantation designs, new patterns of pear behaviour, agricultural equipment demonstrations and atomizers were discussed. Meanwhile, thirty trade stands were prepared for the company’s exposition.

The experimental farm in Llesp is a project promoted by the Ribagorça Romànica, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, which has IRTA’s technical support. The estate has been designed to evaluate

Start of the harvest of first apple varieties on the experimental farm in Llesp

13 commercial varieties of apples, some of them already known, such as Gala, Golden, Reineta or Fuji, and other newer ones, as Rubens, Ariane, Eveline or Milwa, among others, plus two varieties of pears.

The aim is to know the behaviour and quality of the fruit (size, colour, firmness, flavour) from a mountain area where this kind of crop is not

The first collection of apple varieties planted at the experimental farm

implemented on a commercial scale.

of the Association for the Development of Ribagorça Romànica, in Llesp started in early September. This is the third year

The quality data obtained in 2010 proves that apple

of experimental cultivation and observatory of the

production in mountain high land improves both the

commercial autochthonous varieties of fruit

colour and firmness of the pulp and its crunchy

trees (apple and pear) in the Perelló farm, in

texture, with better quality taste and aroma-

Llesp. The harvest has begun with different

sensory relation to the flat areas. Another

varieties of the Gala group (summer apple)

noteworthy aspect is the slower ripening of

and will extend until November with the

the fruit, providing a wider period of harvest

Fuji variety.

for each variety.

During the two and a half months the

The project also includes the treatment and

collection work will take, it is expected to

evaluation of several local varieties with the

get around 60 tonnes per hectare of some

aim to produce on a commercial scale in the

of the evaluated varieties.

future.

29 / Annual Report 2011 /

FRUIT PRODUCTION The IRTA obtains excellent results in the production of new almond varieties

The IRTA evaluates Morocco’s international olive tree collection for the IOC

In recent years, the IRTA has obtained a number of almond varieties

The IRTA has been commissioned by the International Olive Council (IOC)

with excellent levels of production and quality. The good performance

to evaluate Morocco’s collection of international olive trees in Marrakech.

of these varieties has been confirmed in various comparative studies.

This forms part of the ResGen project for the conservation, characterization, collection and utilization of the genetic resources of olive trees.

Technicians from the IRTA’s sub-programme dedicated to Olive Production, Olive Oil Processing and Nut Trees travelled to Morocco, a country that is a member of the IOC (International Olive Oil Council), to assess whether Marrakech’s collection of olive groves fulfils its function of protecting and conserving the genetic diversity of the olive tree.

The IRTA will contribute to the construction of a Roman garden Within the Comenius Regio partnership between the cities of Tarragona (Catalonia, Spain) and Orleans (France), which have been twinned since 1978, and the European project “Biodiversity: Roman gardens The cultivation of almonds can therefore offer a real alternative in new areas of production that receive either partial or full irrigation. New late flowering and self-pollinating varieties may allow a substantial change in olive production, with it passing from being considered a completely marginal to an economically profitable crop, as has happened with other fruit trees. At present, levels of production close to a thousand kilos of fruit per hectare may be achieved with a suitable choice of plant material and appropriate handling.

and the gardens of the Loire”, the National Museum of Archaeology of Tarragona (MNAT) and the sub-programme of Olive Production, Olive Oil Processing and Nut Trees of the IRTA Mas de Bover centre, there are plans to build experimental gardens in ‘Vil·la dels Munts’ (Altafulla), by 2012.

The aim is to sensitize and educate the population about local biodiversity through the cultivation of medicinal plants and gardens (with Roman gardens, in the case of Tarragona).

These varieties are already available to the sector and this should allow a deep-seated varietal conversion which has been long awaited by agricultural professionals wishing to modernize their farms.

The magazine Fruticultura publishes a monographic issue with the collaboration of the IRTA Following the workshop entitled “The future of genetically improved almonds in Spain” which was held at Mas de Bover in May 2010, the Spanish magazine Fruticultura devoted a special issue to: the current

30 / Annual Report 2011 /

PLANT PRODUCTION status of genomics, crop management, fertirrigation, ecological production, nurseries, almond quality and their industrial production and commercialization. The publication was produced with the collaboration of the IRTA and included contributions from researchers relating to different aspects of almond production.

(courses, seminars, visits, etc.) in Spain. A series of experimental plantations will also be established in order to evaluate new plant materials and improve present farming techniques.

A gastronomic guide valorises oil from ancient Olive trees of Sènia The IRTA helps to improve the almond crops of Arboreto and Crisol de Frutos Secos The IRTA has signed an agreement with Arboreto SAT LTDA and Crisol de Frutos Secos SAT within the framework of a training, assessment and technology transfer project relating to almond crops. These are among the most important almond producing organizations in Spain, with about 145,000 hectares dedicated to nut production and a further 28,000 for associated products.

This agreement aims to improve the competitiveness of the agricultural

The Association of the Sènia Territory Board have developed a project funded by the Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs (MARM) in order to valorise the production of ancient olive trees located between Catalonia, Valencia and Aragon.

With the help of the Employment Service of Catalonia (SOC), the Alicia Foundation and The Institute of Agro-food Research and Technology (IRTA), of the Department of Agriculture of the Government of Catalonia, and the two administrative entities of the Sènia territory have made an inventory of trees with more than 3.5 meters in trunk diameter, measured 1.3 meters from the ground. The current figure is over 4400 trees, becoming the highest concentration worldwide, and producing, in 2011, 12,500 bottles of oil with certified warranty.

exploitations of producers associated with these two organizations through the use of new almond varieties with outstanding agronomic and commercial characteristics and improved farming production techniques. This agreement will run for 3 years and will include training and technology transfers relating to almond cultivation

Regarding IRTA’s collaboration in this project, the researchers have compared the characteristics of olive oils from different olive trees through sensory analysis studies, while assessing as well the mills that produce this oil.

31 / Annual Report 2011 /

FRUIT PRODUCTION An expedition sponsored by the National Geographic visits the ancient olive trees of Sènia Olive odyssey is an educational project that aims to divulge the secrets of the world’s most influential fruits to the general public.

Julie, Colin and Leif Angus are the main characters in a book and documentary sponsored by the National Geographic that reveals how the first commercial navigation routes between Spain and the Middle East began. This initiative explores these lands shaped by olive trees and discovers how the first olive came to Catalonia.

VISITS

The Association of Distributors of Phytosanitary Products visiting IRTA Lleida.

Visit of German students at the Ebre Field Station.

32 / Annual Report 2011 /

An Israeli delegation at IRTA Mas Badia.

PLANT PRODUCTION

Other Activities • Technical Seminar on olive and almond reconversion in ecological crops, at Borges Blanques on January 22nd • Workshop on varietal innovation in peach, nectarine and platerine, in Zaragoza on February 2nd • Workshop on equipment for phytosanitary applications in fruit crops, in La Tallada d’Empordà on February 15th • Training course in olive and almond, in Ascó (Tarragona) on February 15th-24th • Workshop on formation systems and olive driving, in Constantí (Tarragona) on February 16th • Reference Workshop on almond irrigation and fertilization, in IRTA de Mas Bover on March 8th • Technical session on peach pruning, in Castrovillari (Italy) on March 15th • Workshop on the olive future, in Jaén on March 31st • Olive irrigation and fertilization interregional Workshop, in Mas Bover on Abril 12nd • 15th Peach and Nectarine Forum, in Alcarràs (Lleida) on May 8th • Seminar on peach and nectarine technology innovation, in Lleida on May 10th • 4th Almond Workshop, in Borges Blanques on May 26th • Fruit production Workshop, in Ascó on June 29th • Technical Seminar on cutting machinery to reduce pesticide application, in Amposta (Tarragona) on July 5th • Workshop of peach varieties, in Gimenells (Lleida) on July 28th • Technical Summer Seminar on fruit, in Mas Badia on August 31st • Informative Seminar on R&D funding projects for plant production industry, in Lleida on September 22nd • II Technical Seminar on Sweet Fruit between Alícia Foundation and IRTA, in La Tallada d’Empordà on September 22nd • Walnut workshop, in Ascó, Maials and Belver de Cinca on September 5th • Fruit production Workshop, in Llesp on October 7th • Mountain fruit production Workshop, in El Pont de Suert on October 7th • 1st National Workshop of the de carob tree, in Mont-Roig del Camp (Tarragona) on October 13th • Fall fruit Workshop on pear and apple, in IRTA Mas Badia on October 25th • 2nd Chestnut Technical Seminar, in Vilanova de Prades (Tarragona) on October 29th • Seminar on peach and nectarine varietal innovation, in Lleida on November 23th • Fruit production Workshop, in Benissanet on December 16th

33 / Annual Report 2011 /

POSTHARVEST How to avoid rot in peaches through the action of a biocontrol agent

Authors: Yánez-Mendizábal, V., Zeriouh, H., Viñas, I., Torres, R. Usall,

This research was jointly presented by IRTA, University of Lleida and

Workshop on scalding in postharvest

University of Málaga at the ‘International Congress of Postharvest Pathology’ in Lleida on Abril, and won the first award as the best communication in paper format.

J., de Vicente, A., Pérez-García, A. and Teixidó, N.

A postharvest workshop entitled “Will we be able to control scalding The

paper

shows

the

results of an investigation on the action of a biocontrol agent,

Bacillus

subtilis

CPA-8, effective in brown rot postharvest controlling of

in the future?” was held on May 17th at the Higher Technical School of Agrarian Engineering (ETSEA), in Lleida. The meeting focused on the current legislation and market requirements that limit the use of pesticides for postharvest fruit treatments and the great pressure being placed on the traditional anti-scald treatments that are currently used but which could disappear in the near future.

peaches caused by Monilinia spp.

The development of safer chemicals and field application was

This fungus is responsible for the

also discussed, as was the possibility of applying new postharvest

most important disease in postharvest

techniques based on the use of physical methods (heat, low oxygen

of stone fruit. Likewise, the reduction of

content, dynamic atmospheres, etc.) to control postharvest factors

existing active substances and the major restrictions in Europe on the

that open the doors to a new way of working.

presence of residues at the time of sale, require new control. In this regard, the use of biocontrol agents such as B. subtilis CPA-8 can be one of the alternatives to synthetic fungicides.

Bibliography: “Role of fengycins produced by Bacillus subtilis CPA-8 in the biocontrol of brown rot caused by Monilinia spp. on peaches”.

Experts from around the world met at the International Postharvest Congress in Lleida On 11th-14th April, the city of Lleida was the centre of attention for the scientific community working in the field of postharvest pathology because the “Crop Centre” Auditorium on the Cap-Pont Campus of the University of Lleida hosted an international conference dedicated to this discipline.

More than 170 experts from around the world met in the Catalan city to address the latest developments and current issues affecting such important questions as: the food problem; the fight against climate change from the viewpoint of sustainable plant protection; genomics; biotechnology; and the use of alternative systems to synthesise chemicals in order to control rot damage to horticultural products.

Organised by the Postharvest Pathology research group, and sponsored by the International Society for Plant Pathology, the event

34 / Annual Report 2011 /

PLANT PRODUCTION included contributions from scientists of international renown and had three plenary sessions.

One of the objectives of this meeting was to stimulate scientific debate on frontier issues such as the transfer of knowledge to industry and how to improve the dialogue between the business and scientific communities.

in an event organized by the Postharvest Research Group of the University of Lleida (UDL) and the Institute for Agro-food Research and Technology (IRTA), which is attached to the Catalan Department of Agriculture.

This symposium is an ideal meeting point for researchers and technicians from both the public and private sectors who work in R&D into ripening and postharvest relating to fruit and vegetables.

Postharvest is a basic to the competitiveness of the horticulture sector throughout the Iberian Peninsula and is of both social and economic importance. The aim of this meeting sponsored by the Spanish Society of Horticultural Science (SECH) and the Portuguese Association of Horticulture (APH) is therefore to address issues related to: plant physiology, molecular biology, pathology, the biochemistry of cold storage technology, and the quality and safety of fresh products and minimally processed fruit and vegetable products.

The scientific programme of the Symposium, which will be held at the “Crop Centre” Auditorium on the Cap Pont Campus of the University of Lleida, will consist of various different sessions and will feature a number of invited guest speakers.

10th National Symposium and 7th Iberian Symposium on the Ripening and Postharvest of Fruit and Vegetables

For more information: www.postlleida2012.com

The city of Lleida will host the “10th National Symposium and 7th Iberian Symposium on Ripening and Postharvest of Fruit and Vegetables” from 1st to 4th October 2012

35 / Annual Report 2011 /

SUSTAINABLE PLANT PROTECTION The biological control of whitefly in tomato production Whitefly and whitefly-transmitted viruses are some of the major constraints on European tomato production. The main objectives of this study carried out by Entomology programme of the IRTA Cabrils Centre were: to identify where and why whitefly are a major limiting factor for tomato crops; to collect information about whitefly

problematical. Other key tomato pests include: Aculops lycopersici, Helicoverpa armigera, Frankliniella occidentalis and leaf miners.

Tomato crops are particularly susceptible to viruses causing Tomato yellow leaf curl disease (TYLCD). High incidences of this disease are associated with a high incidence of its vector, B. tabaci. The level of importance of B. tabaci as a tomato plague established in this study has been correlated with levels of insecticide use in each of the areas studied. This pointed to B. tabaci as

and associated viruses; to determine the management

one of the main reasons for planning

tools currently; and to identify key gaps in current

chemical control programmes.

knowledge and existing research priorities.

