Annual Report 2012

Passeig de GrĂ cia, 44, 3r 08007 Barcelona irta@irta.cat www.irta.eu

T. +34 934 674 040 F. + 34 934 674 042

ANNUAL REPORT 2012

Edita: IRTA Redacció: Comunicació Maquetació: Cristina de las Heras Impressió: CTC © Passeig de Gràcia, 44, 3a pl.

08007 Barcelona T. 93 467 40 40 F. 93 467 40 42 irta@irta.cat www.irta.cat

INDEX IRTA Director General’s Report / 6 Chief Scientist’s Report / 8 Scientific Structure / 10 Mission, vision, and values / 11 Geographic Distribution / 12 Organization Chart / 13 Owned Centers and Field Stations / 14 Associated Centers / 17 IRTA in Figures/ 20 IRTA / 24

FOOD INDUSTRIES Food Industries / 28

ANIMAL PRODUCTION Animal Production/ 36

PLANT PRODUCTION Plant Production / 52

ENVIRONMENT AND GLOBAL CHANGE Environment and Gloal Change / 66

IRTA

Director General’s Report / 6 Chief Scientist’s Report / 8 Scientific Structure / 10 Mission, vision, and values / 11 Geographic Distribution / 12 Organization Chart / 13 Owned Centers and Field Stations / 14 Associated Centers / 17 IRTA in Figures / 20 IRTA / 24

IRTA

Director General’s Report

Josep Maria Monfort General Director

Another year has passed.

We present our annual report in a particularly complicated and difficult economic con­ text that is far from getting better, from which research is unfortunately not exclu­ ded. The grim reality has led to reductions of public and private resources. The con­ sequences, which we are be­ ginning to notice and affect all public research, translate in lower funds, less com­ petitive projects, increased competiveness, and the disa­ ppearance or fusion of rese­ arch centers and institutions all over the country. Further­ more, and most worrying regarding the human capital, the increased brain drain.

Despite all, IRTA has made a great effort to buffer the situation trying to reduce the negative effects on the Insti­ tution. A series of economic and strategic measures were taken during precedent years to reduce costs and attract new sources of finance, which has allowed reducing in great measure the impact on our resources without affecting the infrastructu­ re. The Board of Directors approved our Strategic Plan, prepared from the strategic planning exercise initiated Annual Report 2012 / 6

in previous years, which collects the strategic lines, the strategic objectives, and the specific objectives for each of IRTA´s programs to provide the highest value in the future. On the other hand, the Internal Control Framework was also opti­ mized, which gathers in one application the strategic in­ dicators that portrait the way the Institute is responding to each of the strategic objecti­ ves. This is an essential tool for decision-making and for establishing the appropriate measures towards the eco­ nomic crisis and the austerity of public administrations.

The impulse of public-pri­ vate collaboration with com­ panies from the agri-food sector has been one of our strategic goals, based on the creation of new technolo­ gy-based firms. The results of these efforts are now apparent with the launching of Specipig (for the producti­ on of SPF pigs for biomedi­ cal research), and very soon, Nanopack (innovation in the packaging sector).

These measures have also led to the creation of the new International department, focused on getting resources outside our borders. In 2012,

jects, as for example the development of an innovative process for manufacturing deli meat without using intestines. We have worked with Iberdrola in the recycling of CO2 from power plants for intensive agriculture, or preparing studies on how climatic change affects the Mediterranean region and on water availability, as well as introducing a program to increase rabbit production in Catalonian farms (Star Pro­ ject 16.869) together with one of the lea­ ding firms in the sector – Cunicarn -, or the characterization of around 1,500 varieties and breeding lines of peach in the Europe­ an FruitBreedomics project.

We cannot forget mentioning the projects initiated this year on which we are cur­ rently working: Excelmeat to improve the quality of pork meat, Food-sme-Hop to in­ novate in the production of healthy foods­ tuffs, or Boarmarket a Spanish consortium that aims studying the market for the future pork production.

In short, despite the context, our Institu­ tion is working more than ever in agri-food R+D+i to provide tools to one of the lea­ ding economical sectors in our country.

The tools aim helping this sector improve their competiveness, assume innovation challenges, and improve the processes ne­ cessary to deal with increasingly deman­ ding and competitive markets.

Josep M. Monfort General Director

Annual Report 2012 / 7

Director General’s Report

several projects were implemented in Co­ lombia, Qatar, Morocco, Lebanon, and Uruguay, and relationships with institutions equivalent to IRTA were strengthened wor­ ldwide, as for example the Joint Research Unit between IRTA and New Zealand, a strategic alliance with Plant and Food Re­ search with the creation of a joint research unit and the intention of jointly participating in international projects.

Looking ahead to the future, IRTA has led a consortium as a member of the coming KIC (FoodBest) in response to the manda­ te given to IRTA by the Parliament of Cata­ lonia during the agricultural policy debate in 2010 through the DAAM, to encourage the participation of Catalonia in the future food KIC. Currently, a consortium of Ca­ talonian, Basque, Valencian, and Murcian entities led by IRTA and the University of Valencia, together with around 40 firms, is a member with full rights of FoodBest and are currently in the design stage of the fu­ ture KIC, identifying priorities, and of the organization model.

Furthermore, this year we have ended the investment of 5,492,703 € to complete the construction of the Torre Marimon cen­ ter, soon to become the new research cen­ ter for all the fruit chain value, (Fruitcentre) in Lleida.

We have also grown. The CENTA Foun­ dation has been incorporated to IRTA´s structure, the core for R+D+i for the food industry sector in Monells, as well as the GIRO Joint Research Unit IRTA-UPC loca­ ted in Torre Marimon that will allows us to continue providing answers on topics re­ garding organic residue management.

Thus, we have been able to continue with our research and guiding the people associated to the sector by leading or co­ llaborating with national or international projects.

One of the scientific landmarks in which we have participated is the genome se­ quencing of the melon, a project led by the CSIC and IRTA, promoted by the Genoma España foundation and with the participati­ on of nine research centers.

We have also participated in other pro­

IRTA

Chief Scientist’s Report

Pere Arús

Scientific Director

The strategic planning process has been going on during 2012. It began in 2010 with the preparation of a Strategic Plan propo­ sal per Program based on internal discussions of the resear­ches of each of the Programs. The proposal was next considered and evalua­ ted by an external scientific committee that prepared a report for each Program.

In 2012, the management team prepared IRTA´s Stra­ tegic Plan based on the all the information, which, once approved by IRTA´s Board of Directors was released to the whole organization. Essen­ tially two aspects are consi­ dered in this Strategic Plan: 1. Description of IRTA´s strategic objectives and the identification of a series of indexes to evaluate their compliance. There are three main indexes to measure the three central activities in IRTA: investigation (r in­ dex), self-finance capacity (e index), and technology transfer (t index). The two first indexes are operational, the r index since 2009 and the e index since 2012. The t index, more complex to determine, has been deve­ loped and will be operational Annual Report 2012 / 8

from the second trimester of 2013. These indexes, with slight variations, allow assessing and comparing the individual activity of the researchers, as well as the collective activity (of the Programs and of IRTA as a whole). The organization ex­ pects diversity regarding the activity of the Programs and the researchers that should stand out in more than one of the three central points, combining a high scientific productivity whilst ensuring they are based on the needs of the agricultural sector, with positive consequences on the competitiveness and productivity of the firms that compose it. There, and t in­ dexes are aimed to guide the organization towards its stra­ tegic objectives and evalu­ ate the researchers and the Programs in a more objective and foreseeable manner.

2. A set of specific objec­ tives for each Program for the next four years (20132016 period). The objectives, proposed by the Board of Directors based on the sug­ gestions in the Strategic Plan of each Program, the reports of the external evaluators, the evolution of the indexes, and other matters related

vel, obliges to increasingly depend on Euro­ pean competitive funds or agreements with firms. The scientific background of IRTA´s researchers, our leadership abilities, the collaborations with other European teams, the experience acquired in actions with the industry, and our infrastructure has helped us to adapt and strengthen. We are currently able to offer, as well as in the future, better R+D services to our agricultural and food sector.

Pere Arús Scientific Director

Annual Report 2012 / 9

Chief Scientist’s Report

with the infrastructures and the cross-cut­ ting between IRTA´s various activities, should be oriented in the Action Plans, in which each Program leader will identify the actions that need to be taken over the next years foreseeing specific ­realistic, measurable results, to be obtained in spe­ cific terms to advance towards the assig­ ned objectives. The degree of compliance with the objectives will be one of the ele­ ments to be considered during the evalua­ tion of Program leaders.

The Strategic Plan cycle ends with the beginning of the Action Plans, which will be evaluated at the end of each year.

The Strategic Plan will be repeated every five years. The cycle will begin again in 2015 with Strategic Plan proposals per Program, their external evaluations, and later IRTA´s Strategic Plan and the Action Plans per Program, a process similar to the one in this first edition.

The evolution of IRTA´s scientific inde­ xes this last year has been similar to the indexes of previous years, i.e., marked by an increase of the r index (number of citations received by scientific articles by IRTA´s average researcher the previous year), which at the end of 2012 was 45.8 citations/researcher. This number has been increasing since 2009 (32.08 cita­ tions/researche), an annual growth rhythm of 3.43 citations/researcher. To estimate if the growth of IRTA´s citations determined by parameters such as the r index is due to a population growth of the citation at international level or due to a real impro­ vement of IRTA´s citations, we compared the mean citation of articles published in Agricultural and Biological Sciences (mis­ cellaneous) during the 2006-2010 period (obtained from the Severo Ochoa Pro­ gram) with the citation data of articles ge­ nerated over the same period in the whole of IRTA. The average results for the five considered years, indicates that IRTA was cited 39% above the mean of the interna­ tional articles in this area, which confirms the growing trend of the impact of our scientific publications. The current econo­ mic situation, with a marked decrease in public funding at state and autonomic le­

FUNCTIONALITY AND NUTRITION

FOOD INDUSTRIES

José Antonio García

Carcass quality...................................................................................... Maria Font

Mª Àngels Oliver

Quality of food of animal origin.....................................................Mª Àngels Oliver New preservation technologies.................................................. Margarita Garriga

FOOD SAFETY

Abiotic food safety.....................................................................Massimo Castelari

Margarita Garriga

Biotic food safety..........................................................................Teresa Aymerich

ENVIRONMENT & GLOBAL CHANGE

Jacint Arnau

ANIMAL PRODUCTION

Functionality and nutrition ..................................................... José Antonio García