Cases of resistance to almost all

This study was conducted within

insecticides have been reported.

the framework of ENDURE (the European Network for the Durable

Integrated Pest Management based

Exploitation of Crop Protection

on biological control (IPM-BC) has been

Strategies).

applied in all the regions studied and is considered the strategy in which the fewest

Two whitefly species constitute

insecticides are used. Other IPM components

the main pests affecting tomato

include the installation of greenhouse netting and

crops in Europe: Bemisia tabaci and Trialeurodes vaporariorum. Trialeurodes vaporariorum is widespread

the use of TYLCD-tolerant tomato cultivars. The sampling techniques

in all areas where greenhouse production is important, while B. tabaci

differ from region to region, with decisions generally being based on

has invaded all the subtropical and tropical areas since the early

whitefly densities and not being related to specific control strategies

1990’s. Biotypes B and Q of B. tabaci are widespread and particularly

or growing cycles. Whitefly species are always identified for population monitoring and control.

In Europe IPM-BC is the strategy recommended for sustainable tomato production. The IPM-BC approach is mainly based on inoculative releases of the parasitoids Eretmocerus mundus and Encarsia formosa and/or the polyphagous predators Macrolophus caliginosus and Nesidiocoris tenuis. However, certain limitations for a wider implementation have been identified: a lack of biological solutions for some pests; the costs of technical analyses and advice; low farmer confidence; and low pest damage thresholds which in some cases are accepted by farmers. Research priorities to promote and improve IPM-BC have been proposed in relation to the following considerations: 1. The emergence and invasion of new whitefly-transmitted viruses.

2. The importance of B. tabaci biotypes with regard to resistance to insecticide.

36 / Annual Report 2011 /

PLANT PRODUCTION 3. The biochemistry and genetics of plant resistance.

4. The economic thresholds and whitefly sampling techniques used for decision making.

5. The conservation and management of native whitefly natural enemies and improvements in the biological control of other tomato pests.

Improving stored product pest control in food industries by using biological control and bioactive volatile compounds The presence of arthropod pests and related contaminants in stored products contributes to significant losses in both production and quality. The Spanish food industry still largely relies on the use of insecticides as the main tool for pest control.

There is therefore a need for effective alternatives that are sufficiently effective to reduce the need for and restrict the use of conventional

applied to structures, we will develop methods for encapsulating bioactive volatile compounds.

These technologies are compatible with the implementation of Integrated Pest Control programmes and Organic Production.

insecticides. This is a response to several factors which include: consumer demand for products that are free from pesticide residues;

authorised for use on stored products.

Conservation biological control with parasitoids in tomato crops based on ecological infrastructures

The main objective of this project is to develop alternative methods of

Biological control against pests in organic farming has the

the need to reduce the impact of pesticides on the natural environment; the appearance of pest resistance to several insecticides; and a drastic reduction in the number of registered insecticides that are

pest control that focus on Biological Control and the use of Bioactive

infrastructure of the environment for shelter parasitoids or pests that

Volatile compounds. The project concentrates on the main pests that

affect them. The improvement of its effectiveness is the basis of this

affect cereal grain and its by-products, such as the weevils Sitophilus

project, which aims to:

oryzae and Rhyzopertha dominica, and that affect structures and food processing facilities, such as the moths Plodia interpunctella and

1. To determine if the floral nectar contribution of from Ononis natrix,

Ephestia kuehniella.

Lobularia maritima, Sinapis alba, Achillea millefolium, Fagopyrum esculentum and Tagetes erecta can improve the efficiency of

With the aim of testing the effectiveness of various parasitoid species

parasitoids associated with Tuta absoluta, Necremnus artynes,

as Biological Control agents, we will study certain aspects of their

Hemiptarsenus zilahisebessi and Trichogramma evanescens, the

biology and their compatibility with other control methods. With the aim

leafminer parasitoid Diglyphus isaea and the whiteflies parasitoids

of optimizing pest sampling methods and the preventive treatments

Eretmocerus mundus and Encarsia pergandiella.

37 / Annual Report 2011 /

SUSTAINABLE PLANT PROTECTION 2. To determine the contribution of floral nectar from plants that have a positive effect on the parasitoids on the biological parameters of pest species, especially the Lepidoptera Tuta absoluta and Helicoverpa armigera and the leafminer Liriomyza spp.

3. To study, in semi-field conditions, the usefulness of the selected plants, according to the results in objectives 1 and 2, for their inclusion in ecological infrastructures insectary plants.

4. To determine, in field conditions, the efficacy of the selected insectary plants.

Identification of viruses and phytoplasmas in different wine-producing areas

5. Developing in vitro culture techniques to obtain plant material free from virus and phytoplasmas and to design protocols for micropropagation, germplasm conservation and the cryopreservation of cultivars of agronomic interest.

The project addresses the problems caused by viruses and phytoplasmas on grapevines with the aim of supporting strategies for prevention and control based on traditional and biotechnological approaches. The following objectives have been established: 1. Designing, applying and validating molecular diagnostic techniques for viruses and phytoplasmas affecting grapevines based on multiplex PCR and deep sequencing to characterize prevalent and emerging viral diseases in Spain.

2. Conducting surveys of viruses and phytoplasmas in different geographical areas of Spain (Catalonia, Valencia, Galicia, Aragon, La Rioja and Extremadura); analysis of the genetic diversity of isolates, and; maintaining collections of isolates.

3. Carrying out full-length genome sequencing of new isolates of Arabis mosaic virus emerging in Spain.

4. Charting the epidemiology of the bois noir disease; evolution of isolates in host plants and vectors; searching for secondary vectors; transmission assays and the establishment of mathematical predictive models for the control of the vector.

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PLANT PRODUCTION 6. Designing a genetic system based on grapevine protoplasts.

7. Making an agronomic evaluation of virus-free plant clones in experimental plots.

8. Recovering indigenous varieties that are free from virus and phytoplasmas.

Biological control for the conservation of vegetable crops crops in their respective agricultural landscape; determining which plants favour the subsequent colonization of crops by predators, and finally; evaluating the consequences of interactions between cryptic species of natural enemies that share the same host plants, i.e., determining which interactions may have a negative impact on the conservation of populations of certain predators.

This project proposes the development of tools to improve existing BCC programmes, especially affecting lettuce and tomato, and therefore proposes: 1. Carrying out the taxonomic work necessary for the correct identification of the most important predators.

2. Evaluating the effectiveness of certain predators.

3. Identifying the host plants that contribute to predator conservation in the agricultural landscape.

4. Developing marking techniques to confirm the sources of predators.

The main goal of this project is to improve existing Biological Control Conservation (BCC) programmes for vegetable crops, and especially

5. Determining the importance of reproductive interference between cryptic species in the effectiveness of the mentioned predators.

for lettuce and tomato.

The practical application of these conservation programmes requires, amongst other things: identifying and evaluating natural enemies in order to be able to attribute success to the appropriate control; assessing the relative impact of the different predator species present in the agroecosystem associated with the pest; identifying the host plants of predators that contribute to the conservation of the target

In this way, it will be possible to establish specific markers for the correct identification of predators, to quantitatively assess the extent of predation, and to mark predators in dispersion studies. Traditional morphometric and geometric analyses will be performed to separate the two cryptic species, to study their behaviour and to assess the possible consequences of reproductive interference between these species.

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SUSTAINABLE PLANT PROTECTION A poster by IRTA researchers wins a prize at the “7th National Congress of Applied Entomology”

Diseases caused by fungi and oomycetes”, which was also published

by Phytoma-España, in collaboration with the Spanish Society of Phytopathology; its publication was coordinated by Dr. María Fe Andrés and the IRTA researcher Dr. Soledad Verdejo.

Within the framework of the “7th National Congress of Applied Entomology,” held in Baeza (Jaén) on October 24th - 28th, 2011, a España Award for the Best Communication Panel.”

Endure-IC, an Interactive Website on Crop Protection in Europe

The title of the winning poster was “The prey preference of the

The UdL-IRTA Crop Protection Group and the IRTA Entomology group

predator Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter (Hemiptera: Miridae) when Tuta

in Cabrils participated in Endure (2007-2010), a European network

absolute (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) coexists with Bemisia

for the sustainable exploitation of the protection strategies plan. Its

tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae).” Authors: Molla, O.,

general objectives are: to restructure research and development

Urbaneja, A., Arno, J., Gabarra, R.

related to the use of plant protection products all over Europe and

poster created by IRTA researchers won the “5th SEEA – Phytoma

establish itself as a leader in developing and implementing strategies for sustainable pest and diseases control.

Within this project, some tools for knowledge transfer that can be useful in the implementation of a sustainable plant protection in our country have been created: the Endure Information Centre and the Endure Network of Advisors.

The Endure Information Centre or Endure-IC is a tool addressed to farmers, extension and support technicians and researchers. It is an interactive website to disseminate information on crop protection, emphasizing on integrated management of pests, diseases and weeds.

It gives an overview of methods that can be used for sustainable crop protection in all European countries and is intended to be a reference point for knowledge transfer and recommendations on all the aspects

Dr. Soledad Verdejo, co-author of the book that won the 40th edition of the “Agricultural Book Prize” “Plant Diseases caused by phytoparasitic nematodes in Spain” was the book that won the 40th edition of the “Agricultural Book Prize”, an award given by the ‘Fira de Lleida’ at the San Miguel-Eurofruit Agricultural Fair. The ex aequo prize winner was the book “Plant

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PLANT PRODUCTION of crop protection. It was created to support the reduction of pesticide application, which requires new legislation, providing integrated pest management measures ready to be used.

The ENA (Endure Network of Advisors) is aimed at people working in the field of agricultural advice service and dealing with crop protection issues. Becoming a member of this network is free of charge and open to any advisor as well as to private or state firms. The ENA seeks to promote the dissemination and implementation of solutions based mainly on integrated pest management for the most common agricultural problems. It aims to facilitate communication between European advisors in order to share their experiences, improve the functioning of Endure IC and act as support and dissemination network.

Pocket guide for the rapid identification of species of natural enemies The “Guide to natural enemies in different crops in Catalonia” is a pocket-sized publication produced by the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Food and the Natural Environment (DAAM) which is designed to quickly identify the different species of natural enemies that control pests.

The publication is published with the support of over 20 IRTA and DAAM researchers under the coordination of Dr. Rosa Gabarra (IRTA) and Mr. Jesús Avilla (UdL-IRTA).

More information: http://www.endure-network.eu

Other Activities • Technical Seminar on Biology and the recognition of parasite predators in orchard crops, at Mas Bover, on October 18th • Field Workshop on integrated pest management affecting citrus crops: California red louse, at Alcanar (Tarragona), on December 15th

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GENOMICS AND BIOTECHNOLOGY Inauguration of the Centre for Research into Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) On June 9th, the Minister for Science and Innovation, Cristina Garmendia, officially inaugurated the new Centre for Research into Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) building.

The Minister was accompanied by the CSIC President, Rafael Rodrigo, the Catalan Secretary General for Universities and Research, Antoni Castellà, the IRTA General Manager, Josep M. Monfort, the UAB Dean, Ana Ripoll, the UB Vice-Dean for Research, Dídac Ramirez, and the CRAG Director, Pere Puigdomènech.

The CRAG is a public consortium and legal entity that includes amongst its research groups: Spain’s National Council for Research (CSIC), the Institute of Agro-food Research and Technology (IRTA), the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and the University of Barcelona (UB).

The new CRAG premises occupy 9,200 m2 distributed over four floors.

They are located on the UAB campus and employ 51 researchers, all of whom are dedicated to the study of genomics and molecular biology of plants and farm animal genetics.

Around € 20 million have been invested in the new building, which is equipped with following infrastructure:

• Greenhouses: 600 m2 for studying plant growth under controlled conditions.

• Genomics and capillary mass sequencing laboratory.

• Confocal microscopy and proteomics laboratory.

The CRAG’s main lines of basic and applied research are: • Plant development • Plant reactions to disease and environmental stress • Genome structure and dynamics • Synthesising secondary metabolites such as pigments and aromas • The domestication of plants and farm animals Applied research in these areas is important and has direct applications in the agro-food, pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, relating to: • Molecular markers • Genetic improvement • In vitro cultivation • Food safety and diagnostics New features such as biosynthesis and the regulation of lignin in maize and the formation of carotenoids in pepper.

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PLANT PRODUCTION Transfer of the Genomics and Biotechnology programme to the CRAG The IRTA’s Genomics and Biotechnology research programme was transferred to the CRAG’s new building on the UAB campus between February and March. A total of 39 people moved to the CRAG, with 3 researchers linked to a research project into geranium improvement remaining at the Cabrils centre and 2 more in charge of park greenhouses staing at the Torre Marimon centre.

Since the creation of the CSIC-IRTA Plant Molecular Genomics Laboratory, which subsequently became the CSIC-IRTA-UAB Centre for Research into Agricultural Genomics, it was decided to look for a new building in the Barcelona area as a base for the majority of the research staff working in the fields of genomics and biotechnology.