PRODUCT QUALITY

FOOD TECHNOLOGY

AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS

Food engineering..................................................................................... Pere Gou Process in the food industry............................................................... Jacint Arnau New processing technologies in the food industry..................Josep Comaposada

Aquatic ecosystems.......................................................................... Carles Ibáñez

Carles Ibáñez INTEGRAL ORGANIC WASTE MANAGEMENT Francesc Xavier Prenafeta ENVIRONMENTAL HORTICULTURE Robert Savé EFFICIENT USE OF WATER

Integral organic waste management............................. .Francesc Xavier Prenafeta

Ecophysiology...............................................................................Feli de Herralde Biosystems engineering and agronomy............................................... Pere Muñoz

Efficient use of water...........................................................................Joan Girona

Joan Girona AQUACULTURE

Aquatic cultures................................................................................ Alicia Estévez

Dolors Furones

Marine environment monitoring....................................................... Jorge Diogene

ANIMAL BREEDING & GENETICS Raquel Quintanilla

Poultry breeding........................................................................ Amadeu Francesc Rabbit breeding...................................................................................Miriam Piles Pig breeding and genetics......................................................... Raquel Quintanilla

ANIMAL NUTRITION, HEALTH & WELFARE

Monogastrics nutrition........................................................................ Enric Esteve

Joaquim Brufau

Animal welfare................................................................................. Antoni Velarde

ANIMAL HEALTH

Animal health............................................................................... Joaquim Segalés

Joaquim Segalés RUMINANT PRODUCTION

Àlex Bach

FIELD CROPS

PLANT PRODUCTION

Conxita Royo FRUIT PRODUCTION Simó Alegre GENOMICS AND BIOTECHNOLOGY Jordi Garcia Mas

Rumiant production................................................................................ Àlex Bach

Field crops......................................................................................... Conxita Royo

Pome and stone fruit...........................................................................Joan Bonany Olive Production, oil processing and nut trees....................................Ignasi Batlle In vitro cultivation.............................................................................Ramon Dolcet Genomics.................................................................................... Jordi Garcia Mas Postharvest physiology and technology.............................Christian Larrigaudiere

POSTHARVEST

Processed fruits and vegetables................................................ Inmaculada Viñas

Josep Usall

Postharvest technology........................................................................Josep Usall

SUSTAINABLE PLANT PROTECTION Soledad Verdejo

FOOD INDUSTRY ECONOMICS

Scientific Structure

Subprogram

Program

Entomology.....................................................................................Jordi Riudavets Plant pathology....................................................................................Cinta Calvet

Agri-food markets FOOD INDUSTRY ECONOMICS Josep Mª Gil

NATURAL RESOURCES & FOOD INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS

Micro-Economic analysis of the food industry Food industry economy information systems

Natural resource economics Sustainable development

Josep Mª Gil

Annual Report 2012 / 10

MISSION

VISION

Participate in the modernization, competitiveness, and sustainable development of the agricultural, food, and aquatic sectors, provision of healthy and quality foods for the consumers, and in general improve the well-being of the ­population.

Become a scientific benchmark, and innovation and technological transference driving force. We want to be the strategic ally of the agri-food sector.

IRTA’S VALUES

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6 RESPECT

7 VOCATION OF SERVICE Annual Report 2012 / 11

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1 COMMITMENT

Mission, vision and values

IRTA was created in 1985 and is linked to the Department of Agriculture, Farming, Fish, and Environment of the Catalan Government. IRTA is a public organization that aims being the strategically, the scientific model, and the innovation and technological transfer driving force.

Geographic Distribution

A total of 10 self-owned Centers and Experimental Stations and six consortiums make up IRTA´s corporate system, distributed in 24 locations over the whole territory.

• • • • • •

16 CENTERS 24 SITES 7 in Barcelona 6 in Tarragona 7 in Lleida 4 in Girona

CORPORATE SERVICES Passeig de Gràcia, 44, 3r 08007 Barcelona T. +34 93 467 40 40 Fax. +34 93 467 40 42 General Director: Josep M. Monfort

Annual Report 2012 / 12

Organization Chart

ORGANIZATION CHART

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY

ADVISORY COUNCIL

COMMITEE

CEO

Josep M. Monfort

Legal Service Carles Viñas

Communication Albert Gurri

International Relations Eliecer López

CHIEF SCIENTIST

DEPUTY GENERAL DIRECTOR

Pere Arús

Program Coordination

Agustí Fonts

Corporate Development.

Technological Surveillance and Scientific Documentation Anna Pallí

Information, Technology and Communications Josep Solé

Subprogram Management

Administration, Finances, and Activities Management Jordi de la Cuesta

Human Resources and Organization Montserrat Satorra

Innovation and Transference Rosa Cubel

Annual Report 2012 / 13

Centers Management

IRTA

CABRILS Number of researchers......... 41 Support staff ......................... 35 Working programs: Ctra. de Cabrils, Km 2 08348 Cabrils Barcelona T. +34 93 750 75 11 Fax. +34 93 753 39 54

Sustainable Plant Protection Genomics and Biotechnology Environmental Horticulture

Director: Dra. Soledad Verdejo

MAS DE BOVER Number of researchers ........ 14 Support staff . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Working programs: Crtra. de Reus - El Morell, Km. 3,8.

43120 ConstantĂ­ Tarragona T. +34 977 32 84 24 F. +34 977 3 40 55

Fruit Production Animal Breeding and Genetics Animal Nutrition, Health and Welfare

Director: Dr. Joaquim Brufau

MONELLS. Food Technology Pig Monitoring and Assessment Number of researchers ........ 49 Support staff ......................... 50 Working programs: Finca Camps i Armet 17121 Monells Girona T. +34 972 63 00 52 F. +34 972 63 09 80

Functionality and Nutrition Product Quality Food Safety Food Technology Animal Breeding and Genetics Nutrition, Health and Animal Welfare

Director: Dr. Joan Tibau Annual Report 2012 / 14

Number of researchers ........ 22 Support staff ......................... 51 Working programs: Crtra. C-59, Km. 12,1 08140 Caldes de Montbui Barcelona T. +34 93 865 09 54 Director: Joaquim Adillon

Fruit Production Genomics and Biotechnology Environmental Horticulture Animal Breeding and Genetics Ruminants Production Organic Waste Integral Management

LLEIDA Number of researchers ........ 38 Support staff . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Working programs: Avda. Alcalde Rovira i Roure, 191 25198 Lleida T. +34 973 03 28 50 F. +34 973 23 83 01

Field Crops Postharvest Sustainable Plant Protection Animal Breeding and Genetics Efficient Use of Water

Director: Dra. Conxita Royo

SANT CARLES DE LA RÀPITA Number of researchers . . . . 38 Support staff ......................... 33 Working programs: Crtra. Poble Nou, Km 5,5 43540 Sant Carles de la Ràpita. Tarragona T. +34 977 74 54 27 F. +34 977 74 41 38

Aquaculture Aquatic Ecosystems

Director: Dra. Dolors Furones Annual Report 2012 / 15

Owned Centers and Field Stations

TORRE MARIMON

Owned Centers and Field Stations

LLEIDA FIELD STATION Number of researchers . . . . 9 Support staff . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Sub-units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Borges Blanques,Gimenells . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mollerussa Avda. Alcalde Rovira i Roure, 191 25198 Lleida T. +34 973 03 28 50 F. +34 973 23 83 01

Working programs: Fruit Production Sustainable Plant Protection Efficient Use of Water

Director: Dr. Simó Alegre

ALCARRÀS FIELD STATION Number of researchers . . . . 0 Support staff . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Working programs: Partida Montagut, s/n 25180 Alcarràs Lleida T. +34 973 03 28 50 F. +34 973 23 83 01

Nutrition, Health and Animal Welfare Animal Breeding and Genetics

Director: Carles Rosell

EBRE FIELD STATION Number of researchers . . . . 6 Support staff . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Subseus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amposta i Gandesa Working programs: Crtra. Balada, Km 1 43870 Amposta Tarragona T. +34 977 26 70 26 F. +34 977 74 69 15

Field Crops Fruit Production Sustainable Plant Protection

Director: Tomàs Fosch Annual Report 2012 / 16

Number of researchers . . . . 86 Support staff . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Working programs:

Campus UAB.Edifici CRAG. Bellaterra.

08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès.

Barcelona T. +34 93 563 66 00 F. +34 93 563 66 01

Genomics and Biotechnology

Director: Dr. José Luis Riechmann

CREAF. Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications Number of researchers . . . . 78 Support staff . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Working programs:

Campus UAB. Edifici C 08193. Bellaterra Barcelona T. +34 93 581 13 12 F. +34 93 581 41 51

Environmental Horticulture

Director: Dr. Javier Retana

CREDA. Centre for Research in Agri-food Economics and Development Parc Mediterrani de la Tecnologia. Edifici ESAB C/ Esteve Terrades, 8. 08860 Castelldefels. Barcelona T. +34 93 552 11 24 F. +34 93 552 11 21

Number of researchers . . . . 8 Support staff . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Working programs: Agri-Food Economy

Director: José Mª Gil Annual Report 2012 / 17

Associated Centers

CRAG. Centre of Agrigenomic Research

Associated Centers

CReSA. Animal Health Research Centre Number of researchers . . . . 6 Support staff . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Working programs: Campus UAB. Edifici CReSA. 08193 Bellaterra Barcelona T. +34 93 591 32 84 F. +34 93 581 44 90

Animal Health

Director: Dr. Joaquim Segalés

MAS BADIA. Mas Badia Foundation Field Station Number of researchers......... 17 Support staff . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Working programs: Crtra. de la Tallada, s/n 17134 La Tallada Girona T. +34 972 78 05 17 F. +34 972 78 05 17

Field Crops Fruit Production Postharvest Sustainable Plant Protection Efficient Use of Water

Director: Josep M. Pagès

SEMEGA Working programs: Ruminants Production Finca Camps i Armet 17121 Monells Girona Director: Dr. Xavier Carré

Annual Report 2012 / 18

Finca Camps i Armet 17121 Monells Girona T. +34 972 63 00 52 F. +34 972 63 09 80

Number of researchers . . . . 2 Support staff . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Working programs: Functionality and Nutrition Product Quality Food Safety Food Technology

Director: Joan Manel Albacete

OUR PUBLIC-PRIVATE R+D+i SYSTEM

Annual Report 2012 / 19

Associated Centers

CENTA. Centre for New Food Technologies and Processes

IRTA in Figures

HUMAN RESOURCES Our staff consists of

535 employees distributed among the 10

centers, from which 191 are researchers personnel.

and

344 are support

Our personnel are:

53% FEMALE 47% MALE

704

people make up the in-house personnel plus those linked to IRTA.

Our cooperative system is made up of

FINANCES In 2012 IRTA has managed resources.

1,010 people.

44,420,000 euros

34,8% of the resources were provided by the and ­G overment of Catalonia and 65,2% were IRTA’s own resources.

In 2012, IRTA invested

5.492.703,12 euros.

Annual Report 2012 / 20

in total

1,081 current activities, from which 314 began in 2012.

Of the 2012 public competitive calls, IRTA

100% success in INIA’s, 9,29% in MICINN and 13,67% in the UE ones. had

466 current contracts for a total of 8,10 M €, with 233 initiated contracts and 339 clients, from which 155 are new and 184 repeating.

183 research projects, 25 European projects.

In 2012, we participated in

of which were

EVOLUTION OF CLIENTS OVER RECENT YEARS Client Evolution Total clients New clients Returning clients

2012 339 155 184

2011 309 111 198

2010 273 91 182

2009 255 84 171

PROJECST OBTAINED IN 2012 Obtained 2012 Budget M€ Financing success

MICINN 2 0,2 9,29%

Annual Report 2012 / 21

INIA 8 0,19 100%

UE 10 0,92 13,67%

IRTA in Figures

PROJECTS AND CONTRACTS

IRTA in Figures

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL PRODUCTION During 2012 IRTA has released

749 publications

as part of the

1,329

publications of the Cooperative System. The publications are distributed among the following categories:

SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS IRTA 257 34 5

Scientific articles Books and chapters in books Other scientific articles

Cooperative System 556 59 16

CONTRIBUTIONS TO CONGRESSES AND SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS IRTA 341

Communications and Posters in congresses

Cooperative System 477

TECHNOLOGICAL TRANSFER PUBLICATIONS IRTA 31 81

PhD theses Technical and Dissemination Articles

Annual Report 2012 / 22

Cooperative System 57 164

7 new plant varieties were presented rieties of peach and 2 of cereals).

In 2012,

for registry

(5 va­

2 international PCT patent term extensions were requested.

• 373 Current contracts on Technology Transfer • 256 Technical and Demonstration Conferences • 25,284 Participants in technical and demonstration conferences

COMMUNICATION 242 press releases in the following areas:

distributed

84 Plant Production

64 Animal Production 21 Environment and Global Change

73 Food Industry 164,760 Visits to our website in 2012 and 100,797 unique visitors.

550,682 viewed pages (3.34 pages/visit)

62.31% of de visitors used the Spanish version, 27.9% 9.79% the English one.

the

Catalan

version, and

Annual Report 2012 / 23

IRTA in Figures

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

IRTA

New Zealand and Catalonia join efforts in agri-food research IRTA and Plant & Food Research (PRF) from New Zealand have been collabo­ ration with each other since 2002 on the definition and development of a program on genetic improvement of stone fruit. This joint colla­ boration has been extending to other agri-food areas.

To strengthen this colla­ boration and enter the re­ search funding mechanisms in Europe and Oceania, the chairs of IRTA and PFR,

(IPRIU) a Joint Research Union (JRU) between both institutions.

JRUs are collaboration figures between research entities foreseen by the Framework Programme, allowing researchers from both institutions to participa­ te, joining forces, in certain competitive calls in both he­ mispheres.

The activity is currently running and the signature of the agreement was a mere formality. Specifically, this JRU is active within the area of fruit genetic improvement.

Furthermore, a European project that also involves a Dutch firm is being pre­ pared. The objective of this three-party project is to

The Agrotecnio Center has been Established The board of the Founda­ tion of the UdL-IRTA Center has decided to change its articles of association to kick-start the launching of the Agrotecnio Center. The president is the rector of the Universitat de Lleida (UdL), Mr. Roberto Fernández, and the vice-president, the di­ rector general of IRTA, Mr. Josep Maria Monfort. The director will be the researcher from the ICREA associated to the UdL, Mr. Paul Christou, a worldwide referent in plant biotechnology.

Agrotecnio will direct its ef­ forts in developing three big projects with great scientific and social benefit: industrial and nutritional corn-based products, nitrogen optimiza­ tion for cereal production in Mediterranean agriculture, and new and healthy gra­ pe-derived products.

Specipig, SPF pork start-up for biomedical experimentation The signature between Mr. Josep M. Monfort (left) and Mr. Peter Landon Lane (right.)

Josep M. Monfort and Peter Landon Lane, respectively, signed an agreement to establish the IRTA PFR Re­ search and Innovation Unit

determine the optimum ri­ pening stage of the fruit on the trees by using genetic markers, so the fruit is har­ vested at its best conditions.

Annual Report 2012 / 24

Specipig S.L. is the name of the technological-based firm with whom IRTA colla­ borates, located in El Prat de Llobregat (Barcelona). Spe­ cipig is a pioneering firm in the selection, production, and commercialization of Specific Pathogen Free (SPF ) pigs and mini-pigs as models for

Presence in Alimentaria 2012 IRTA was present in the Alimentaria 2012 fair that took place between March 26 - 29 in the Intercarn ward and in Alimentaria Hub, with two visitor care stands.

Besides the stands, three demonstrations were perfor­ med: Presentation/tasting: “Dis­ cover the land´s traditional butifarras: suggestions for eating egg butifarra and sweet butifarra”, in collabo­ ration with the Catalan Fe­ deration of Butchers.

Presentations: “Cut fruit: a good business opportunity”.

Demonstration, in collabo­ ration with the prestigious restaurateur from Lerida Mr. Xixo Malena: “Usefulness of sensorial analysis of oils and tomatoes in the design of pairings”.

The Annual Technological Transfer Plan celebrates 10 years The Annual Technological Transfer Plan (PATT), cele­ brated its 10th anniversary.

A decade in which over 5,000 actions have been carried out, 60% of which have been transfer activities of technical and manage­ ment knowledge transfer with more than 7,000 con­ ferences given on different topics. Furthermore, the PATT, where IRTA plays an essential role, has received more than 180,000 people over the last 10 years, beco­ ming a model in knowledge transference.

Annual Report 2012 / 25

Agri-Food Strategic Research, Innovation, and Transference Plan for Catalonia 2012-2016 The Government of Ca­ talonia presented the Agri-­ food Research, Innovation, and Transference Strategic Plan project for Catalonia 2012-2016, in a ceremony that took place at the Palau de la Generalitat.

The Minister of Agricul­ ture led the presentation of the project to the repre­ sentatives of the agri-food sector, research and inno­ vation centers, and other entities and institutions in­

IRTA

biomedical experimentation.

IRTA is the primary tec­ hnological and reference partnership of Specipig for all its research and deve­ lopment activities, and will provide, directly or indirectly, assistance and counseling services in the design and maintenance of the genetic core, in defining the design of sanitary standards, and Specipig´s control program.

Specipig is a new reality of IRTA´s strategies within its promotion of high-level innovation starts up’s in the agri-food field.

IRTA

volved with the project.

This plan from the Go­ vernment of Catalonia provides answers to the resolutions of the Cata­ lonian Parliament during the debate on agricultural policies of April 14 2010, led by the Department of Agriculture, with the co­ llaboration of universities and research centers, as well as other departments of the Government of Ca­ talonia with competence in research and innovation matters (the Economy and Knowledge Department, the Enterprise and Employment Department, and the Health Department).

Launching of the EUROPEAN Strategic Research Agenda The Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) of the Joint Programming Initiative on Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change (FACCE-JPI) establishes the strategic priorities needed to achieve, at European le­ vel, an innovating and inter­ disciplinary research in the fields of agriculture, food safety, and climatic change.

Furthermore, it provides a framework for the align­ ment of existing programs and joint research. The aim of the project is to provide safe food and fight climate change.

Five key research areas are defined, representing short-, medium-, and long-

term priorities that will have to be discussed in the FACCE-JPI: • Sustainable food sa­ fety under the effect of clima­ tic change.

• Sustainable agri­ cultural development and ­intensification.

• Interrelations and unbalances between food supplies, biodiversity, and ecosystem services.

• Adapting to climatic change, and • Climate change mitiga­ tion.

For each of these key are­ as the SRA establishes the implementation of a series of joint research actions at European level to promo­ te infrastructure sharing, the creation of platforms, ­strengthen training, attract personnel, and promote knowledge transference.

The CENTA Foundation joins IRTA In its last meeting the board of the Center for New Food Technologies and Processes Foundation (CENTA) has agreed to join IRTA to com­ bine efforts and optimize the use of resources allocated to agri-food research.

The CENTA is a Private Foundation established in 2006 and since its creation has been closely linked to IRTA. CENTA´s integration will allow incorporating its capacities to the scientific structure of IRTA to increase the development potential Annual Report 2012 / 26

The FACCE-JPI joins 21 EU members/Associated countries that aim improving European Research capacities to deal against climatic change, produce enough food, materials, and biofuel for a population in permanent growth.

The Strategic Research agenda is available at: www.faccejpi.com

IRTA is a clear opportunity for the future that allows ha­ ving a center to consolidate and grow towards becoming a model forthe national and international agri-food sector.

Annual Report 2012 / 27

IRTA

­favorable to IRTA´S mission.

CENTA has a 2.500 m2 in­ dustrial site, equipped with the latest technologies to offer solutions to the agri-­ food industry.

CENTA´s integration to

FOOD INDUSTRIES

Food Industries / 28

Food Industries

Deli meat without intestines IRTA, together with the SIA and Motocono companies, have developed a revolutio­ nary and innovating process for producing cured meat and hanging without the use

for an alginate covering fit for human consumption.

3. Save time in the pe­ eling process of deli meats before the slicing phase.

4. Obtain products with a uniform caliber without the need of artificial coatings (in­ testines).

5. Produce cured pro­ ducts with new formats and flavors.

6. Improve food safety.

Salt-free longaniza and chorizo

of intestines.

With this new technology, the traditional intestines used are replaced by an al­ ginate covering to which a string is simultaneously pla­ ced. This way the cured pro­ ducts can be hanged for the drying and final maturation phases.

This innovating process allows: 1. A significant economi­ cal saving regarding intes­ tine (coating) use.

2. Replace the intestine

The firm Casademont, with the scientific aid of IRTA, has manufactured the first salt-free deli meats, with a reduced content in fats.

More specifically, a longaniza and a chorizo. These new products, already avai­ lable in the market, have been conceived for consu­ mers with predisposition for cardiovascular diseases or overweight.