International experts examine the influence of light on plants for crop improvement About fifty international experts in the fields of plant biology, genetics and genomics have explored the interrelationships between three major aspects of plant biology: the functions of the circadian clock, photoperiodism and the signalling of light pathways. The workshop “Interplay of Light, Circadian Clock Function and Photoperiodism in Plant Development”, organized by the International Centre for Scientific Debate (CIDC), a Biocat initiative promoted by the Social Work area of the “la Caixa” Foundation and the Centre for Research into Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), was held on May 4th, 5th and 6th, at the Colet Museum, Barcelona.

The creation of this critical mass will make it possible to take on new multidisciplinary projects with the challenge of becoming a reference centre in plant and animal genomics.

The new centre is formed by three departments: 1. Molecular Genetics, with CSIC researchers.

2. Plant Genetics, with IRTA researchers.

3. Animal Genetics, with UAB researchers.

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44 / Memoria 2012 /

ANIMAL PRODUCTION

Animal Genetics and Improvement / 46 Nutrition, Health and Animal Welfare / 48 Aquaculture / 50 Animal Health / 56 45 / Memoria 2012 /

ANIMAL GENETICS AND IMPROVEMENT Seventy-seven Spanish pig farms are candidates for the 2011 Porc d’Or (Golden Pig) award

In the current edition, 660 farms were analyzed, with an average of 816 sows per farm and a total breeding stock of 538,560 representing approximately 25% of the national census.

The 18th edition of the prestigious Porc d’Or Awards, organized by the IRTA in collaboration with Pfizer Animal Health and Lleida City Council, selected 77 pig farms which received 120 nominations and opted for the much coveted gold, silver and bronze statuettes.

The IRTA created the Porc d’Or (Golden Pig) Awards in 1994 with the aims of recognising the work of pig farms that have been able to rise to, and overcome, new challenges and to act as engines propelling the Spanish pig sector thanks to their professionalism and efforts to promote the use of the best production techniques.

The winners were announced during a gala award ceremony held in Lleida on November 25th. This not-to-be-missed event brought together more than 650 people including livestock farmers from all over Spain, companies and personalities linked to this business sector, as well as local, regional and national authorities.

The prizes are awarded every year to Spanish farms that regularly send data to BD-Porc (the main data reference for the Spanish pig sector). The data in question include: the number of live births, number of pregnancies and level of productivity.

The undisputed star of the gala dinner was the farm El SAS, from Candasnos (Huesca), which received the “Porc d’Or Special Diamond Award” 2011, in front of an audience of 600 people.

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ANIMAL PRODUCTION The authorities and personalities from the pig sector present at the event included: Josep M. Pelegrí i Aixut, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Food and the Natural Environment of the Catalan Government, Margarita Arboix, Director General of Agricultural and Livestock Resources from the Ministry of the Agriculture, Environment and Rural and Marine Environments, Ángel Ros, Mayor of Lleida, Josep Mª Monfort, CEO of the IRTA and Joan Carles Castillejo, CEO of Pfizer Animal Health, the company that has jointly organised the awards since 2003.

It was a memorable night for the El SAS farm, a new exploitation set up in the summer of 2007 and which currently has 2,621 breeding sows.

The Special IRTA Award for “Health, the Natural Environment and Animal Welfare”, which was created in 2007, went to Ingapor S.L. of the Afrivall-Vall Companys Group, in Bonete (Albacete), a breeding farm that is already fully adapted to the Animal Welfare regulations (RD 1135) that will come into effect from 1st January 2013.

The “Porc d’Or” Special Award for High Productivity went to the El Clos farm, which belongs to the company El Clos S.C.P., located in Santa Cecília de Voltregà, with an average of 32.36 weaned piglets per sow per year, which marks a new record for these awards.

AECERIBER seeks new impulses to safeguard the selection of Iberian pigs After explaining the different types of controls and the management of A group of farmers dedicated to the selection of Iberian pigs and

the registers and the genealogical books on pig selection in Catalonia,

belonging to the Asociación Española de Criadores de Ganado Porcino

the group also visited the Centre de Noves Tecnologies i Processos

Selecto Ibérico Puro y Tronco Ibérico (AECERIBER – the Spanish

Alimentaris (CENTA – the Centre for New Food Technologies and

Association of Breeders of Selected Pure Iberian and Trunk Iberian Pig

Processes).

Livestock) from Castilla y León, Andalusia and Extremadura, visited the IRTA centres at Monells (Girona) and Lleida, on May 2nd and 3rd,

On March 3rd, the delegation visited the IRTA Lleida centre and the

respectively.

white pig breeding farms, assessing them very positively, as they may represent a new impulse towards achieving the objectives of

The AECERIBER delegation visited Monells in order to learn more

the Iberian pig selection. AECERIBER and the IRTA agreed to study

about the research carried out there into pig carcass classification. It

the possibility of future collaborations; in genetic selection applied to

also visited the IRTA experimental slaughterhouse, cutting plants and

different breeds of Iberian pigs; on the creation of an embryo bank,

pilot plant for meat products.

and; to carry out a comprehensive study into carcass and meat quality.

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NUTRITION, HEALTH AND ANIMAL WELFARE Preparation of a joint project on goats with the INRA of Tangier In the framework of the C category of the PCI-AECID 2010 tender, a number of meetings were held between the IRTA Ruminants (Animal Production) and Product Quality (Food Industry) groups and the INRA

about, give advice on, and define future research and experimentation in the poultry industry.

The meeting was attended by representatives of leading companies and associations from the livestock industry. IRTA, UAB, CReSA and CESAC researchers presented their work and the main lines of

(Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique) of Tangiers. The aim

research in the poultry area, focusing on nutrition, health and welfare

of these meetings was to establish a multidisciplinary research and

and associated issues.

development project for the breeding of goats in the northern region of Morocco for presentation at the next PCI-AECID meeting.

The event concluded with a discussion of research needs and technology transfer that included the participation of various companies and associations. Much debate focused on the need to intensify contacts between research centres and the productive sector in order to coordinate research in line with the priorities of companies.

The main goals of the project were to increase the income of the rural population in the region through the improvement of productivity and profitability of goat rising. Three main lines of action were considered due to their potentially large impact on the productivity of the goat industry: nutrition, reproduction and increasing the value of both milk and meat products.

For this reason, from 21st to 25th March, a team from the INRA of Tangiers visited the IRTA’s Torre Marimon and Monells facilities, the UAB and also several goat farms and businesses in the surrounding area.

Intensifying relations between research centres and companies in order to improve coordination between researchers and the productive sector On March 31st, IRTA Mas de Bover held a technical seminar organized by the Department of Agriculture with the collaboration of the IRTA and the Poultry Federation of Catalonia in order to spread information

Technology transfer to improve the production system of the Majorcan Black Pig Within the framework of their work disseminating the results of the Q-PorkChains European project, IRTA researchers visited Mallorca to

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ANIMAL PRODUCTION carry out technology transfer tasks relating to the productive sector of the Majorcan Black Pig.

Save up to € 8 per animal by using liquid food

On September 22nd and 23rd, the IRTA organized a technology

In the current context of the rising price of the raw materials used

transfer meeting aimed at members of the Association of Farmers

in animal feed, on May 26th 2011, the Department of Agriculture,

of the Select Majorcan Black Pig and workers from Ramaders

Livestock, Fisheries, Food and the Natural Environment held the

Agrupats de Felanitx slaughterhouse on the island of Mallorca.

“Workshop on Liquid Food for Pigs” at Vallfogona de Balaguer. The meeting looked at how liquid feed can be beneficial to the health of

The aim was to present the main results obtained during the five

piglets and also help to reduce the environmental impact of nitrates

years of the Q-PorkChains European research project and related to

and its advantages in terms of reducing the cost of animal feed, and

the production system of the Majorcan Black Pig.

therefore production in general, given the weight of this expense within overall costs.

Researchers from the IRTA’s Animal Welfare and Animal Food Product Quality sub-programmes presented the IRTA research activities carried out within the framework of the “System improvements” activity foreseen by Q-PorkChains. This particularly focused on opportunities for making improvements related to animal

The meeting was also attended by R. Caiola of Mangimi Ferrero (Italy), a company with extensive experience in the manufacture of animal feed, and by John Bernau, of Sip Consultors, who presented data which showed that a saving of up to € 8 / pig could be made by using liquid feed. Finally, the company Big Dutchman Weda presented its latest

welfare and the management of the Majorcan Black Pig at the time

equipment for feeding pigs adapted to the new animal welfare standards

of slaughter and also outlined a number of recommendations that

that will come into force in January 2012. The presentation by the IRTA

are also relevant for other traditional pig production systems.

was given by Dr. Rosil Lizardo, a researcher at the Monogastric Nutrition.

Other activities • Technical Seminar on poultry research in Catalonia, at Mas de Bover (Constantí, Tarragona), on March 31st • Technical Seminar on meat quality and nutrition, at Mas de Bover, on Abril 14th • Animal welfare in cattle production, at Campllong, on May 6tth • Training day on poultry technology and nutrition, at Mas de Bover, on June 9th and 10th • Third seminar on pig nutrition, at Mas de Bover, on June 30th • Seminar on poultry meat, at Mas de Bover, on November 24th

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AQUACULTURE The role of aquaporins in fish oocyte hydration

The gilt-head seabream, the flagship of Spanish aquaculture

The economically viable production of modern aquaculture depends on

The gilthead seabream is one of the most appreciated fish in Spain.

obtaining good quality gametes. In most cultured fish species there is a

Besides its importance for fishing and the leisure industry, this species

high degree of variation in viability and sperm capacity (sperm quality)

has a strategic role for the Spanish economy. Its culture accounts

which makes the management of reproduction and breeding difficult. In some cases, such as that of the Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis), this is a major obstacle to the large-scale production of fry.

for most of the Mediterranean’s aquaculture production, with 95% of current consumption coming from aquaculture farms.

In Spain, the production of gilt-head bream traditionally occurs in coastal lagoons and saltwater pools. Today, the growth period, between the larval and juvenile stages takes place at specialized centres located along the coast, thanks to what, from a zootechnical point of view, constitutes a fully developed and reliable technology.

The IRTA research into gilt-head seabream Researchers from the Institute for Agro-food Research and Technology (IRTA) centre at Sant Carles de la Ràpita (Tarragona) are working on the optimization of nutrition processes and larval culture of the gilthead seabream within the framework of national and international projects funded by MICINN and the European Union (Lifecycle project, FP7-KBBE), respectively.

The work was carried out in collaboration with two Norwegian research groups. It used the Atlantic halibut as the model to demonstrate, for the first time and through inhibition with antibodies and ectopic expression*, the function of aquaporins in the process of oocyte hydration in marine fish. The evolutionary origin of these aquaporins was also identified.

This work expands on the discovery published in ‘Science’ by IRTA

The main goal is to improve the quality of breeding specimens and to increase the profitability of the intensive production process.

The IRTA has also continued to collaborate with national and international companies in the formulation of compound diets for the production of gilt-head seabream and also the replacement of marine ingredients required to improve the sustainability of this aquaculture activity.

researcher Dr. Juan Cerdá, in 2005 and helps to determine the molecular basis of the formation of good quality eggs in marine fish of interest for aquaculture. *Ectopic expression: In molecular biology, we talk of the ectopic expression of a gene when its product is expressed in an unusual location within an organism.

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ANIMAL PRODUCTION However, the final stages of hatchery production mainly take place at

Programme. After two and a half years, researchers developed

intensive production plants located in floating cages near the coast

biotechnological tools for the detection of marine toxins.

(Mediterranean coast and Canary Islands), although there are also some facilities dedicated to semi-extensive cultures on dryland; these

The Regional Centre for Innovation and Transfer Technology (CRITT),

are called “esteros” (estuaries) and are located in the Bay of Cadiz.

Bio-Industries of the National Institute of Applied Sciences (Toulouse, France) and the IMAGES team from the University of Perpignan-Via Domitia (UPVD) have produced recombinant phosphatases proteins

The MG4U project will transfer knowledge about marine genomics to the wider society

through genetic engineering techniques. These enzymes are stable

A consortium of researchers from 6 European countries will diffuse

Working as project coordinators, IRTA and UPVD have developed

the results obtained from recent and on-going projects in the fields of marine genomics and enhanced growth and to improve the efficiency of knowledge transfers to generate a greater capacity for interdisciplinary research within UE countries.

and sensitive to the determination of two toxin classes: microcystins (cyanobacterian toxins present in fresh water) and okadaic acid and its derivatives (lipophilic diarrheal toxins in shellfish).

colorimetric assays and electrochemical biosensors based on the inhibition of these enzymes by toxins.

All of these tools of analysis have been used to detect different

A knowledge of marine genomics constitutes a vital part of “blue biotechnology” and is important for the management of natural and cultured resources and the preservation of marine environments.

However, many business leaders and legislators are still unaware of the great potential that marine genomics offer for problem solving and obtaining industrial and commercial advantages.

microcystin variants, both in samples of natural algae blooms and reservoir water from the SUDOE region and in fresh water microalgae cultures that produce toxins. This approach was also applied to the analysis of okadaic acid and its derivatives in shellfish (mainly mussels) and in cultures of marine microalgae.

The ALARMTOX project has made innovative biotechnology tools

For this reason, scientists from seven research centres in Germany, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden cooperated within the framework

available to ensure the quality of the water and the aquaculture products.

of the research project entitled “Marine Genomics for Users” (or MG4U). The project funded by the 7th EU Framework Programme (FP7), with a budget of € 1.2 million, had the aim of disseminating scientific and technological knowledge to a wide audience including industry, government agencies, academia and the wider society.