These innovating products seek to respond to the in­ creased consumer demands for healthier diets, providing added value to products that are part of the culture of our country.

R+D with sweet black pudding The sweet black pudding is a typical, autochthonous, different product from the Gerona (Catalonia, Spain) region. Is a fresh or cured preparation typical of artisa­ nal butcher´s shops, made Annual Report 2012 / 30

with pork shoulder, sugar, lemon, and salt.

The R+D+i challenge, sug­ gested by the Artisan Butc­ hers Guild of the Gerona regions, was to prepare a cooked sweet black pudding presented in a comfortable and attractive way for the consumers.

Mr. Ricard Josep, Presi­ dent of the Artisan Butchers Guild of the Gerona region, and the Director General of IRTA, Mr. Josep M. Monfort, signed a collaboration and research agreement invol­ ving these two institutions.

L’IRTA al Tecnofòrum 2012 Del 15 al 17 d’abril, l’IRTA ha participat a la vuitena edició de Tecnofòrum 2012 la Fira de tecnologia, tendències i innovació per a la cuina professional que s’ha celebrat al Palau de Fires de Girona.

Four national centers will work jointly to improve the quality of Serrano and Iberi­ an hams. The investigations, coordinated by IRTA, will help optimize the elaborati­ on process of this flagship product for our national gas­ tronomy.

For the next two years, a group of Spanish experts will test the use of different non-destructive technologies to evaluate the composition of salt and fats in the hams.

High consumption of salt and/or fats is a risk factor that predisposes individuals to cardiovascular diseases.

However, the fat gives the ham its unique aroma and flavor, while the salt is used as a natural preservative and their reduction could ne­ gatively affect the characte­ ristics of the product and even diminish the food safety level of the product.

Thanks to the project “Optimization and control of the technological, nutritional, and organoleptic quality of Serrano and Iberian hams”, researchers from IRTA, UPV, UNEX, and INIA, hope

to develop a new working methodology to help obtain more homogeneous hams in comparison with the current ones, in terms of their salt content.

Boarmarket: market study of future boar production Boarmarket is the name of the new research project that aims to analyze the sensory quality of boars raised in Spain and their po­ tential in the market.

The Boarmarket research project, funded by the Nati­ onal Institute for Agricultural and Food Scientific Rese­ arch and Technology (INIA), aims approaching various strategies such as the use of

additives, species, or plant extracts to improve the sen­ sory perception of the meat by consumers that refuse eating products with an­ drosterone and skatole.

Annual Report 2012 / 31

In view of the envisaged prohibition of castration by the European Union from 2018, researchers also aim developing novel boar meat classification methods, taking into consideration androsterone levels in their carcasses.

EXCELMEAT, a project to improve the quality of pork meat The EXCELMEAT consor­ tium will bring together sci­ entists from eight research centers worldwide over the next three years. The aim of this European project is to try to improve the quality of pork meat through genetics and the use of new techno­ logies.

Muscle growth, regulation of fat deposition, com­ position of fatty acids, an­ te-mortem animal stress, and new tech­ nolo­ gies for rapid as­ sessment of quality pa­ rameters of the meat will be studied through the EXCELMEAT European project.

EXCELMEAT in an initia­ tive of People Marie Curie funded by the EU, with the participation of eight interna­ tional partners.

Food Industries

Preparation of Serrano and Iberian hams with new nutritional profiles

Food Industries

New online portal on novel food technologies

Consumers trust the sensorial quality of farm-raised fish A study within the Plancal project, led by IRTA and fun­ ded by JACUMAR, in which 1.200 consumers where included, revealed that Spa­ nish people prefer farm-rai­ sed fish to wild-caught fish when their production origin is unknown.

In geographical terms, Andalucian, Balearic, and Murcians are the ones that most appreciate farm-raised products. The most accep­ ted species is the bass, followed by the gilthead bream, the turbot, and the Red Sea bream.

However, when the con­ sumers where previously informed on the origin of the production, the study highlights that Spanish pe­ ople have clear preference for wild-caught fish. In this case, the acceptance of the

different evaluated species also changes, as it was the Red Sea bream the one with the higher scores.

Program INTER2000: promotion of quality support in agri-food laboratories IRTA has signed with the Department of Agriculture, Farming, Fish, and En­ vironment of the Catalan Government (DAAM), the organization and manage­ ment of the INTER2000 Pro­ gram, technically led by the agri-food laboratory.

The INTER2000 program is a support tool for pro­ moting quality in agri-food sector laboratories. Born in 1997, it gathers more than 500 laboratories, and is en­ tirely managed through the platform: www.inter2000.cat Annual Report 2012 / 32

The HighTech Europe network of excellence has created the Interactive Tec­ hnology Portal (ITP), a new online portal on novel tech­ nologies and innovations for food processing.

Thanks to the ITP, small and medium sized enterpri­ ses and research centers will benefit from practical information regarding the implementation of new technologies such as high pressure, microwaves, and radiofrequency, among others, as well as from European experts and ma­ nufactures acquainted with these technologies.

Settlement between the Alícia Foundation and IRTA on gastronomic and culinary research The Alícia Foundation and IRTA have signed a colla­ boration settlement to co­ operate and work together on culinary and gastronomic research (optimization of culinary processes, food sa­ fety, development or impro­ vement of new equipment, etc.). Furthermore, they will join efforts to organize technical working days on different culinary and/or gastronomic topics, colla­

International Course on Meat Products Technologies The eleventh edition of the International Course in Meat Technology was held in IRTA Monells. Around 30 partici­ pants from Spain, Portugal, and Latin America attended the event. The course was addressed to professionals of the sector that want to supplement their knowledge on topics regarding meat technology, from animal pro­ duction to packaging, as well as the commercialization of meat products.

More than 25 different meat products were manu­ factured during the course, and new emerging techno­ logies in the meat industry were reviewed, such as fast product drying through

the Quick-Dry-Slice (QDS®) process, dynamic dryers, magnetic resonance, and computed tomography for carcass classification, as well as NIR probes and devi­ ces based on electromagne­ tic fields for the classification of raw material.

FOODSME-HOP, innovation for the production of healthy foodstuffs Within the framework of European policies to impro­ ve the health and nutrition of the population, a consor­ tium of research centers and small and medium sized en­ terprises from Spain, Portu­ gal, and France work on the European FOODSME-HOP project. Their goal is to se­ arch for feasible solutions to reduce or substitute salt, sugar, fats, and additives in foodstuffs.

The main lines of action of the FOODSME-HOP project will focus on the support to business innovation from a

Annual Report 2012 / 33

technical and management perspective.

Regarding salt, IRTA aims producing cured hams with reduced salt content using non-destructive technologi­ es.

To provide support to small and medium sized enterpri­ ses in terms of technological surveillance on the topics regarding the goals of the project, the consortium has developed the EYETEC sys­ tem, a web-based platform that allows easy access to current international healthy foodstuffs, patents, and no­ vel profiles of technological transfer in the food sector.

For additional information: www.foodsme-hop.eu

IRTA technological partner of the Barcelona Food Cluster Association The Barcelona Food Clus­ ter Association is a strategic collaboration platform with the participation of around thirty companies and entiti­ es linked to the Catalonian food sector. The aim of this cluster association is to ini­ tiate and manage actions to strengthen their competive­ ness.

IRTA is a member since 2009 and the collaboration between both entities has focused on actions with the companies that make up the cluster to get to know the available food processing technologies in IRTA-CEN­

Food Industries

borate in scientific publica­ tions, and make the society participant of the gastrono­ mic science.

Food Industries

TA Monells (Gerona), on a training working day, and counseling on fruit and vegetable topics with the post-harvesting Technical Service of IRTA Lleida.

FAWIRA: Strengthening the agri-food Cooperation with Argelia This project aims provi­ ding cooperation competen­ cies to the National Institute of Agronomic Research of Algeria (NIARA) for rese­ arch activities related with food, agriculture, and water, besides encouraging trans­ national exchanges betwe­ en the interested parties.

FAWIRA, with the partici­ pation of IRTA-CENTA, will help transform the NIARA in a center of excellence by facilitating its participation in European and regional research projects that will help respond to the socioeco­ nomic needs of this North Afri­ can country.

FAWIRA relies on a 500.000 € budget, co-fi­ nanced by the seventh fra­ mework program (7FP) of the Europe­ an Commission within the ERA-WIDE calls.

IRTA and ASOPROVAC look for synergies to benefit the bovine production sector IRTA researchers held a meeting with representatives of the Catalonia Beef Produ­ cers Association (ASOPROVAC), where both parties discussed on the possibility of implementing new co­ llaborations to improve the competiveness in the beef industry.

The alternatives to castra­ tion aiming to produce entire (uncastrated) males for ob­ taining meat with reduced fat content, the improvement of sensorial and nourishing quality of meats, and sys­ tems for classifying bovine carcasses were the most recurrent topics during the meeting, as well as the pos­ sibilities of collaboration re­ lated with the study on meat qua­

Annual Report 2012 / 34

lity preferences of consu­ mers from foreign markets.

Spanish consumers do not distinguish between Spanish and English lamb According to the results of a study carried out by the Organization for the English beef and sheep industry (EBLEX) and coordinated by IRTA, Spanish consumers have the same level of sen­ sorial acceptance for British lamb meat as for the Spanish meat.

This study was carried out in the University of Zarago­ za, the University Centre of Santa Ana de Almendralejo (Badajoz), and IRTA Monells (Gerona). Four hundred and seventy six (476) consumers were randomly selected, with gender and age quotas si­ milar to the Spanish model.

Factors such as acceptance of tenderness, succulen­ ce, smell, and overall acceptance of the samples were analyzed.

Fifty-six (56) tasting sessions were done with diffe­ rent English and Spa­ nish meats from 17 En­ glish producers and 12 Spanish producers, from slaughterhouses of

from Extremadura obtained higher scores in compari­ son with Catalonia and Ara­ gon. In these last regions, scoring for the tenderness of British lambs was higher.

Regarding which sample was preferred as the first option, in Extremadura 41% of the consumers preferred British lamb, while in Aragon and Catalonia the preferen­ ces were around 50% for both meats, which confirms that the difference in accep­ tance between both types of lamb according to their ori­ gin was not relevant.

British production systems are very different from the Spanish ones, because the animals are fed on pasture

Annual Report 2012 / 35

during most part of their lives and are slaughtered at weights that are slightly higher that that of Spa­ nish animals. Currently the lambs produced in England are generally 5 months of age, because modern meat genetics programs are used, with great advances regarding growth rates. With this system, the meat has a different fatty acid compo­ sition, has a milder taste, and is more tender and juicy in comparison with lambs with slow-growth and raised in low quality pastures, as it used to be previously in England and is currently occurring in other parts or Europe.