For more information: http://www.mg4u.eu

The ALARMTOX project, biotechnological innovation for the detection of marine toxins ALARMTOX is an EU research project that is funded through the Interreg IVB SUDOE (South-West Europe) Territorial Cooperation

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AQUACULTURE Release of eel specimens into the rivers Ter, Muga, Fluvià and Ebro In 2011, the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Food and the Natural Environment, the Catalan Water Agency, the IRTA, the University of Barcelona and the University of Girona released 8,000 eel specimens for restocking which were equipped with passive-type PIT TAG and CWT electronic marking systems.

In Catalonia, an inter-ministerial technical committee, formed by the Director General for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, the Catalan Water Agency, the IRTA, the University of Barcelona and the University of Girona, was created in order to plan and implement management plans for the Catalan water basins and the shared basin of the River Ebro.

Repopulation and other management measures such as fighting against allochthonous predators and/or improving river connectivity are the main lines of action approved by the European Commission to manage the recovery of what is such an emblematic species in our rivers as the eel.

The IRTA is accredited by ENAC to carry out agricultural trials The IRTA laboratories at Sant Carles de la Ràpita were accredited under the requirements of international standard UNE-EN-ISO/IEC 17025 (which refers to the general requirements for testing and calibration laboratories) by the National Accreditation Body (ENAC), which recognized the expertise of the Institute in carrying out agricultural trials.

The IRTA is an entity that carries out official controls to ensure food safety in fishery and aquaculture products. The accreditation contemplates two different testing methods.

1. Amnesic Toxins (ASP): determination of domoic acid and epidomoic acid by liquid chromatography with a high efficiency UV-VIS detector, for the fishing industry and aquaculture products.

The operation was carried out at different times in the Girona basins of the Ter, Fluvià and Muga rivers. The aim was to follow the specimens using detection antennae and to trap some of the marked individuals for resettle.

The released fish were fattened for 1-2 years at the IRTA centre at Sant Carles de la Ràpita from early stages (elver stage) until they reached weights of between 100 and 500 g.

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ANIMAL PRODUCTION 2. Positive Escherichia coli ß-glucoronidase positive using the Most Probable Number (MPN) method in molluscs.

The scope of accreditation will soon be extended to include a third type of test:

Project to safeguard the Patella ferruginea, one of the most emblematic species of the Mediterranean Within the framework of “Zero Projects: Endangered Species

3. Method for identifying and counting phytoplankton by inverted microscopy (Utermöhl technique) in marine waters.

2010” of the Superior Council for Scientific Research’s (CSIC) General Foundation, researchers from IRTA Sant Carles de la Ràpita (aquaculture), the CSIC and the University of Madrid plan to study fundamental aspects of the reproductive biology and habitat

Improving the surveillance of the health of European marine cultures

requirements of the limpet ‘Patella ferruginea’.

The ‘Patella ferruginea’, which is more popularly known as the ‘pagellida ferruginea’ or ‘barretet’, in Catalonia, is a species endemic

A research project called “DataQuest” led by IRTA researchers

to the western Mediterranean and one of the most threatened

assessed the quality of information available on the internet about

invertebrates in our seas, as its marine distribution has decreased

emerging diseases affecting fish populations in European marine

considerably during the last century. It is still possible to find

cultures.

populations in the waters of Northern Africa, especially around the Chafarine islets (off the coast of Morocco) and the Algerian Habibas

Funded by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA), the study

islands. On the coast of mainland Europe, however, this mollusc is now

began in 2010 and reported the low quality of data sources currently

considered virtually extinct. Human activity (fishing and construction in

available on the web, which tends to lack content and detail. Besides

coastal areas), low fecundity and a very limited dispersal capacity in

the sources provided by the World Organization for Animal Health

larval stages have been identified as the main causes of the gradual

(OIE) and considering the definition of “emerging disease” provided

disappearance of this species.

by this organization as a reference, the IRTA researchers were unable to identify any other Internet sources that met the established requirements.

Even so, the study has made it possible to create an inventory of relevant data sources and to assess its utility for identifying diseases that could endanger European aquaculture populations. EFSA was very satisfied with the recommendations contained in the DataQuest report and is currently evaluating the possibility of offering a technological surveillance service in the area of aquatic animal health.

In particular, the report recommended the creation of a syndromic surveillance system: a system capable of detecting early indicators of emerging risks related to marine diseases through the continuous monitoring of data sources.

The full DataQuest report can be consulted at: www.efsa.europa. eu/en/supporting/pub/90e.htm

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AQUACULTURE Since 1999, P. ferruginea has been protected by Spanish law, having

and the spawning of P. ferruginea.

been included in the category “Species in Danger of Extinction” in

There was also a proposal to

the National Catalogue of Endangered Species. In recent years,

develop new techniques for

several studies have found populations of this gastropod in the area

rearing larvae in cultures

around Ceuta, along the Moroccan coast and in the Bay of Algeciras.

at the IRTA Sant Carles

According to IRTA researcher Josu Pérez Larruscain: “The new project

de la Ràpita aquaculture

‘Action Plan including proposals for the viability of the endangered

centre in order to rein-

limpet Patella ferruginea’ aims to analyze the capacity for larval

troduce the species into

dispersal and gene flow between populations.”

its original habitat so that existing populations could flourish.

It is important to underline that the protocols for the production of larvae of P. Ferruginea in aquaculture that may emerge from this study could also be useful for future applications with other limpet species, including those consumed by man. The IRTA researcher concluded that: “All the information compiled in this three-year project could be used for the recovery of any population in decline or affected by environmental disasters”.

The IRTA provides consultancy on the aquaculture production of the snapper in Mexican waters Perez Larruscain also observed that, due to a process called “poterandic hermaphroditism”, in the first stage of their life,

Mexico’s Centre for the Technological Development of Marine Species (CEDETEM) requested the expertise of the IRTA to help with

specimens of this mollusc are all males. Although they can then turn

the technological development of production of the snapper off the

into females once their size exceeds 25 mm, most of these changes

country’s Pacific coast.

occur in individuals of larger dimensions. “However, males of up to 95 mm in diameter have been observed on the Chafarine islands, which

Due to their interest in starting commercially productive projects on an

suggests that the observed sex change does not necessarily depend

industrial scale, a team of researchers from the IRTA provided consul-

on size or age, but that some other external factors could play a role

tancy services to the Mexican centre in the technological development

in the “proterandic hermaphroditism” process.

of the production of red porgy, a fish that is morphologically similar to bream and which has a more or less uniform pink colouring.

For this reason, the project proposed making a complete and thorough study of all aspects of the reproductive biology of ‘pagellida’ during

Experts from the IRTA Sant Carles de la Ràpita centre (Tarragona)

at least two complete annual cycles. The study also proposed con-

validated the procedures used and, with the cooperation of CEDETEM,

sidering their fertility and/or the signals that control the time of their

helped to define the technological improvements required for the

sex change and also the factors that influence their sexual maturation

success of these Pacific coast facilities in the zootechnical field.

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ANIMAL PRODUCTION The IRTA experts also suggested creating integrated management models, parameters and process controls and proposed designs for improving the existing installations and particularly the management of water.

Strengthening links with New Zealand in aquaculture The director of the IRTA centre at Sant Carles de la Ràpita and head of the IRTA Aquaculture programme, Dolors Furones, and the person responsible for DRI in aquaculture, Cristobal Aguilera, visited the Plant & Food Research centre of New Zealand from March 15th to 17th.

The IRTA representatives met research teams from this institution in order to share ideas for future collaborations in the areas of seafood production, natural extracts and the safety and conservation of marine products.

The AqüiCAT Cluster visits Norway From August 15th to 19th, a group of businessmen and researchers from the AqüiCAT Cluster visited companies and research centres in Norway. The aim of the visit was to seek new partners to help revitalize the aquaculture industry and to promote new strategies to help boost the competitiveness of the local industry.

Collaboration between AqüiCAT and the Andalusian Seafood Cluster From April 26th to 29th, representatives of the Action Plan for Aquaculture in Catalonia and the AqüiCAT Cluster visited the Aquaculture Technology Centre Foundation of Andalusia (CTAQUA), which is led by the Sea Food Cluster of Cadiz.

The purpose of the visit was to seek new opportunities to establish synergies between the two institutions. The proposed collaboration focused on linking the web sites of the two clusters, establishing direct lines of communication for the actions in which they are involved, and collaborating in the presentation of CDTI projects.

Other activities • Seminar about the production of bivalves in the Ebro Delta, at Sant Carles de la Ràpita (Tarragona), on May 12th • Summer course about monitoring the environment and the health of aquatic systems, at Sant Carles de la Ràpita, on July 11th and 12th • Course on Marketing and Commerce for the Food and Aquaculture Cluster, at Sant Carles de la Ràpita, on October 13th and 14th • Workshop on monitoring bivalves in the Ebro Delta, at Sant Carles de la Ràpita, on November 29th

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ANIMAL HEALTH Analysis service to guarantee the absence of Escherichia coli toxigenics

way. Five different video clips have been produced that seek to break with the eternal problem of the general public not understanding science.

Due to the negative impact of the latest outbreak of Escherichia coli O104: H4 in human health and in foreign market of our agricultural products, with consequent credibility and economic losses, IRTA, through CReSA, has set up a protocol to detect the different markers through the PCR technology. According to the EU Reference Laboratory for E.coli, these markers are characterized by O104: H4 strain involved in this food alert.

It is represent a tool that can ensure the safety of horticulture products against the serotype of E. coli, responsible for the latest toxigenic outbreak.

Catalonia will train and assess professionals in Mozambique on issues relating to influenza This project, which is funded by the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development (AECID), aims to train technicians from the National Institute of Health (INS) and the Institute of Agrarian Research (IIAM) of Mozambique, in diagnosis, surveillance and

Wing form offers a useful way of differentiating between species of Culicoides Correctly identifying vector species is an essential part of entomological surveillance and of understanding the epidemiology

research relating to the influenza virus (flu).

of arthropod-borne diseases, as in the case for bluetongue disease.

Two researchers from Mozambique have already been trained at the

wing form between different Culicoides species using the geometric

Centre for Animal Health Research (CReSA-IRTA-UAB) and will be

and morphometric techniques described in the Journal of Medical

responsible for coordinating actions in their country.

Entomology.

Researchers from the CReSA have reported significant differences in

CReSA tv: a new digital channel to bring science to the general public CReSA has launched his own digital TV channel called CReSA TV (www.cresa.es). It broadcasts video clips made thanks to funding provided by the Commission for Universities and Research of the Catalan Government.

The aim of this TV channel is to offer content related to the activity of the CReSA to a general audience in an informative and comprehensive

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ANIMAL PRODUCTION Biting midges of the genus Culicoides Latreille have been implicated

This discovery could have important implications for new antiviral

in the transmission of bluetongue. Since 1998, the disease has spread

research strategies against a virus which causes serious economic

across Europe, provoking the largest epidemic ever recorded and

problems in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa and for which there

causing important economic losses. Some species of the subgenus

is currently no effective vaccine.

Avaritia and Culicoides have been described as candidate vectors in these epizootics. Both of these subgenera contain groups of cryptic species that could differ in their vectorial capacity. In consequence, the correct identification of vector species is considered an essential part of epidemiological programmes.

The elimination of bovine tuberculosis has been heterogeneous in Spain Despite the control campaigns carried out since 1956, it has still not

Download the full paper:

been possible to eradicate bovine tuberculosis and its incidence has

http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1603/ME10110

remained at between 1.6% and 1.8%. Researchers from the CReSA and UAB studied the success of these campaigns in Spain and concluded

The CReSA becomes part of ENIVD ENIVD is a European network of collaboration that seeks to become an organization dedicated to combating imported viral infectious

that the pattern of elimination was not homogeneous throughout Spain, with the ratio of elimination differing from area to area.

The results of this study showed that the pattern of elimination of the disease was not homogeneous in the Spanish territory and that there were areas with higher rates of elimination than others. The risk of a

diseases that threaten the general population.

Guide to the avian necropsy technique “Atlas of avian necropsy. Macroscopic diagnosis and sampling” is the name of a book written by two CReSA researchers. Roser Dolz and Natalia Majó have produced a detailed and accurate guide to avian necropsy.

Involvement of the nucleus of the host cell with African swine fever virus (VPPA) during the infection In a scientific paper published in the Journal of Virology, researchers from the CReSA demonstrated that the nucleus of the host cell has a greater than previously expected influence during infection with African swine fever virus.

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ANIMAL HEALTH farm becoming or remaining infected was lower in the north of Spain and the Balearic and Canary Islands than in the rest of the country. In some regions, the risk of infection remained high over time, while in others it was only high only in a given year.

The CReSA will collaborate in avian influenza surveillance in wild birds for another year

surveillance of wild birds, while the CESAC (Avian Health Centre of Catalonia and Aragon) will collaborate in the surveillance of poultry.

Assays to detect avian influenza virus will be carried out on wild birds admitted to wildlife recovery centres that show clinical signs compatible with the disease.

The first issue of the magazine CReSAPIENS In 2011, the CReSA published the first issue of the new magazine for disseminating scientific information entitled CReSAPIENS. This publication aims to inform the general public about the centre’s research and findings.

The 2011 surveillance programme forms part of the 2011 Avian Influenza Surveillance Programme in Spain, which includes all of Spain’s autonomous communities and follows European Union guidelines.

The objective of this programme is to monitor avian influenza in poultry and wild birds in Catalonia. The CReSA will collaborate in the

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ANIMAL PRODUCTION

Other Activities • 3rd UAB Conference on Pigs, at Bellaterra, from February 2nd to 4th • 6th International Symposium on emerging and re-emerging pig diseases, at Barcelona, from June 12th to 15th

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60 / Memoria 2012 /

FOOD INDUSTRIES

Food Technology / 62 Product Quality / 66 Food Safety / 72 Funcionality and Nutrition / 74 61 / Memoria 2012 /

FOOD TECHNOLOGY FUTURAL, the application of new technologies to the food of the future FUTURAL is the acronym for the research project “The contribution of new technologies to the task of obtaining safer, more nutritious, more convenient and more intelligent food in the future”. The results of this project, which was coordinated by the IRTA and had a total duration of 4 years, were presented on June 27th and 28th in Madrid.

• 2 PhD thesis • 13 new processes • 6 new services • 11 companies adopting new technologies • More than 55 scientific and business events In summary, the FUTURAL project has meant: • 87% of the companies involved have improved their capacity to innovate.

• 57% of the companies have accessed new technological networks.

• 26 new derived projects have been identified.

• 87% of the consortium’s companies have collaborated in other areas.

• 83% of the companies have also collaborated with the research organisms in new projects.

• 82% of the companies in the consortium have invested in training their own staff.

• 22% of the companies in the consortium participate in projects that form part of the 7th Framework Programme of the European Commission.

• 40% of the companies either participate, or have participated, in international projects.

The general aim of the FUTURAL project, which came to an end in December 2010, was to establish the scientific bases to allow the industrial use of new technologies and to develop new foods adapted to the needs of the consumers of the future. Another goal was to increase the competitiveness of the companies involved in this sector and of the agro-food industry in general.

The most significant applications and new processes created by the project are: • New applications of supercritical fluids in the food industry.

• The development of new packaging systems.

• The replacement of conventional thermal treatment (through heat

24 companies and 12 research organisms from Spain (15 from Catalonia, 5 from the Basque Country, 3 from Galicia, 3 from Castilla and 1 from Andalusia) participated in the project which received total funding of € 20.63 million (with a Centre for Industrial Technological Development, CDTI, contributing 44.19% of the total budget).

Among the results obtained by the project, it is relevant to highlight: • 23 new products • 12 patents • 5 utility models • 33 scientific publications

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FOOD INDUSTRIES transfer) with high frequency treatments (with internally generated

Development (CDTI), and will be undertaken thanks to the collaboration

heat).

of 29 Catalan meat production companies.

• The Application of high pressures to various products such as seafood (oysters, crayfish, lobsters) as a new reality in the market.

Through this act of cooperation between the public and private

• The development of QDS, a revolutionary new process for drying

sectors, the different participants expect to obtain meat products

cured sausages that has revolutionized the industry worldwide.

with few fatty acids, that are not as dry and that have a lower salt content than those currently on the market. The aim is to introduce cured meats that have shelf lives that are better suited to new

The IRTA-CENTA and Barrufet Group design new 4th and 5th range sea products

manufacturing processes and capable of maintaining the organoleptic and technological characteristics that typify the traditional products.

Research is therefore focusing on finding ways to adapt and optimize manufacturing and packaging processes while safeguarding the taste, safety and peculiar characteristics of the new food products.

In order to adapt to new consumption habits, easy to prepare dishes have been developed which maintain the nutritional properties of fish; this is becoming one of the most innovative aspects for the sea products industry. One example of this can be seen in the new products that combine new formulas for elaboration and modern packaging and conservation systems; these are significant factors for both producers and consumers.

Within the FUTURAL project, and thanks to the scientific-technological support of IRTA-CENTA, the Barrufet Group has designed its new 4th and 5th generation dishes, which will mainly be distributed through catering channels, although they may also be available for retail sale.

Over the course of the four-year project, the company has added a new line of pre-prepared meals to its product portfolio, with dishes such as monkfish fingers, monkfish steak, monkfish and prawn brochettes, skewered shrimp and squid (4th generation) and garlic cuttlefish snacks or appetizers (5th generation).

Adapting traditional sausage products to consumption habits

Methodological guide to the sensorial evaluation of cured ham

The Catalan Federation of Meat Industries (FECIC) and the IRTA have launched an R&D project aimed at adapting traditional uncooked-

IRTA researchers undertook a project that developed an agreed standard

cured sausages to new habits of consumption.

methodology for the sensory evaluation of cured ham from white pigs.

This will benefit both the consumer and the image of this product,

Under the acronym EMBUMAD, the project has a budget of € 2

as takes into consideration the criteria and points of view of all those

million which was granted by the Centre for Industrial Technological

involved in the production, marketing and consumption processes.

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TECNOLOGIA ALIMENTĂ€RIA As well as being one of the most famous gastronomic symbols of the

in Agriculture (INIA) and should allow to progress to be made in

Mediterranean area, the production of cured ham is one of the most

improving the quality of this product.

dynamic factors within the meat sector, with these products being highly valued for their sensory characteristics. It is therefore for the

After collecting information on nationally and internationally used

industry to know how consumers perceive these products and what

methods and techniques for the sensory evaluation of cured ham,

their expectations are regarding Spanish ham. Although the senses are

IRTA researchers then analyzed the perceptions, attitudes, beliefs and

the primary tool used by consumers to assess the quality of ham, there

expectations of Spanish consumers regarding cured ham obtained

is no specific rule for defining the sensory attributes of ham quality or

from white pigs. Based on these data, they then defined the most

that allow an objective commercial classification of the final product.

important sensory attributes for this product, including visual, smell, taste and texture features.

The study also generated a standard vocabulary for the evaluation of key attributes which have been included in the guide produced within the framework of the SENSOJAM project (budget: â‚Ź 110,000), providing tasting panels with objective guidelines for the sensory characterization of this product.

According to the IRTA experts, this standardization will increase consumer confidence and satisfaction in cured ham from white pigs and therefore improve its acceptance. It should give consumers a product with sensory properties that meet their personal preferences.

10th edition of the International Course on Meat Product Technology, at IRTA Monells Every year the Institute of Agro-Food Research and Technology (IRTA) organizes the International Course on Meat Product Technology at Monells (Girona). The aim of the course is to offer both technicians and professionals from the meat industry comprehensive training relating to the meat chain, ranging from animal production to the For this reason, researchers from the Food Technology Programme

packaging and marketing of products. The course took place from

at the IRTA centre at Monells (Girona) have made a proposal for a

September 28th to October 29th.

methodological guide for evaluating the sensory characteristics of this product. The aim is to enable a more objective characterization of

It was organized by the PTC-CECOC in collaboration with the Spanish

hams, to precisely define the product and its qualities, and to thereby

Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AECID) and the

improve its image, in both the domestic and international markets.

National Institute of Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA). The 55 participants from Spain, Portugal and Latin America

This tool has been developed within the framework of the SENSOJAM

attended 38 presentations by speakers from Spanish companies,

project funded by the National Institute for Research and Technology

universities and technological centres.

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FOOD INDUSTRIES

Technology transfer to the agrifood industry A study conducted by researchers from the IRTA in collaboration with the Spanish Federation of Food and Beverage Industries (FIAB) and the Cereal Technological Centre (CETEC), established that Spanish researchers have a positive impression of technology transfers within

and also for the provision of better training by the agro-food industry in such areas R&D project management.

The poor knowledge of both the availability of technologies and the potential of research centres is one of the unresolved problems facing the business world in its quest to improve the process of technology transfer.

the agri-food industry. However, private companies still pointed to the need for further improvement in many parts of this area.

Researchers and Spanish companies perceive the variables involved in the technology transfer process in different ways. The former rate current efforts to transfer scientific knowledge to the market as “very good”, whereas the latter qualify the achievement of this task as coming in below expectations.

These results were presented by the IRTA within the framework of the technical seminar entitled “New models and tools for technology transfer in the agri-food industry”, which was held at the Colegio de Agrónomos of Barcelona on November 3rd. During the meeting, the results of the European research project “Knowledge to Innovation” (K2I) and the MICINN-funded SYETE FOOD project were also presented.

The study also highlighted the need for more efforts to be made to link scientific and technological knowledge to products and services,

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PRODUCT QUALITY Preferring an acidic taste is synonymous with a high consumption of fruit A consumer study, within the framework of the European project ISAFRUIT, conducted in Poland, Greece, Spain and the Netherlands has shown that people with a preference for acidic tastes consume more fruit than those who prefer sweet flavours.

can be explained in terms of food education. Consumers with a preference for more complex flavours, such as acidic tastes, therefore tend to be regular fruit consumers from childhood.

Promoting fruit consumption during this stage of human development would therefore, hypothetically, tend to favour the acceptance of foods with new textures and sensory properties.

The research conducted also highlighted the fact that there is a certain

The consumption of fruit is a key factor within a balanced diet and helps to prevent the risk of chronic disease. According to previous studies, people who prefer sweet fruit snacks, consume fruit frequently.

geographical pattern to preferences for sweet, acidic and savoury tastes, with southern European consumers tending to prefer savoury flavours, while Eastern Europeans tend to prefer more acidic tastes.

Along these lines, new research carried out by the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA) of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Institute for Agricultural Economics of the Wageningen Research Centre and University (The Netherlands) has examined the factors that determine fruit consumption, exploring the relationship between consumer preferences for sweet and savoury snacks and sweet, savoury and acidic fruit flavours.

The results of the study, which have been published by the British Food Journal, show that consumers who prefer acidic tastes eat more fruit than those who opt for sweet flavours. According to researchers, the link between a preference for acidic tastes and routine behaviour

Enriching animal diets in order to improve nutritional and sensory features of pork and turkey One good strategy for improving foods involves increasing their nutritional quality without altering their sensory characteristics. Based on these premises, a team of IRTA researchers studied variations in the composition of fats in meat products by modifying the diet of animals.

The study evaluated the nutritional and sensory quality of cooked ham, cured Iberian shoulder and turkey breast sausage made from animals that had received diets enriched with DHA and Vitamin E, which are both required to prevent lipid oxidation.

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FOOD INDUSTRIES None of the animals studied contained amounts of vitamin E that were sufficient to improve oxidative stability, although differences in fatty acid composition between different products and treatments were found, both for pig and turkey. The incorporation of DHA and EPA remained high in both the cooked products and the cured Iberian shoulder, whereas the incorporation of long-chain fatty acids was greater in turkey. A decrease in the rate n-6 acids was also observed.

Sensory analyses detected a fish-smell and flavour, especially in the samples of turkey breast sausage. In contrast, the cured Iberian shoulder showed no significant differences in the evaluated attributes.

This negative finding was due to the use of DHA from fish oil, but this can be easily countered by deodorization and/or the use of omega-3 extracted from other sources.

However, the study showed that the enriching animal diets by including DHA ensures a higher nutritional quality in fresh meat and in both cooked and cured products, improving their omega-6/omega-3 ratio and vitamin E content.

Improving the quality of pork by reducing animal stress To reduce the susceptibility of animals to stress, the palliative The research considered factors prior to the slaughter of pigs in order

effects of magnesium and tryptophan (an amino acid involved in the

to reduce animal stress levels and thereby improve meat quality.

regulation of sleep and pleasure) were also analyzed. According to the results of the study, adding these substances to animal feed five

As a first step, a sample of 72 animals was analyzed under conditions

days before slaughter makes pigs suffer less stress at slaughter and

of minimal stress, focusing on the effects of fasting to prevent

thereby improves meat quality. However, this research requires further

dizziness in pigs while they were transported from the farm to the

experimentation under “real� commercial conditions before these

slaughterhouse. Besides noting that the nervousness of the animals

findings can be transferred to the market.

increased during the wait before slaughter, the study also showed that their meat lost fluid if the period between the start of fasting and the sacrifice of the animal was less than 12 hours.

In contrast, if the time without food was extended to 24 hours, the

Consumers prefer less bitter and less spicy virgin olive oils

meat had better characteristics from a technological point of view and therefore had a better water retention capacity and could be sold as

What do consumers know about virgin olive oil? To answer this

fresh meat. This meant that it was possible to obtain more succulent

question, the IRTA researchers conducted a study to assess their level

meat than under typical commercial conditions. This method could

of knowledge about the olive as a culinary ingredient; in the study,

therefore reduce exudation, which is one of the most important

they considered both sensory aspects and also their objective and

defects considered when determining meat quality.

subjective knowledge.

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PRODUCT QUALITY

After selecting 400 consumers of olive oil from Madrid and Barcelona who were all involved in the buying and/or preparing of food at home, experts subjected them to a tasting of 8 samples of oil olive from the Ebro Valley (Navarra, La Rioja, Aragon and Catalonia).

Salgot S.A. and the IRTA join forces to produce the pig meat of the future The IRTA and Embotits Salgot S.A. have embarked upon a research project

The study showed that consumers were able to differentiate between the various different types of olive oil and that they tended to favour those that were less bitter and less spicy. They were not, however,

entitled “A new process for the preparation of high quality traditional products made from pigs bred in an ecological and sustainable production system, and adapted to the NAOS strategy”, funded by Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial (CDTI) with € 1.5 million.

able to recognize the slight sensory defects that make the difference between a regular virgin olive oil and an extra-virgin oil.