Food Industries

Extremadura, Aragon, and Catalonia.

Data analysis was perfor­ med by the SAS (SAS Ins­ titute Inc, Cary NC, USA).

Results indicated that 33% of the consumers eat lamb one or more times per week, 61% fortnightly or more, 13% eat it at least once a month. Regarding succu­ lence, smell, and overall acceptance, no significant differences were determined between English and Spa­ nish lamb meat. Similarly, differences in weight and the production systems between British and Spanish animals did not affect the acceptan­ ce of the meats.

In general, consumers

ANIMAL PRODUCTION

Animal Production/ 36

Animal Production

Studying the intake and satiety in fish to improve growth A new study, financed by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO), aims studying the physiolo­ gical mechanisms regula­ ting the intake and satiety in fish by including plant oils in their feed.

For this, a Spanish con­ sortium led by IRTA will carry out an interdisciplinary research in the next three years to evaluate the effect of plant oils on the regulati­ on of fish intake, combining studies on nutrition and physiology with molecular analyses (gene expression).

The project aims analyzing the metabolism and physi­ ology of larval and juvenile of the rainbow trout and the Senegalese sole. The final objective is to study how these two growth stages, with very different charac­ teristics in terms of nutrition and energy, affect the hun­ ger and food intake in these two species of fish.

The results will be of great importance for future European aquaculture development and for sec­ tors manufac­ turing fish feed.

Furthermore, other applications of this research might

be the additional unders­ tanding of food disorders in humans, as for example obesity.

Feeding paralarval octopus To exploit octopuses at industrial level it is first ne­ cessary to obtain juveniles in captivity, but obtaining of juveniles from paralarvals born from octopuses adap­ ted to captivity have provi­ ded unsuccessful results.

The Octophys project aims reducing the high mortality during the paralarval stage in common octopuses (Octopus vulgaris).

A nutritional disorder could be the origin of the problem. In this project, the primary role of IRTA is to standardize the proto­ cols for octopus paralarval farming and establish the feeding patterns for further trials.

This project has the support of six additional

Annual Report 2012 / 38

Spanish institutions: the Oceanographic Center of The Canary Islands, the Spanish Institute of Oceano­ graphy (IEO), the Oceano­ graphic Centre of Vigo, the Spanish Institute of Ocea­ nography (IEO), the Institute of Aquaculture Torre de la Sal (IATS), the University of Granada (UGR), the Uni­ versity of La Laguna (ULL), and the Andalucian Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IFAPA).

Research for the commercial cultivation of the spider crab The biological characteris­ tics and the first experien­ ces carried out in captivity indicate this crustacean is a potentially viable species for its commercial farming.

The advantage of the spider crab is its high pro­ ductiveness, as it can pro­ duce between 20.000 and 200.000 eggs per lay, lying 3-4 times per year. Furt­ hermore, it has a short embryonic develop­ ment, an abbreviated larval development (comprising three stages), and a relatively rapid growth of the ju­ veniles.

Specifically, the key point is to increase the survi­ val of the last larval stage (megalopae), as it is a critical stage in which the settlement

and the metamorphosis occur. Food in this stage is a key factor to achieve a higher survival.

The project aims deter­ mining the effect of the temperature and the pho­ toperiod on larval develop­ ment (duration, survival, and biochemical composi­ tion in each stage), as well as to establish the effect of the substrate and substan­ ces that favor the metamor­ phosis.

Another challenge is to understand thoroughly the morphology and anatomy (through histological and cytological studies) of the digestive system of the lar­ vae, to determine the chan­ ges produced during the complicated development process. Finally, it is impor­ tant to study the degree of intake of artificial diets that will allow designing future studies on the nutritional needs of the larvae.

Demonstration of IRTAmar® for international experts The Sant Carles de la Rà­ pita center received the visit of over 30 senior researchers from different countries, for the demonstration of IRTA­ mar®, a water recirculation system for aquatic farming.

Using the mobile technology of smartphones and tablets, the visitors had the oppor­ tunity to remotely control farming parameters, besides having the possibility to visu­ alize the fish that were inside through an aquatic video ca­ mera.

IRTAmar® is an automatic water recirculation and tre­ atment system for aquatic research, aquatic production, and aquarium lovers, de­ signed by IRTA researches in collaboration with INGE­ SOM. This equipment allows Annual Report 2012 / 39

Aero-Feeder: Low-cost technology for food distribution and oxygenation of aquatic farms A collaboration project between the Technological Center for Agricultural and Industrial Machinery (Ma­ qcentre), the Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers and Exporters of Catalonia (FEMAC), and IRTA, has allowed the development of a low cost machine that will help improve the efficiency of aquatic farming in Mexico.

“Aero Feeder”, the name of the prototype, is a succes­ sful example of Catalonian R+D+i that will help increase the competiveness in deve­ loping countries.

In crustaceous farming premises, the lack of oxy­ gen is one of the critical factors in terms of mortality.

The main cause of the low oxygen concentrations is the high needs due to the large number of specimens, the high levels of food, the excess of organisms with photosynthetic capacity (or

Aquaculture

follow-ups, parameter con­ trol and registry in farming tanks, such as water oxygen levels, temperature, salinity, pH, feed, and photoperiod among others. Furthermo­ re, due to its versatility it can adapt to different types of aquatic farming, inclu­ ding fish, crustaceous, and mollusks.

Animal Production

Dr. Furones is the new president of the Spanish Aquaculture Society (SEA) The head of the Sant Carles de la Ràpita IRTA, Dr. Dolors Furones, has been appointed president of the Spanish Aquaculture Society (SEA). It is the first time a woman holds this position.

phytoplankton), or the low atmospheric pressure.

Aero Feeder is a prototype that includes devices to re­ move the water and to ho­ mogeneously deliver food.

Fish producers worldwide have a cheap way to impro­ ve the yield in their farms.

Environmental improvement of marine cultivations We have participated in the design of a suggested met­ hodological criterion to define the environmental vigilance protocols of fish farming flo­ ating cages. Thanks to the collaboration of 10 compa­ nies of the sector, distributed along the Spanish coasts, researchers have been able to unify different plans for en­ vironmental follow-up in this type of systems.

To provide support to the public administrations in charge of monitoring the compliance of these rules, a group of Spanish researchers has developed a set of tools for performing an effective control of marine farming in floating cages.

According to the results, the environment is not sig­ nificantly affected after the feeding process and in open waters, due to the rapid dis­ solution and dispersion of the nutrients. Despite all of this, in those cases in which the conditions are not favo­ rable for the dispersion of the residues, as in the case of ammonia and phosphates (marine currents with speeds below 5 cm/s) or in areas with a large number of far­ ming systems, it is important to control the effect of the nutrients on the production of microalgae, as well as the quality of the water.

On the other hand, an ade­ quate selection of the site, a careful planning, and a correct evaluation procedure Annual Report 2012 / 40

of the environmental impact by the farms, is amongst the environmental monitoring criteria established for the re­ search.

With this method, the com­ panies will know the impact their systems have on the environment and follow valid guidelines for designing their vigilance plans.

These results have been obtained within the fra­ mework of the research pro­ ject financed by JACUMAR within the Marine Farming National Plan with more than one million Euros and the participation of six Spanish institutes and centers.

The muscle transcriptome of the gilthead bream has been sequenced Scientists from the Univer­ sity of St. Andrews (Scotland) and IRTA have obtained the first data on muscle transcrip­ tome of the gilthead bream (Sparus aurata). These re­ sults are essential for the genetic improvement and commercial farming of the species with the highest pro­ duction in aquaculture in the Mediterranean.

The sequencing of muscle transcriptome of the gilthead bream, within the framework of the European Lifecy­ cle project of the Seventh Framework Programme, represents an important ad­ vancement regarding the ge­ netic information available to

sence of toxins in shellfish for human consumption.

Homoyessotoxin is currently legislated in the European Union and although there are still doubts regarding its toxicity to humans, it can in­ terfere in the bioassays for determining the presence of other toxins.

Health Collaboration with management the Canadian guideline for National Research aquaculture Center for a new reference pattern A “Health Management (homoyessotoxin) Guideline for Aquaculture” Although homoyessotoxin is not a diarrhea toxin, it usually causes false positi­ ves during the detection of diarrhea toxins through bio­ assays in shellfish samples, which consequently leads to the erroneous and unne­ cessary closing of shellfish sites, causing economic los­ ses to the sector.

The Canadian National Research Council (NRC), which generates reference patters used to ensure food safety, has recently suggested a new reference patter for ho­ moyessotoxin.

From the microalgae cul­ tures produced in IRTA, enough pure substance has been obtained, generating this reference material.

The availability of this pat­ tern will allow food safety control laboratories worl­ dwide provide answers to the legislative requirements regarding the possible pre­

has been prepared within the framework of the JACU­ MAR-GESAC-NORMATIVA project. Several autonomous communities have participa­ ted in the project, Andalucía, Galicia, Canary Islands, and Murcia, as well as the Re­ ference Laboratory for Fish and Shellfish diseases, the Autonomous University of Barcelona, and the Faculty of Veterinary in the Univer­ sity of Zaragoza.

Recombinant gonadotropins in the Senegalese sole Researchers from IRTA and CSIC have achieved to produce recombinant gona­ dotropins (rFSH and rLH) of the Senegalese sole, biolo­ gically active in vitro and in vivo. Gonadotropins are the main responsible hormones Annual Report 2012 / 41

of gamete formation and maturation, and are thus key elements for captive fish reproduction control.

The study has been finan­ ced by the Ramón Areces Foundation.

Laboratory reproduction of a Mediterranean limpet in risk of extinction The reproduction of spe­ cimens of clinging limpets (Patella ferruginea) has been achieved by artificial insemination. This Mediter­ ranean marine mollusk is in danger of extinction. A dozen of limpets born in the premises of the Sant Carles de la Ràpita center have developed to crawling juve­ niles overcoming the plank­ tonic larval stage, the most critical and delicate of their growth cycle.

New web for AqüiCAT www.aquicat.cat The Aquaculture Cluster of Catalonia (AqüiCAT) has presented the new version of its web site, with comple­ tely renewed designs and contents.

Aquaculture

date on this fish. Particularly, the research has allowed identifying transcription fac­ tors (genes that activate for protein synthesis), signaling molecules (that modulate gene expression), and struc­ tural proteins needed for the development (myogenesis) and growth of muscle tissu­ es in the animal.