This research aims to obtain ecological pig meat with nutritional characteristics that meets the demands of 21st century consumers

According to the results of this research, more than 25% of respondents

interested in a healthy lifestyle.

perceived no difference between the different types of olive oil and the aspects that affect their quality. Nevertheless, the objective knowledge

With this in mind, IRTA researchers will study the incorporation of

about the nutritional characteristics of olive oil in this investigation

zeolites into animal diets. According to previous studies, the zeolites

showed a significant improvement in comparison to previous studies.

play a role in the proteinaceous metabolism of nitrogenous and

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FOOD INDUSTRIES phosphorous compounds. However, as of yet, nobody knows their

put meat products on the market which offer added value to consumers

effects on the ecological production of pigs.

interested in a healthy diet and a reduced environmental impact.

The project intends to obtain knowledge about the effects of this supplement on productive parameters, especially in relation to proteinaceous exploitation and the excretion of these compounds by animals and possible effects on meat and carcass quality.

Project for the sustainable development of a cattle breed in the Pyrenean area

In a second phase, the study will investigate the effects of monoinsaturated fatty acids and n-3 acids on the diet of pigs.

Beef has traditionally been produced by cows of different ages on either side of the Pyrenees. Despite using the same breed, the meat

Finally, researchers from the IRTA Food Technology Programme will

products obtained present different carcass qualities and meat

coordinate activities related with reducing salt and fat in meat product

characteristics.

and the effects of different types of packaging on the stability and The three-year OTRAC project began in 2009 with the aim of promoting

quality of final products.

cooperation (INTERREG) between four Pyrenean regions, two of which Besides transmitting to the consumer the image of tradition and of

are in Spain (Aragon and Catalonia) and two in France (Midi-PyrĂŠnĂŠes

gastronomic culture, this public-private project will make it possible to

and Languedoc-Roussillon). The idea was to create a cross-border

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PRODUCT QUALITY organization to support the sustainable development of the breed, territory and product (beef) in this area. The project aims to study the model for the primary production and marketing of the Gascon breed (which is closely linked to the Pyrenees) on both the French and Spanish sides of the border. The French model has been working for a number of years, with a very important percentage of producers selling their meat directly. Following this example, the current objective is to improve the profitability of farms on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees, with the aim of: producing quality meat, using the best product knowledge available on either side of the Pyrenees, and respecting consumer preferences and the markets that this meat is produced for.

In recent months, studies have been made into the quality of 8 to 12 month old beef calves (traditionally produced in Catalonia), yearlings of between 12 and 24 months old (from Aragon), 5 to 8 month old French Gascon cows, and 8 to 12 month old Frisian calves (a breed that is widespread in Spain). As well as detecting various quality characteristics that were dependent on the origin of the cattle in question, research has also shown significant differences in the quantity of intramuscular fat, finding more of it in meat from Gascon cows and from Gascon and Frisian calves. The Gascon calves also produce darker meat than Frisian cows and calves.

One of the major milestones achieved during these 5 years was the development of integrative systems at the farm level and governance structures in industrial chain management to ensure quality assurance and increased sustainability at all stages of the pig production chain.

As a result of consumer studies, it was also possible to create tools to support SMEs in the sector and to help them to develop and market new products.

In 2011, the work of the IRTA researchers focused on undertaking studies of consumer acceptability of this meat in the four regions involved in the project.

Within the framework of the Q-PorkChains European project, the IRTA led research aimed at developing innovative technologies to improve pig products in order to meet consumer demands relating to quality, nutrition, and convenience.

Official closure of the Q-PorkChains research project Q-PorkChains is an integrated, five-year research project that started in January 2007 and finished in December 2011. Q-PorkChains stands for “Improving the quality of pigs and pig products for the consumer” and was supported by a € 20 million budget through the

More information: http://www.q-porkchains.org

The IRTA hosts a national conference on the classification of pig and bovine carcasses

EU’s 6th Framework Programme.

The “9th National Coordination Meeting with the Autonomous Communities Sixty-two partners: 20 universities, 15 research institutions and 27

for the classification of heavy cattle and pig carcasses” was held on 23rd

industrial partners joined the project. The aim of Q-PorkChains was the

November 2011, as part of the collaboration between the Ministry of the

study of the diversity in production systems, from large commercial to

Natural Environment and the Rural and Marine Environments (MARM) and

regional chains, over the use of modelling for animal welfare, meat quality

the IRTA of the Agriculture Department of the Government of Catalonia for

and safety, to product innovation and strategic new product development.

the classification of pig and bovine carcasses.

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FOOD INDUSTRIES The event, which was held at the auditorium of IRTA Monells (Girona),

at the DAAM Central Services office with representatives of DAAM,

was attended by representatives from the public authorities of each

the IRTA, Unió de Pagesos, JARC, FCA, PORCAT and the Catalan

of Spain’s Autonomous Communities with responsibility for providing

Association of Slaughterhouses and Cut Plants (ACES).

advise to the national pig and cattle sector. At the conference, IRTA’s researchers presented the “Practical guide for pig carcass monitors”

The DAAM proposed the creation of a highly technical working group

and also gave a course and a practical demonstration with carcasses

capable of identifying the basic architecture of the database, which

at the pilot plant next to the auditorium.

subsequently would subsequently be validated by the Management Commission.

The Management Commission of SIPCAP agrees to create a database on pig carcasses

Most of those attending the meeting thought that the SIPCAP database could offer added value to the Catalan pig industry and that this could help Catalonia to lead a project that would offer clear benefits for Catalan producers and slaughterhouses.

On October 4th, the Management Commission of the Identification System, Weight and Pig Carcass Classification body (SIPCAP) met

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FOOD SAFETY Strategies to improve the food safety of sliced cured ham A study conducted by researchers from the IRTA Food Safety Programme evaluated the effects of applying biopreservation and high hydrostatic pressure to sliced and vacuum-packed cured ham to combat Listeria monocytogenes. Research showed that the combination of these two antimicrobial obstacles could make a substantial contribution to the control of microorganisms in this product prepared for human consumption (Ready to Eat or RTE).

Listeria monocytogenes is the name of the bacterium responsible for listeriosis, an infection caused by the ingestion of contaminated food that mainly originates in RTE products. At present, countries like USA, Japan, Canada and Australia apply a “zero tolerance” policy with respect to the presence of L. monocytogenes in RTE products, including those that do not favour the growth of this pathogen (such as cured ham). In order to meet these health and safety requirements, the food industry usually applies post-processing treatments to reduce or eliminate bacteria, or the use of antimicrobial agents to inhibit their growth during the self-life period.

listericidal process. This technology allows the cold pasteurization of the product, helps to preserve its organoleptic properties, enhances food safety and extends its shelf life, especially in the case of products with heat-sensitive nutritional, sensory or functional characteristics.

Antimicrobial strategies IRTA researchers assessed the combined effects of two treatments applied to cured ham from both white and Iberian pigs. The first product was submitted to a drying-maturing period than the second; as a result, the white pig meat was not as dry as the Iberian one (0.92 and 0.88 water activity, aw, respectively). After inoculation with L. Monocytogenes, three lots of each type of sliced vacuumpacked ham were set aside. Trials were conducted without adding the bioconservant (control batch) and both with the direct application of Nisin to the surface of the meat slices and its indirect application through films separating the individual slices (active packaging). Half of each sample was also processed using high pressure equipment, subjecting it to 600 PMA for 5 minutes.

The control batches, which were stored in refrigeration (8° C) for 2 months, confirmed that cured ham does not allow the growth of L.

Within this context, the most popular trends in treatments to ensure

monocytogenes, even when the product is not very dry. However, the

the safe consumption of RTE products are high hydrostatic pressure

direct application of Nisin to the surface of the meat slices resulted

(HHP) and natural biopreservative bacteriocines; these are protein

in significant bactericidal action, with an immediate reduction in the

substances produced by certain microbial strains that are able to

pathogen count, which was most important for the drier product.

inhibit the growth of specific pathogen bacteria.

Finally, the use of bacteriocins through active packaging also had a listericidal effect on ham during storage, although this was smaller than for direct application of the bioconservant and there were no

Biopreservation or high hydrostatic pressure?

significant differences with respect to the maturity of the product in One of the most studied bacteriocins is Nisin, which is produced by the

question.

micro-organism Lactococcus lactis subsp.lactis and used in dairy and cheese production. Thanks to its broad spectrum of anti-bacterial activity,

When HHPs were considered, the study showed an immediate

Nisin can be used by inoculating the source bacterial culture, by direct

reduction in levels of L. monocytogenes, although the magnitude

attachment to the flesh or by incorporation to the surface of the product,

of this effect was greatest in the less cured product. The presence

whether directly, or through what is called “active packaging”. Although

of Nisin in the pressurized samples also increased the inactivation

the effectiveness of using Nisin to combat L. monocytogenes has been

of the pathogen, especially in the case of direct applications of the

proved in fresh meat and in cooked or fermented products such as

bioconservant to the surface of ham. Furthermore, the values obtained

sausages and ham, there have been few studies involving cured ham.

after combining the two treatments were greater than the theoretical sum of inactivation that would have been obtained by applying them

For years, the treatment of RTE meat products by high pressure has

separately. However, the additional effect was not observed when

been internationally recognised as a very valid post-packaging and

Nisin was applied through active packaging, because the level of

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FOOD INDUSTRIES inactivation observed was similar to that obtained after HHP treatment

From a minimum of 20 pairs of time and temperature data registered

in the control batches.

for the coldest point of the food, the programme makes it possible to reconstruct the complete cooking curve and to determine the value for

The research results show that Nisin, applied in one or another form,

standard pasteurization and also that of inactivation for each selected

is a valid strategy for improving the microbial safety of sliced and

microorganism. As the CENTA expert, Permanyer, pointed out, “in the

vacuum packed cured ham. This confirmed what is laid out in US

case of a pre-cooked meat dish (of the lid type), which is pasteurized in

regulations concerning the control of L. monocytogenes in ready-

the final package and thermally processed, for example, the programme

to-eat products. In contrast, HHPs were more effective as a post-

provides a pasteurization value of 65.7 and predicted inactivation levels

processing anti-listeria treatment (both immediately and in the long

for Salmonella, E. coli and S. aureus of 18.4, 18.1 and 34.5 logarithms,

term) than applying the antimicrobial agent Nisin. Combining the two

respectively.�

procedures should, however, provide an even more significant control for L. monocytogenes in RTE cured ham.

Software for the validation and documentary justification of thermal processes in the HACCP

SAFE consortium meeting to discuss the effects of exposure to low doses of pesticides World experts in food safety met in Brussels (Belgium) on 15th and 16th March 2011 to discuss the modifications to the hormonal system (endocrine destruction) resulting from exposure to low doses of pesticides.

The meeting was organized within the framework of the SAFE international consortium and discussed, amongst other things, the risks associated with chronic exposure to low doses of pesticides and the hormesis model and its implications in the field of toxicology and medicine.

In toxicology, hormesis is a dose response phenomenon. A pollutant or toxin that produces the hormesis effect is characterized by producing the opposite effect at low doses as it does in higher doses. Hormesis is a characteristic of many drugs: the dose recommended by doctors has a curative effect, but an overdose is harmful to human health.

One of the aims of this IT tool is to provide a fast and simple evaluation of

Conversely, opiates have an analgesic effect in large doses, but have

the thermal inactivation of microorganisms and documentation covering

negative effects in very small doses.

the criteria established by the company in the HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) plan in order to guarantee food security.

The SAFE consortium is an international association comprised of 14

CENTA`s Technical Project Manager, Marc Permanyer, stated that although

members from universities and scientific institutes working in the field

the programme is currently available only in beta format, this service is

of food research and with the aim of stimulating a food safety debate

already available from CENTA, both for large industries and also for SMEs,

of public interest through dialogue with governments and the food

including the catering industry.

industry.

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FUNCIONALITY AND NUTRITION A European support project for SMEs that seek to innovate in nutrition and health In recent years, the Mediterranean diet has become increasingly popular among consumers conscious of the need to establish healthy eating habits that can help to prevent some of the diseases most

The companies participating in the project will define a system through which they will receive support in technological applications and innovation management. A second phase of the project foresees the launching of an information platform which will help to increase the knowledge of the companies working in this field. Finally, projects will be developed to demonstrate food products that respond to the most innovative ideas presented by SMEs.

associated with the 21st century. This type of food has presented a tremendous opportunity for the agri-food industry of southern Europe.

The creation of more new products that have emerged from R&D projects has allowed many companies to develop new product lines and to access markets all around the world.

Initiative to promote Catalan participation in European projects related to the agro-food sector

However, within the current context, SMEs continue to face major difficulties due to constant changes in the increasingly competitive global market that make it more and more difficult to combine innovation and research with day to day production.

With this in mind, in January, seven international partners launched the FOODSME-HOP project. This stands for “Tutoring SMEs from the agri-food industry of the SUDOE zone to help them embark upon

The Grup Connect-EU has developed a strategic agenda for the food

innovative activity in the development of healthy products”. The project

industry in Catalonia. This involves disseminating information to

is funded by the Interreg IVB South-West Europe (SUDOE) programme

stakeholders regarding opportunities for collaboration in European

of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), receiving more

projects and proposing and endorsing candidates to become expert

than € 900,000 over a two-year period. This cooperation between

evaluators of these projects.

technological research centres from Spain, Portugal and France seeks to promote innovation in the agri-food industry and to support SMEs

These are some of the guidelines established by the Agrofood Con-

to help develop the SUDOE region. The IRTA is the partner of the

nect-EU Group, a working group formed by the public sector, private

consortium that represents Catalonia.

enterprise and a number of innovation and research centres, including the IRTA, which are attached to the Department of Agriculture, and the

One of the main motivations for the project lies in information

CENTA, which forms part of the Tecnio network.

obtained from various studies indicating that SMEs offer great potential for innovation. However, the lack of human and financial

The ultimate goal of this initiative is to promote Catalan participation

resources and knowledge about innovation processes require a

in EU funded programmes related to agricultural and food production,

global strategy to carry out such projects. To this end, FOODSME-

animal welfare, food safety and the relationship between nutrition and

HOP aims to provide SMEs with specialised resources to carry out

health.

innovative projects.

With this in mind, the Agrofood Connect-EU Group will collect input Within the framework of improving nutrition and health, the project

from as many Catalan companies, clusters, universities, research

will mainly seek to offer viable solutions to help reduce or replace salt,

centres and technology centres (from the Cerca and Tecnio networks)

sugars, fats and additives in food.

as possible and present them to the European Commission in the

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FOOD INDUSTRIES form of a strategic agenda. In this way, we aim to influence Euro-

organization that has a business fabric capable of generating € 7,000

pean policy and to encourage the participation of Catalan agents in

million and over 30,000 jobs.

Framework Programme tenders by offering promotional workshops, Those attending the meeting were: Mr. Fernando Solano, R&D

expert advice and opportunities for detection/creation.

Manager of the Jabugo Ham Consortium of Agrolimen; Mr. Miquel Aran, Business Development Manager of the Agrofood Area

Planty, a European policy for cooperation with India On May 24th, the IRTA Monells Auditorium hosted the annual conference of the European network PLANTY, which was created by the New Indigo consortium with the aim of promoting cooperation between Europe and India, which would not only be economic and political, but also scientific.

for Applus, Mr. Jordi Bernardo, Industrial Technical Manager of Casademont; Mr. Agustí Montserrat, R&D Manager of Danone; Ms. Mónica Gassiot, Head of R&D for Espuña, Ms. Elena Freixas, Quality Director at Frit Ravich, Mr. Jaume Solà, R&D Research Manager at Gallina Blanca Star, Mr. Llorenç Freixanet, Head of the Intelligence Department at Metalquimia; Ms. Carole Tonello, Applications Manager for NC Hyperbaric, Mr. Miquel Bonet, Regulatory Affairs Manager of Nestle, Mr. Jaume Planella, R&D Manager at Noel, Ms. Montse Rivero, General Scientific Manager at Laboratories Ordesa, Mr. Carles Nin,

Among the topics discussed, researchers highlighted studies about sausages made with antioxidants from plant extracts and the importance of different procedures with which to obtain ingredients of

R&D Manager for Panrico Donuts, Mr. Carles Lapenya, Sales Manager of Food Solutions on the Iberian Peninsula Ibérica for SealedairCryovac.

great interest from vegetable sub-programmes, and particularly from the pomegranate.

The event was attended by about fifty people, including researchers and representatives of food industry companies.

Through the New Indigo consortium, the EU aims to strengthen the international dimension of the European Research Area (ERA), offering the possibility to improve its level of international competitiveness.

More information: http://www.newindigo.eu/

A new boost to IRTA-CENTA innovation The “Technical Advisory Board” of the Centre for New Food Technologies and Processes (CENTA-IRTA) was officially set up on October 21st 2011.

The first meeting of the Technical Advisory Board was attended by representatives from all of the members of the CENTA-IRTA Board, an

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FUNCIONALITY AND NUTRITION OTHER ACTIVITIES • Workshop on the use of biofilm in the agro-food industry, at Monells, on January 20th • Course on cheese making, at Torre Marimon, from January 25th to May 2nd • Workshop on the design and validation of thermal processes in the food industry, at Monells (Girona), on January 27th • Course on food safety management, at Olot (Girona), on February 15th and 22nd • First Intelligent Circle to bring together the worlds of science and industry and promote the technology transfers, at Barcelona, on 21st February • Course on food safety management, at Olot (Girona), on March 1st and 8th • Technical Seminar on the development of new products in the foodservice industry, at Mercabarna, on March 23rd • Course on microbiology in the meat industry, at Tàrrega, on March 24th and 31st • Strategic Seminar on packaging and shelf-life, at Mercabarna, on April 5th, 6th, 12th and 13th • Workshop to reduce the ecological footprint in the meat and dairy industry, at Monells (Girona), on May 10th • Course on “the microbiology of meat and meat products”, at Vic (Barcelona), on May 15th, 18th, 23rd, 25th and 30th • Course on “How to capitalize on HACCP”, at Vic, on May 17th, 24th and 31st and June 7th • Technical Seminar to promote the R&D projects of Spanish meat companies and animal producers, at Monells, on May 25th • Technical seminar on safe shelf-lives and predictive models for the meat industry, at Monells, on June 9th and 10th • Technical seminar on the prawn, at Palamós, on June 18th • Demonstration session on the application of industrial technologies in the agro-food industry, at Monells, on September 20th • Seminar on the sensorial analysis of food, at Barcelona, on September 21st and 22nd • Course on microbiological criteria in the meat industry, on October 18th, 20th, 25th and 27th • New models for technology transfer in the agro-food industry, at Barcelona, on November 3rd • Course on additives in the food industry, at Olot, on November 15th, 16th, 21st, 23rd, 28th and 30th • Technical Seminar on the problem of drying meat products, at Monells (Girona), on November 28th • Technical Seminar on “How to make a plan for internationalization”, at the Science and Technology Park of the University of Girona, on November 29th • Technical Seminar on non-destructive technologies for the optimization of processes in the food industry, at Monells, on December 15th

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FOOD INDUSTRIES

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78 / Memoria 2012 /

ENVIRONMENT AND GLOBAL CHANGE Organic Waste Integral Management / 80 Aquatic Ecosystems / 82 Environmental Horticulture / 84 Ecological Production and Bioenergy / 86 Efficient Use of Water / 88 79 / Memoria 2012 /

ORGANIC WASTE INTEGRAL MANAGEMENT The GIRO will conduct an European benchmark study of cattle manure treatments The GIRO and the Danish Centre CBMI (Innovation Centre for Bioenergy and Environmental Technologies) have won a European Commission open tender to make a European inventory of livestock waste treatment activities and define aspects that would need to be tightened in EU 27.

operation (on individual farms or by collectives). The techniques and kinds of treatment used and the type of products obtained and their markets will all be studied. Technologies currently being applied, those now under development and those considered the best available will all be studied. An economic analysis will be carried out for the most common techniques.

One of the activities that will be carried out will be to classify seven existing facilities which will serve as case studies and help to provide a model for Europe (2 from Denmark, 1 from the Netherlands, 1 from

This work has been formalized through a contract between the European Commission General Directorate on the Natural Environment,

Slovenia and 3 from Catalonia). This will imply using the Catalan industry as a benchmark for Europe in this area.

the CBMI consortium - formed by the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences (Aarhus University), Agro Business Park A/S, Risø DTU (Technical University of Denmark), the Institute for Agri-Food Technology and Innovation and the Engineering College of Aarhus - and the Catalan

Support study of the Renewable Energy Plan for 2011-2020

Foundation GIRO Technological Centre, whose patrons are the IRTA, The GIRO has been involved in a study to support the Renewable

the UPC, and the Government of Catalonia.

Energy Plan 2011-2020 (PER), which examines the generation and Briefly stated, the project should indicate the amount of manure

current situation of biogas in Spain and is entitled: “The situation and

and slurry treated in each member state, relating this to the scale of

potential generation of biogas; a technical study for 2011-2020”

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ENVIRONMENT AND GLOBAL CHANGE

Lodored, a sustainable product to reduce the environmental impact of the food industry On 10th May, the Auditorium of the IRTA Monells Centre (Girona) hosted the presentation of the results of “Lodored”, a sustainable product aimed at companies in the food business that seek to reduce excess sludge in their wastewater treatment plants.

particles to be retained by filters. In this way, Lodored helps to modify the metabolism energy flow of active aerobic microorganism populations during the purification of water. The aim is to reduce the specific sludge production rate without affecting the performance of the purification treatment.

At present, there are different types of products in the market to help with this process, but there is a lack of supporting documentation to demonstrate their effectiveness. In the case of Lodored, thanks to

Within the framework of the European project “Wastered”, the IRTA and the Spanish Federation of Food and Beverage Industries (FIAB) organized the workshop entitled: “Reducing sludge in the European meat and dairy industries”, in order to illustrate the results of

Wastered project funding, the researchers involved in the European consortium have been able to check its operating capacity at a wide range of industrial wastewater treatment plants under real field conditions.

“Lodored” experiments relating to industrial meat and dairy plants The most evident reductions in the production of sludge have been

and also municipal treatment plants.

observed at the plants producing the largest volumes of wastewater.

“Lodored” is a product made from enzymes and vitamins that favours

Even so, the specific effectiveness of the product depends on the local

flocculation, a physico-chemical process that combines particles held

conditions at the processing plant (the hardness of the water, specific

in suspension in wastewater and turning them into large enough

operational features, etc.), and on the costs of sludge management.

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AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS The main activities of the Life project for restoring L’Alfacada and La Tancada will begin after the summer The main work planned within the Life project for the restoration and management of water bodies at L’Alfacada and La Tancada will begin after the summer, once the nesting season of the birds that inhabit these natural areas in the Ebro Delta has ended.

Most of the Ebro Delta wetlands that are connected to the river and marine environments register vertical ground growth which is sufficient to combat (in the present century) the risk of occasional flooding

The leaders of these environmental activities started up the preparation work necessary to make the hydrological connections required to improve these habitats. They have also carried out fish samples, bird censuses and water quality monitoring, and created a specially adapted closed habitat for twenty pond turtles to be reintroduced to L’Alfacada.

In the case of L’Alfacada, the project aims to condition the hydrological network, promote nesting areas for sea-gulls and terns in the salt water wetlands, convert rice fields in coastal lagoons and riverbank woodlands and build a bird observatory that will be open to the public.

caused by subsidence or increases in sea-level. This is the one of the conclusions from the research project entitled “The development of techniques to compensate subsidence and rises in sea-level along the coasts and in the wetlands of the Ebro Delta” which was conducted by the IRTA between 2009 and 2011.

The environments that have shown the capacity to combat the danger of flooding are the Garxal wetlands, at the mouth of the Ebro River, and Fangar bay. As they are connected to the river or the sea, they are ensured a continuous input of organic and inorganic sediment from the river or the sea which helps them to overcome the threat of sinking.

As for La Tancada, the facilities of a former fish farm were dismantled last autumn in an attempt to regenerate areas of wetlands and lagoons.

Islands have also been created to restore nesting spaces for white headed gulls and terns in the area of the old San Antonio salt mines, where an observatory will be built and some land accesses eliminated.

Another important intervention is the burying of the electrical power line and removal of other lines that are no longer used.

Among the species that are receiving special conservation monitoring are: the ‘fartet’ (Aphanius iberus – the Iberian toothcarp), a tiny endangered fish that has been found at La Tancada; the ‘Polla blava’ (Aphanius Iberus - Purple Gallinule), with regular sampling to monitor its population growth; and the pond turtle, which will be reintroduced starting with twenty examples that have already been adapted at specially prepared installations at L’Alfacada.

The wetlands of the Ebro Delta connected to the river or sea receive sediments in order to protect them against a potential risk of flooding

Despite this capacity, technicians suggest that management, including contributions from the sediments accumulated in the water reservoirs located further upstream, would favour the survival of the wetlands areas.

The study also found that coastal wetlands that were isolated exhibit had significantly lower rates of soil accumulation and were more vulnerable to the risk of flooding.

This project also led to the creation of experimental wetlands on former farmland that receives water from the river or drainage water from paddy-fields, in order to study and compare the role of water purification and the growth of land. In this case, there was also significant vertical land growth which was due in a large part to the contribution of organic matter generated by vegetation. These results show the importance of restoring wetlands in the most vulnerable areas (that lie below sealevel), as is being done in projects like the Comprehensive Plan for the Protection of the Ebro Delta (PIPDE), which imply the construction of green filters to improve the quality of the water that flows to the bays of the Ebro Delta.

In line with these findings, the next goal will be to develop a scale model of the whole Delta. This allows researchers to predict the future

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ENVIRONMENT AND GLOBAL CHANGE development of the wetlands in relation to increases in sea-level and,

this problem. In the framework of the international congress on “The

also include the effects of phenomena such as increasing soil salinity

Impact of Global Change on Deltas, Estuaries and Coastal Lagoons”,

on paddy-fields.

about 150 scientists and managers discussed the impact of climate change on deltas and estuaries around the world and the measures to be taken in order to protect them. The event was jointly organized by the Deltanet network and IRTA and was held at Sant Carles de la

URV and IRTA grants

Ràpita (Catalonia, Spain) from 6th to 10th of June.