Animal Production

Effect of extrusion on the digestion of poultry and pigs In intensive systems of poultry and pig production, the prohibition of antibiotic growth-promoters has led to a reduced control of in­ testinal microbiota in the los animals, becoming more susceptible to enteric infec­ tions.

As there is no ef­ fective strategy for the control of intestinal dysbi­ osis in poultry and pigs, the use of anti­ biotics as growth-pro­ moters has been substi­ tuted for the­ rapeutic use, as shown by the effective purchasing data from this sector.

Thus, it is important to study if modulation and control of intestinal micro­ biota through feed could contribute to this control and reduce the dependency on medicated feed. Although there is evidence that the composition of the diet (par­ ticularly the source of starch and non-amylaceous poly­ saccharides and their diges­ tibility) has an effect on the composition of microbiota, there is scarce information regarding the modulation through feed, particularly under conditions of microbi­

ological challenge.

This project, coordinated

by IRTA´s monogastric nu­ trition team and CReSA´s microbiology team, will as­ sess the effects of extruding different raw materials on the digestibility and fermen­ tation of carbohydrates and proteins in poultry and pigs, using in vivo e in vitro met­ hods.

The digestibility of starch, soluble and insoluble food

fibers, and proteins from raw material are being analyzed at the level of small and large intestine, as indicators of availability of the mentioned nutrients.

In parallel, the effect of ex­ trusion on microbiota com­ position will be assessed looking for an association of poultry and pig susceptibility to experimental infection with Escherichia coli K88 and Clostridium perfringens, respectively.

This control of the diges­ Annual Report 2012 / 42

tion of raw materials, the composition of the microbi­ ota, and the resistance of the animals towards experi­ mental infection through the extrusion process of the raw materials, could help esta­ blish nutritional strategies to fight enteric infections and reduce the dependency from sectors involved in the use of medicated feed.

Salmonella and E. Coli control in poultry and pig farming using natural substances This project aims studying the effect of the inclusion of ye­ asts, galactoman­ nans, and/or yeast cell walls in the feed of poultry and pigs on the prevalence of Salmonella in challenged animals under stress conditions or until slaughter age.

These are natural substan­ ces that can block bacteria or act as immunomodulators in the feed. The aim is to characterize their influence on different parameters of the innate and acquired im­ mune response in animals exposed to Salmonella or E. Coli and consequently determine if and how these products protect against the proliferation of Salmonella and E. Coli and improve the

Why does the emotional state of pigs affect the quality of their meat?

The project “Animal markers and emotion” (ANEMOMA), led by IRTA, aims studying how the emotional state of the pig affects its welfare in the farm and in the slaughterhouse. Consi­ dering physiological analy­ ses and animal behavior, researchers are hoping to obtain valuable information regarding the final product.

The wellbeing of the ani­ mal is a concept that inclu­ des physical and mental health of the animals. Alt­ hough there are indicators on the degree of comfort, hunger, health, or lesions, there are still measurements to be studied on the emoti­ onal state of the animals in the farms.

In previous investigations,

it was observed that the emotional state of the pigs could modify biochemical and cellular parameters, which could be used as stress markers. The cur­ rent project aims going a step forward by assessing the effect of sex, genotype, management conditions in cognitive biases, and identi­ fication of stress biomarkers before and after slaughter (pre- and peri-mortem sta­ ges, respectively) in blood, saliva, brain, intestine, and meat of the pigs.

Besides from IRTA, the Autonomus University of Barcelona, the SERIDA, and the University of Universi­ dad Oviedo also participate in the project, which is finan­ ced by the Ministry of Eco­ nomy and Competitiveness.

Solutions for stunning sheep and goats with lower current intensities Upon petition and awa­

Annual Report 2012 / 43

reness of our society, the European Union has legis­ lated on animal welfare of all livestock species. Conse­ quently, animal production and processing sectors have made an outstanding effort to adapt their facilities.

The European animal wel­ fare law relating to sheep, establishes that the stunning current for lambs and kids before slaughter shall be 1 ampere, applicable as of January 1st, 2013.

IRTA understands that the weight of the animals produ­ ced in Spain is much lower than that of animals produ­ ced in rest of EU countries.

Thus, this intensity could be the cause of the lesions ob­ served in the carcasses and skins of the animals.

IRTA, aware of this pro­ blem in Spain, has made available its animal welfare researchers to the sheep and goat sector. To date, two petitions have emerged: On one hand, the Inter­ professional Food and Agri­ culture Ovine and Caprine Organization (INTEROVIC) has commissioned a broad study to IRTA, to analyze the effectiveness of the stunning at various current intensities below 1 ampere and different slaughter weight. If the results of the study show that lower cur­ rents can be used without affecting the numbness of the animal while minimizing the lesions in carcasses and skins, these conclusions will be presented to the EU for them to consider modi­ fying the current legislation (Council Regulation (CE) Nº

Nutrition, Health, and Animal Welfare

productive variables of the­ se animals.

Animal Production

1099/2009) in order to adapt it to the Spanish reality.

On the other hand, a big lamb and kid slaughterhou­ se has also commissioned several trials to IRTA to look into the effects of the use of lower current level on stun­ ning in its own premises.

“Animal welfare in the set and the media”, monographic from the SAM platform The Food Safety in the Media (FSM) platform, an initiative of the Catalan Food Safety Agency (ACSA) and the Science Commu­ nication Observatory at the University Pompeu Fabra (OCC-UPF), have published

the monographic document titled “Animal welfare in the set and the media”, with the participation of Dr. Antonio Velarde from IRTA.

IRTA updates the APPCC system of its experimental slaughterhouse A final project of a Mas­ ter´s degree in the Business and Technology Higher Stu­ dies School (ESDEN) in Ma­ drid has allowed improving and updating the APPCC system in the experimen­ tal slaughterhouse of IRTA center located in Monells (Gerona).

The Risk Assessment and Critical Control Points sys­ tem (RACCP) is a food sa­

Annual Report 2012 / 44

fety regulation that must be followed in all premises of the food sector.

The slaughterhouse in the Monells center, with a slaughtering line for pigs and sheep, is distributed over a 470 m2 surface, with all the characteristics of a pilot ex­ perimental plant. Differently from a conventional slaugh­ terhouse, slaughter volumes here are low and usually ex­ ceptional, depending on the research project in develop­ ment within the premises.

The method used to im­ prove and update IRTA´s slaughterhouse has been the assessment of compliance of the 12 stages of the RACCP system, considering the prin­ ciples of the Codex Alimentarius, as well as a complete program of prerequisites necessary for the effective establishment of this system.

Annual Report 2012 / 45

Animal Nutrition, Health and Welfare

Animal Production

Fibers and the lactating calf The INIA project has en­ ded this year: “Effect of the different sources of fiber in the diet on the digestive function and development of the lactating calf”. The main objective of this pro­ ject was to determine if the supplementation of a fiber source, for its use as fora­ ge, had any impact on the development of the lactating calf and if there are diffe­ rences between the various fiber sources. Thus, the aim was to establish a series of recommendations regarding the supplementation of fiber to lactating calves.

The primary conclusions were that grass forage (oats

hay, barley hay, triticale si­ lage) stimulate the intake of animal feed in the calves, increasing the average daily weight gain with no nega­ tive effects on digestibility.

Contrarily, when alfalfa hay was given, no stimula­ tion of animal feed intake was observed. Probably, a higher intake of alfalfa hay in comparison with the in­ take of grass forage led to no increase of the produc­ tive parameters in lactating calves when alfalfa hay was offered. The intake of grass forage stimulated the intake of animal feed in part because it improved the health of the animal, incre­ asing the rumen pH and the activity of volatile fatty acid transporters at rumen level, accelerating the rhythm of passage in the intestines.

Annual Report 2012 / 46

Goat mastitis markers This project has focused on the study of the acu­ te-phase protein SAA3 found in the colostrum and in milk (M-SAA3). Because there are limitations for obtaining somatic cell counts in goats (indicator used to date to detect infections in the mam­ mary gland), studies have been carried out to clarify its suggested potential as a new indicator of intra-mam­ mary infections in goats.

Results show that it is not a sufficiently precise indicator for detecting clinical mas­ titis, although its use is not completely discarded as a marker for sub-clinical mas­ titis.

On the other hand, its function and the reason of the high concentration of M-SAA3 in milk have also been described. It has been shown that M-SAA3 regula­ tes gastrointestinal infections in lactating animals that con­ sume milk and colostrum, as it prevents pathogen entry in the cells of the intesti­ nal tissue. It also modula­ tes the synthesis of some components of the innate immune response, as for example the expression of the mucus proteins (mucins) and cytokines that stimulate the inflammatory response against the gastrointestinal pathogen. Finally, another important role is the recruit­ ment of phagocytic cells that get rid of the pathogens and the stimulation of phagocyto­ sis through the opsonization

Ruminant Production

process.

Dr. Toni Velarde and Dr. Àlex Bach new members of the Scientific Committees and Panels of EFSA The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has designated Dr. Toni Velar­ de, a researcher from IRTA, as a new member of the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare Panel for the 20122015 period.

Dr. Àlex Bach, an IRTA researcher, has also been assigned member of the Scientific Committee and Scientific Panel on Additi­ ves and Products or Subs­ tances used in Animal Feed for the same period.

Both have started with their tasks within the EFSA last July. This is a recog­ nition at individual level as well as to the research programs in which they par­ ticipate: Animal Health and Welfare (Toni Velarde) and Ruminant Production (Àlex Bach).

Annual Report 2012 / 47

Animal Production

The Star 16.86 project: increase rabbit production in over 46% The Star 16.86 project, designed by Cunicarn and created in collaboration with IRTA, is a model of technical improvement and productive processes that when used ensures the sustainability of the rabbit sector, very en­ trenched in Catalonia.

This project gathers a series of measures that have been shown to be effective, as they have been applied in countries like France, improving the results in the farms in a sustainable manner and in different areas: economic, social, environmental, ani­ mal welfare, and food safety.

If the decision from the Catalonian rabbit farms is to adapt to these measures, they will preserve and incre­ ase the activity in Catalonia, maintain the Catalonian le­ adership, increase the production in 46%, improve animal welfare, and promote the prestige and generational replace­ ment in the farms.

There are many positi­ ve aspects of rabbit farming, as for example the quality of whi­ te meat or the fact that rabbit farming is the

livestock activity that gene­ rates less greenhouse effect gases.

The Star 16.86 project is viable as there is no need to build a totally new webs of farms, but only transforming the existing ones. Within this direction, the town of Cervià in Lerida will admit the first model farm in Catalonia, in May. With a surface area of 1.500 m2, the exploitation will include the most advan­ ced techniques to increase the productivity, environ­ mental control, and animal welfare. This is the first step towards the renewal of the rabbit farmin sector in our country.

The presentation of the Star 16.86 project was made at La Espluga del Francolí, with the presence of the Mi­ nister of the Department of Agriculture, Farming, Food, Fish, and Environment, Jo­ sep Maria Pelegrí, who was accompanied by the direc­ tors-general of Agriculture and Lives­ tock Miquel

Annual Report 2012 / 48

Molins, from Food, Qua­ lity and Agri-Food Industry, Domènec Vila, from IRTA Josep M. Monfort, and from Cunicar, Ramon Calbet, as well as over 150 representa­ tives of the main Catalonian rabbit farms.

XIX edition of the Porc d’Or The XIX Edition of the Porc d´Or (Golden Pig) awards for pig production was held in Madrid´s Place of Con­ gress. Over 500 people among professionals and authorities from the pork sector attended the event.

IRTA organized the Porc d’Or Awards in collaboration with Pfizer Animal Health and the National Association for Pig Farming (Anaporc), as co-organizers.

In this edition of the Porc d’Or, 77 swine farms from all over Spain applied for the awards. the Castellets farm from Taradell (Barcelona), obtained the maximum pos­ sible award the “Porc d’Or con Diamante”. This farm initially opera­ ted in a closed-cy­ cle system with 180 sows and 900 fattening pigs, that in 2001 changed their producti­ on orientation becoming a piglet production farm with 560 pro­ ductive sows and 30 rearing sows.

This year´s Special Award “Porc d’Or a la Máxi-

Animal Breeding and Genetics

ma Productividad” has gone to Huesca (Candasnos), to the El Sas farm owned by Cincaporc. This farm, with a mean of 33.26 weaned pi­ glets per sow per year, has set a new productivity re­ cord in the history of these awards.

The Special Award “Sanidad, Bienestar Animal y Medio Ambiente” from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Environment (MAGRAMA) was shared by two farms for the first time in the history of the awards. A farm from Albace­ te, Pechequín Ltd., owned by the Afrivall-Vall Com­ panys Grup, in Chinchilla de Montearagón, and the farm Ponte Coirós, from the Coren cooperative, in Coirós (Corunna).

The Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA) created the Porc d’Or awards in 1994. The aim of these awards is to recognize the work of swine firms and the swine farming industry that thanks to their professi­ onalism, effort, and the use of the best production tech­ niques are able to overcome new challenges, acting as spearheads in the swine sector in Spain.

Currently, in its 19th edition, the Porc d´Or awards are not only consolidated, but are also the role model of excellence for the Spanish pig industry.

The Porc d´Or awards pre­ sentation gala is an unmis­ sable event that each year gathers livestock farmers, firms, and other personali­

ties linked with this sector, as well as local, autonomic, and national authorities.

Support to the competitiveness of the pork sector in Nicaragua In the next four years, IRTA researchers will work in collaboration to create the National Reference Centre for Assisted Reproduction in Pigs (CRRP), in Nicaragua.

Bearing in mind the stren­ gthening of the scientific capabilities of the National Agrarian University of Nica­ ragua and the improvement of the food safety in this country, IRTA researchers have the challenge of incre­ asing the competiveness of the pork activity in small and medium Nicaraguan produ­ cers, as well as to recover the meat from the autocht­ Annual Report 2012 / 49

honous Marango (or Curro) pig.

Thus, in the next four ye­ ars, the researchers will carry out studies on the ge­ netic selection of Marango producers in terms of pro­ ductivity and meat quality.

On the other hand, units of health control, artificial insemination, and handling of embryos for the future CRRP will be set up.

Financed by the Spanish Agency for International De­ velopment Cooperation (AECID) within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Interna­ tional Cooperation, the pro­ ject will be coordinated by the University of Gerona and National Agrarian University of Nicaragua, with the par­ ticipation of the Autonomus University of Barcelona, the University of Murcia, the University of Leon, the Spa­ nish National Institute for Agriculture and Food Rese­ arch and Technology (INIA), and IRTA.

Animal Production

CReSA & the city: a blog from everyone for everyone CReSA has a corporative blog: CReSA & the city, link: http:// w w w.cresa.cat / blogs/sociedad/

Antimicrobial consumption in pigs and resistances CReSA will study the presence of Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli, producers of cepha­ losporinases in pigs and will assess the possible association between the consumption of antimicro­ bials (including beta-lac­ tams, cephalosporins, sulfonamides, and tetracy­ clines) and the presence of resistant strains. The study will be financed by the MICINN.

the Workshop on influenza held in April in the National Health Institute of that coun­ try.

This visit was carried out within the cooperation pro­ ject in the AP/038337/11 preparatory action, financed by the Spanish Agency for Development Cooperation (AECID) titled “Development of a R&D project to establish institutional capabilities for influenza virus diagnosis and research techniques”.

Haemophilus parasuis and the Glässer´s disease Researchers from CReSA have discovered that Haemophilus parasuis can use pig´s sialic acid to go unno­ ticed in the immune system and cause the disease in the pigs. Furthermore, a gene associated with the virulent

Influenza collaboration between Spain and Mozambique CReSA and CRESIB re­ searchers met with more than 25 scientists from Mozambique to exchange experiences and establish common objectives during Annual Report 2012 / 50

bacterial strains has been identified, which could be of help for establishing the di­ agnosis.

In search of the PPC tracks The research carried out

by CReSA on classic pig plague over the last four years has provided new un­ derstanding regarding the protective response against the virus and viral evolution in endemic infections.

Research on the classic pig plague virus in CReSA (VPPC) focuses on stu­ dying the pathogen and viral evolution in search of new diagnostic techniques and vaccines.

The studies have shown the capacity virulent strains have to induce a strong type I interferon response, which correlates with the high vi­ ral replication in pigs shor­

Rabbits can also suffer from prion-caused diseases A study has shown that rabbits are not resistant to diseases caused by prions as believed to date.

This discovery has impli­ cations for human health, because these animals can be destined for human con­ sumption.

A prion-caused epidemic in rabbits is highly improbable.

However, this susceptibility should be considered when formulating rabbit foods.

Furthermore, rabbits des­ tined for human consump­ tion should not be fed with animal proteins coming from flours made from meat and ruminant or rabbit bones.

A new vaccine against human tuberculosis has been successfully tested for the first time in goats Researches from the Cen­ tre for Research on Animal Health (CReSA) have carri­

ed out the first vaccination Dr. Joaquim Sestudy against tuberculosis, using the domestic goat as galés Coma, new the experimental model. The Director of the AdAg85A vaccine was de­ Centre for Resigned by researchers from search on Animal McMaster University (Cana­ Health (CReSA) da), to prevent tuberculosis in humans and is currently Since May 1, Dr. being tested in a Phase I Joaquim Segalés trial. is the new director The studies performed in of CReSA replaCReSA have shown that the goats vaccinated with cing Dr. Mariano the BCG and subsequent­ Domingo Álvarez ly inoculated with the new who has been in AdAg85A vaccine (which charge of the insexpresses a Mycobacterium titution since its tuberculosis protein) are bet­ creation 12 years ter protected against tuber­ ago. culosis than animals which have only been vaccinated with BCG. Specifically, the new vaccine strengthens the immune system (booster ef­ fect) against tuberculosis in­ fection, reducing lesions, the number of bacteria, and their replication, consequently diminishing intrapulmonary and extrapulmonary dissemi­ nation of the infection.

Besides the relevant public health implications of this study, these results show diagnosis. Thus, it is neces­ that vaccination can be an sary to study new vaccines effective option for contro­ or vaccination strategies. lling tuberculosis in goats, an endemic disease in our country, as well as in many others, which causes econo­ mic losses to the livestock industry. Simultaneously it means a higher risk of in­ fection for people that are in contact with the animals (cattle breeders, veterinari­ es, etc.). Currently, vaccina­ tion with BCG is not used, as it is not very efficient and can interfere with the Annual Report 2012 / 51

Animal Health

tly after they are infected.

Furthermore, new antigens involved in viral protection have been identified, which can be of great interest for the development of more effective novel serologic di­ agnostic techniques.

PLANT PRODUCTION

Plant Production / 52

Plant Production

10 years of IRTA´s post-Harvesting Technical Service The post-Harvesting Tech­nical Service cele­ brated its first 10 years of operations last April 17 with a technical and festi­ ve working day. More than 120 people attended the event in representation of more than 80 companies that have agreements with this Service.

The post-Harvesting Technical Service was cre­ ated by IRTA in 2002 in response to requests from the fruit sector and has

provided continuous ser­ vice to the companies in the post-harvesting sector is Spain and in Portugal, a decade filled of efforts and successes.

Post-harvesting biocontrol agent for fruit In this project, a container, and optimal/appropriate con­ tainer and storage conditions for the biocontrol of Pantoea agglomerans CPA-2 have been defined, for a shelf life longer that one year and with­out loss of effectiveness.

This product has shown an excellent control of diseases caused by P. digitatum and P. expansum in oranges and apples, respectively.

On the other hand, a more rapid CPA-2 recovery me­ thod from fruit surfaces in comparison with the regular method used in population

dynamics has been desig­ ned. Furthermore, making use of molecular CPA-2 markers, its limited persis­ tency in the environment has also been shown.

The most important result Annual Report 2012 / 54

obtained from this project was the generation of a pro­ duct based on an agent that acts as a biological control.

It is effective and easy to apply during pre-harvesting and post-harvesting fruit treat­ment, as an alternati­ ve to synthesized fungici­ des, for controlling primary post-harvesting diseases in apples and oranges, and with low impact on the en­ vironment and on the person handling the fruit.

Virulence and defense fungi-fruit mechanisms for the control of Penicillium Understanding these mechanisms is useful for conducting research on new control treatments al­ ternative to the commonly used fungicides. This pro­ ject aims obtaining further knowledge on the pathoge­ nic mechanisms of P. digitatum and P. expansum, the defense mechanisms of the fruit, and the assessment of new control systems.

Three pathogenic and fruit genes induced during fruit-pathogen interaction have been identified with this project. The next step is a genetic approximation (obtain mutants by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-media­ ted transformation) aiming the identification of the rele­ vant pathogenic genes in both pathogens.