The Rovira i Virgili University (URV) and the IRTA, in collaboration with the Banco Santander, promoted a PhD scholarship focusing on the study of sediments in the Ebro Delta.

The Deltanet Congress examined studies and reports relating to the management of sediments and flooding in deltas and estuaries and also analyzed representative cases from different continents. The

This work will develop technologies that will increase scientific knowledge of this area and be applied to improve sanitary controls over bivalves, which are the basis of an important food industry.

The Climate Change Centre (C3) of the URV and the IRTA have also set up a pre-doctoral scholarship to support a thesis leading to a URV PhD degree within the POP on Climate Change and Master in Geography entitled “Reconstruction of the evolution of climatic and environmental changes in the Ebro Delta”.

congress also analyzed examples of good practices for achieving a better adaptation to climate change and other anthropogenic impacts. The experts coincided on stressing the fragility of these systems in the face of the combined threat of increased sea levels and the progressive compacting of land (subsidence). In fact, this is particularly threatening for deltas due to the large populations living in these areas, which total about 500 million people worldwide.

As the speakers explained, this threat is further compounded by the retention of sediments caused by the construction of reservoirs, which limits the deposition of river sediments in coastal areas. For this

These grants are the result of the collaboration between the URV and

reason, some experts called for the combined management of water

the IRTA for the creation of a postgraduate study programme in the

and sediments in order to combat the growing risk of flooding.

field of Aquaculture and Aquatic Ecosystems, and between the URV and the Banco Santander for the development of a specific research

This issue was discussed by John W. Day of Louisiana State University

plan.

(USA), Boris Hochfeld of Hamburg Port Authority, Germany, Yoshiki Saito of the Geological Survey of Japan and Dr. Carlos Ibáñez of the

This collaboration will provide 4 scholarships over 4 years (one grant

IRTA’s Aquatic Ecosystems Programme (Catalonia, Spain), who was

per year), forming part of the Campus of International Excellence of

also responsible for organizing the Deltanet Congress. Dr Ibáñez

the southern Catalonia: a project designed to attract new talent.

noted that “restoring sediment flows interrupted by dams is the most important management measure required to ensure the future survival of deltas.”

Mechanisms for managing deltas and estuaries in order to minimize the risk of flooding

Deltanet, the European network of estuaries and deltas (http://www. deltanet-project.eu), is financed by the INTERREG IVC Programme.

Within this project, there are plans to continue promoting exchanges of management experiences through other symposia. In future

Deltaic systems have specific mechanisms to respond to relative

meetings, this initiative, which is supported by the European Union,

increases in sea level. The good management of these systems,

will look at such questions as the integrated management of estuaries

and especially of their sediment contributions and of what constitute

and deltas, their ecological status, and policies to ensure their

adequate environmental flows, can help to maintain deltas faced with

sustainability.

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ENVIRONMENTAL HORTICULTURE The MONTES project, Mediterranean forests and global change: threats and opportunities

The CREAF and the IRTA collaborate with Nicaragua in a study of the dry tropics

This research is part of the MONTES-Consolider 2009-2011 project which

The inter-university cooperation project between Spain and

is coordinated by the CREAF and enjoys the collaboration of around a hun-

Nicaragua, which is funded by the Spanish Agency for International

dred researchers from eleven different institutions, including the IRTA.

Cooperation (AECID), has set up an experimental field station, created an office for transferring research results and established

The main goal of the project is to study the relationship between the

a training programme for the Nicaraguan staff who will work at the

factors associated with global change and the services provided by

“El Limón” facilities.

the Mediterranean woodland ecosystem. Besides basic research, the project also aims to give a direction to forestry management and to

The “El Limón” Field Station was set up at Estelí, Nicaragua, as

improve the ability of forests to adapt to change.

a new research centre that aims to be both a national and international reference for ecology, conservation and the restoration of

The research is organized in three basic areas: firstly, the effects of

dry tropical forest systems. This concludes a major inter-university

global change on woodlands; secondly, the ability of woodlands to

cooperation project between Spain and Nicaragua that began back

modify the effects of global change; and thirdly, a study of the ways in

in 2008. It was financed by AECID and has been led by the Centre

which forestry management can help to mitigate these other effects.

for Research into Ecology and Forestry Applications, the IRTA and the Regional Multidisciplinary Faculty of the National Autonomous

For more information, see: http://www.creaf.uab.es/montes/

University of Nicaragua (FAREM / UNAN Managua) at Estelí.

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ENVIRONMENT AND GLOBAL CHANGE

The main objectives of the project have been: the establishment of an experimental field station for the study of the dry tropics; the creation of an office to transfer research results (OTRI); and the organization of a training programme for Nicaraguan academic staff and researchers in such different subject areas as edaphology and ecology, which are key subjects to study in order to help preserve tropical ecosystems against the major threats posed by global change. The study of the vulnerability of the tropical dry forest, which is one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world, will play a key role in its conservation. Spanish researchers have also obtained new insights into biseasonal climates that will help them to combat the changes expected in the Mediterranean area over the coming years. According to current forecasts, we will need to adapt

Course on protected horticulture in Jamaica Last October, IRTA researchers gave a course on protected horticulture which was organized by the IRTA, the Centre for Advanced Technologies in Agriculture (CEATA) and the Spanish-Jamaican Foundation. It was attended by more than 30 students from different Caribbean countries.

The course, which was aimed at horticultural technicians and producers and coordinated by Dr. Pere Mu単oz of the IRTA Biosystems Engineering and Agronomy sub-programme, dealt with subjects ranging from technical aspects of greenhouse horticulture (irrigation, fertilization, aeration, environmental impact, etc.) to economics and postharvest.

our ecosystems to a new dry-tropical climate.

Project webpage: http://www.farem.unan.edu.ni/tropiseco/

This first contact with the CEATA will form the basis for future collaborations between the IRTA and the CARICOM countries.

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ECOLOGICAL PRODUCTION AND BIOENERGY REDBIO, a cooperation project for organic agriculture finishes with a positive overall evaluation

REDBIO is a project that falls within the European Territorial Cooperation Programme Spain-France-Andorra (POCTEFA) 2007-2013. The project has established a network of testing and knowledge transfer centres that is particularly oriented towards the fruit, vegetable and wine sectors and aimed at people involved in the organic agricultural

The Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Food and Natural

sector.

Environment hosted the official closure of the REDBIO project, in During the meeting, the reasons for and initial objectives of the project

Barcelona, on 9th May.

were presented, but with the main stress being placed on the most The event was attended by about 40 people who were interested

important results of the work carried out and its impact during the

in knowing the overall results of the REDBIO project that began on

three-year project.

1 January 2009 and was carried out in a coordinated manner by st

10 institutional partners in Catalonia (Spain) and Northern Catalonia (France): the Chambre d’Agriculture du Roussillon, CIVAM Bio, the Research Centre in Economics and Agribusiness Development

All of the information and activity disseminated the technical documentation produced within the framework of the REDBIO project can be found at: www.redbio.eu.

(CREDA), the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Food and the Natural Environment, the Catalan Institute of Vine and Wine (INCAVI), the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), SICA Centrex,

Agronomic support for organic fruit growing

the University of Barcelona (UB) and the Farmers Union (UP).

The use of resistant varieties, the rational management of plantations and the introduction of ecological infrastructure to improve the management of fruit farms were just some of the proposals presented at the 5th Technical Workshop on Organic Fruit.

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ENVIRONMENT AND GLOBAL CHANGE The IRTA and the Chamber of Agriculture of the Eastern Pyrenees have worked together to promote organic fruit on both sides of the Pyrenees. Much of this joint work was explained on June 16th at the 5th Technical Workshop on Organic Fruit, within the framework of the REDBIO project.

The meeting covered topics related to designing and establishing the general guidelines that must be followed in order to achieve a well-managed farm. The speakers proposed the use of resistant varieties, the rational management of plantations and the introduction of ecological infrastructure to improve the management of fruit farms under organic agriculture. Finally, two case studies were presented: organic apple tree production in Catalonia and the organic production of apricot and peach trees in Northern Catalonia (France).

OTHER ACTIVITIES • Workshop on the use of automation and sensors applied to irrigation, at Lleida, on March 31st • Workshop on the RIDECO-CONSOLIDER Project, at Madrid, on April 6th • Interregional Technical Seminar on Oilseed Rape, at Caldes de Malavella (Girona), on May 11th • Technical Workshop on applying CO2 to tomatoes, at Sartaguda (Navarra), on May 12th • Workshop on the “relationship between the soil, plant and atmosphere in the vineyard”, at the Parque Tecnológico del Vino, on May 26th • 5th Organic Fruit Workshop, at Lleida, on June 16th • Workshop: How much carbon do we have underfoot? at Barcelona, on June 28th • Workshop on gardening and landscaping, at Cabrils, on July 5th • Workshop on irrigation and fertirrigation for vineyards, almonds and olives, at Gandesa (Tarragona), on July 7th • Seminar on calculating the carbon footprint of horticultural products, at IRTA Cabrils (Barcelona), on July 12th • Technical Seminar on composting and the formulation of substrates for organic production, at Cabrils, on November 15th • Technical Training Seminar for new irrigators of rapeseed crops, at Tremp, on November 21st • Workshop on the use of substrates in the ecological production of pot plants, at Cabrils (Barcelona), on November 22nd • Workshop on “the prospects for and current situation of soils and groundwater contaminants”, at Mollet del Vallés (Barcelona), on December 15th

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EFFICIENT USE OF WATER REGMED, a reference centre in Europe The Catalan Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Food and the Natural Environment, Josep Maria Pelegrí, together with the DirectorGeneral for Rural Development, Jordi Sala, the CEO of the Institute for Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), Josep M. Monfort, chaired the inaugural meeting of the Centre for Irrigation in the Mediterranean

• Create a Mediterranean-wide vision for the management of water resources which would help to improve production efficienc.

• Identify and prioritize current shortcomings or weaknesses in the management of irrigation water and promote activities that help to solve them.

(REGMED).

• Foster ongoing debate about the use of water in agriculture.

With the creation of REGMED, whose centre will be in Tàrrega, the

• Become the main point of reference for problems relating to the use of

Catalan administration aims to:

irrigation water and provide multidisciplinary support to all stakeholders

RIDECO-CONSOLIDER project results presented in Madrid A workshop on the RIDECO-CONSOLIDER project was held on April 6th, 2011 at the Ministry of the Natural Environment and the Rural and Marine Environments (MARM) headquarters. This event focused on improving the productive efficiency of irrigation and included the participation of the IRTA. This national research project examines the potential of Deficit Irrigation (DI) as a means of saving irrigation water and improving the • Coordinate activities and develop the full potential for the management and use of water in Mediterranean agriculture.

productivity of the Spanish horticultural industry.

The workshop aimed to:

• Give greater support and become a leader in the sector, while also

• Compile data on the best DI management practices for the following

transferring knowledge to the most directly involved sectors and

crops: olives, almonds, walnuts, peaches, apricots, plums, pears,

also to society as a whole.

apples, citrus fruits and wine and table grapes.

• Help to improve irrigation management and also a better dissemi-

• Determine the seasonal sensitivities of these crops to different

nation of the social and economic importance of irrigated agricultu-

degrees of water stress and also their respective sensitivities to

re for our society.

water stress in combination with other stress factors.

• Focus its activity on the whole Mediterranean agricultural area

• Develop mathematical models to describe plant sensitivity to water

(between latitudes 25° N and 50° N – a zone that has a climate

stress with a view to thereby facilitating the application of DI in

that is potentially favourable to food production).

commercial orchards.

• Promote the appropriate management of water resources in order to improve production across the whole Mediterranean area.

• Evaluate the possibilities of achieving real reductions in ET in irrigated fields through the application of DI strategies.

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ENVIRONMENT AND GLOBAL CHANGE • Establish new methodologies for determining actual ET and for separately evaluating the respective values of E and T.

• Implement and test these irrigation scheduling programmes in different commercial orchards using adapted controllers.

• Alternative methodologies using sap flow, eddy covariance, soil

• Evaluate the risk of salinization associated with the application

water budgets and lysimeters and adapting some of the models

of DI and study this phenomenon by developing models capable

developed to determine total water requirements under full

of explaining the dynamics of soil salinity associated with DI and

irrigation.

measuring levels of salinity associated with different experiments and environmental conditions.

• Remote sensing techniques using multi-spectral and thermal cameras. Evaluate the plant and soil measurements that provide the required information to carry out irrigation strategies.

• Develop criteria for determining the sustainability and the long term effects of DI on fruit trees and vines in the different areas.

• Evaluate different methods for measuring plant and soil parameters

• Characterize the spatial heterogeneity of such factors as soil and

in order to obtain better quality information with which to optimise

climate and variables relating to the irrigation system itself that

the application of irrigation.

influence crop water use in areas in which DI is applied.

• Develop irrigation scheduling programmes based on accurate calculations of irrigation requirements.

• Develop a Collective Irrigation Scheduler that would facilitate the automatic application of DI on different plots within a given irrigation area and which would form part of a remotely controlled distribution network.

• Adapt irrigation scheduling programmes to the different types of irrigation controllers used in the field.

More information: http://www.rideco-consolider.es

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90 / Memoria 2012 /

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Passeig de GrĂ cia, 44, 3a pl.

08007 Barcelona irta@irta.es www.irta.es T. +34 934 674 040 F. +34 934 674 042

ANNUAL REPORT 2011