Regarding the fruit, the defense reaction will be

Postharvest as a tool to optimize worldwide plant production According to official data from the Food and Agricul­ ture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, in the Western world each year between 95-115 kg of food is wasted per person. Among the most rejected foods for consumption are fruits, ve­ getables, roots, and tubers.

“Improvement and in­ novation of post-harvest techniques could reduce

losses in approximately 10 to 12%”, states Dr. Conxita Royo, who also added that the implementation of the next Fruitcentre will be es­ sential to improve R&D in Catalonia, where the annual production of fruit and ve­ getables comprises a high percentage of its Gross Do­ mestic Product (GDP).

The latest post-harvest novelties, such as the et­ hylene (a gas produced by plants to boost the matura­ tion of their fruit) inhibitor, were presented in the 10th National Symposium and the 7th Iberian Symposium on Maturation and Posthar­ vest of Fruit and Vegeta­ bles, held in Lleida between the 1st - 4th of October.

New business opportunities with fruit of the IV and V range “Cut fruit: a good business opportunity”. With this title Dr. Maribel Abadias and Dr. Immaculada Viñas, from the postharvest program, put up a guided tasting with fruit of the IV and V range. The tas­ ting was done at the stand of Prodeca at the Food fair.

The aim of the tasting was to show the market advan­ tages and possibilities fruit has with innovating pro­ ducts.

There are different kind Annual Report 2012 / 55

of difficulties with this type of product, as for example choosing the adequate va­ riety or trying to get good homogeneity and precise ripening. Furthermore, from

a technological perspecti­ ve, it is important to choose the appropriate antioxidants and containers so that the consumer appreciates the product.

During the fruit tasting, the assistants had the possibi­ lity to try products of the IV and V range: apples, pears, and various fruit combina­ tions. Differences between these products were also explained, as well as the services IRTA offers to the sector to open doors in this new market.

Postharvest

analyzed in compatible and incompatible apple interac­ tions. This will be done first by a proteomic approxima­ tion and the analysis of the expression of the genes identified in the previous project or described in the literature, to determine their implication in the defen­ se responses of the fruit.

Furthermore, the levels of Reactive Oxygen Species will be determined in fruit infected with low virulence mutants obtained during the project. Finally, further cha­ racterization of a protease inhibitor capable of reducing post-harvest rots caused by these two fungi will be per­ formed, as well as the pos­ sibility to widen its spectrum of action to other pathogens and hosts.

Plant Production

BIO NETWORK, Experimentation exchange and transfer network in ecological agriculture REDBIO is a 3-year pro­ ject (2009-2011) funded by the POCTEFA program from FEDER with a budget of 2,728,894.00 €.

The main objective of the REDBIO project is to pro­ mote fruit, vegetable, and ecological wine production through experimentation and technological transfer between its members. The partners participating in the project have prepared joint protocols addressed to the farmers and agricul­ tural technicians, providing solutions to problems exis­ ting in both cross-border regions.

French (CA66, INRA, CIVAM Bio, and SICA Centrex) and Catalonian (CREDA, DAAM, INCAVI, IRTA, UB, and UP) organi­ zations have participated in the project. All these organizations belong to regions bordering with the Pyrenees: the region of Eastern Pyrenees (France) and Catalonia (Spain). The CA66 has led the project and the coordination of the experimental section has been done by IRTA.

ECO-ZEO: New and eco-efficient applications of zeolite for the agricultural sector ECO-ZEO is a 4-year Eu­ ropean project (2012-2016) funded by the environmental sub-programme of the Se­ venth Framework Program­ me with a total budget of 2,662,634.00 €.

The primary objective of the ECO-ZEO project is to deve­ lop a new pool of green crop protection products. These zeolite–based products will

Chef Joan Roca harvested the first Poma de Girona of this season The Catalan Joan Roca, one of the most influential chefs in the world, presented the symbolic harvesting of the first Poma de Girona of the year at Mas Badia

be characterized by a wide range of beneficial effects for the farmer, such as the decrease in water use, in­ creased yields from culti­ vation, decreased chemical impact, protection of the crops, abiotic stress tole­ rance, and improvement of working conditions in the agricultural and agrochemi­ cal sectors.

The consortium of the ECOZEO project is coordi­ nated by IRTA and is made up by 10 organizations from eight countries among which there are research centers and universities (IRTA, BATEM, LEI, and UGENT), the industry (FMC and FITO), small and me­ dium-sized businesses of the agrochemical sector (TERRA, FERRER, and CEMAS), and the Europe­ an Association of Farmers (AREFLH).

Genetic characterization of 1,500 varieties and breeding lines of peach in Europe Researchers from the European FruitBreedomics project have genetically ty­ pified over 1,500 varieties and breeding lines of pe­ ach using a Single Nucle­ otide Polymorphism (SNP) chip-based method. This allow understanding the genetic biodiversity of the European peach, as well as to determine its quality and

Annual Report 2012 / 56

Framework Programme (7PM) from the European Commission.

Peach consumption in Catalonia is five times lower than in Italy

fruit types were presented, unknown until now in Catalo­ nia: a yellow peach or pa­ via with nectarine-like skin and two varieties of albino peach or Ice Peach.

Emphasis was made on the impor­ tan­

Extending the ripening calendar for peaches and nectarines, the presentati­ on of the albino peach, and the pavias with nectarine-like skin were the most outstanding novelties in the 16th edition of

the Peach and Nec­ tarine Varie­ ties Exhibition held in Gimenells on July 26, with the participation of 560 pe­ ople.

The peculiarities of almost 100 new varieties studied during last year were pre­ sented. Sweetness, color, caliber, pulp consistency, and agronomic behavior were some of the discussed topics.

Furthermore, new Italian Annual Report 2012 / 57

ce of promo­ ting peach consumption in Catalonia. The consumption in Cata­

Fruit Production

disease resistance.

Along with these results, the participating researc­ hers also presented data of more than 30 improvement programs for the apple.

Their results indicate that the most important featu­ res for these programs are associated with the quality of the fruit (particularly the texture) and their resistan­ ce to diseases (dots on the apples and oidium).

Furthermore, the scien­ tists also announced the development of a high den­ sity SNP chip (between 20 and 50 K) to genetically typify the apple. This will allow the creation by produ­ cers and research centers of new apple varieties in a more efficient way.

The FruitBreedomics pro­ jects aims increasing the efficiency of the current fruit improvement programs and thus reduce the gap betwe­ en research, molecular genetics, and plant impro­ vement.

This collaboration gathers 24 partners and 3 guests from 10 European countri­ es, as well as South Africa, New Zealand, Israel, China, and the USA, with the par­ ticipation of research cen­ ters, including IRTA from the Department of Agricul­ ture, universities, and small and medium-sized enter­ prises with wide experien­ ce in genetics, genomics, ecophysiology, and bioin­ formatics. FruitBreedomics began March 1, 2011 with a budget of 10 million Euros and a co-financing of 6 mi­ llion Euros by the Seventh

Plant Production

A visit to Mas Badia of the International Pink Lady® Alliance To mark the annual meeting of the International Pink Lady® Alliance, a group of 50 people visited IRTA´s experimental station in Mas Badia on October 3.

lonia is of approximately 4.8 kg per person/year, while in Italy is 22 kg per person/ year.

Technical mission in Australia to improve the cultivation of the almond tree During the first fortnight of February, researchers of the Olive cultivation, Olive production, and Dried fruits and nuts subprogram flew to Australia accompanied by the technicians of two of the main Spanish organizations that produce fruits and nuts, Crisol de Frutos Secos SAT

and Arboreto SAT LTDA. This trip allowed gaining knowledge on the use of new technologies for far­ ming management, as well as to increase the compe­ tiveness of these two Ca­ talonian organizations that gather over 27,000 farmers.

Good Practice Guide for olive production The Good Agricultural Practice Guide for the production of olives aims pro­ viding a working tool to the owners of the holdings to help them in the implemen­ tation of the self-control me­ asurements for maintaining high food safety standards as determined by the cor­ responding regulations, and thus, provide an officially recognized guide to be used as a safety element.

The Catalan Food Safety Agency (ACSA) under the guidance of the Resource Center for Health and En­ vironmental Protection and the participation of various institutions, including IRTA, has edited this guide.

The Guide is available at:

http://www.gencat.cat/ salut/acsa/html/ca/dir2967/ doc34369.html Annual Report 2012 / 58

European Association for innovation in fruit and vegetables The research and inno­ vation commission of the Assembly of European Fruit and Vegetable-pro­ ducing Regions (AREFLH) announced the decision of creating a European Inno­ vation Association (EIA) for fruit and vegetables, with the active involvement of IRTA. This initiative goes in hand with the objective es­ tablished by the European Fruit Research Institutes Network (EUFRIN) of pre­ paring a research and in­ novation strategic agenda for fruit production to es­ tablish the goals to which focus the investigation for the fruit value chain. On the other hand, the AREFLH will be responsible of establishing the strategic agenda for the vegetable sector.

IRTA coordinates the re­ search commission of the AREFLH and is part of the board of the EUFRIN.

Over 1,600 assistants at the 17th Fruit conference The 17th Fruit Conference was held on October 17 and 18 in the farm of the Experimental Station in Lleida (Mollerussa). The

group and IRTA from the de­ partment of Agriculture was renewed for three additional years. The agreements were signed by the Managing Di­ rector of the Jorge S.L group, Mr. Sergio Samper Rivas and the director general IRTA, Mr. Josep M. Monfort i Bolívar.

Since 2006 IRTA collabo­ rates closely with this firm in the facilities of plantation forest for wood production in Monegros, specifically in Castejón de Monegros (Ara­ gón), were over 150 hectares of walnut and cherry trees are planted. During these six years, IRTA´s researchers have worked in the selection The Jorge S.L. of the best materials for that group and IRTA region and on the productive and qualitative assessment will continue of the produced wood. working together Furthermore, IRTA provi­ des advice to the Jorge S.L in wood and group on trees for producing biomass biomass, from the selecti­ on to agronomic aspects, production performing specific tests for production and management Last June 20 the agree­ ment between the Jorge S.L. with different species of tree.

Annual Report 2012 / 59

“Biodiversity: Roman gardens and gardens of the Loire” The cities of Tarragona and Orleans (France), in a partnership Comenius Regio and sponsored by the European Council, have been developing the pro­ ject “Biodiversity: Roman gardens and gardens of the Loire”. Several institutions have participated in this project.

The primary objective of the project was to raise awareness and educate the general population on local biodiversity. Within this broad framework, gar­ dens have been chosen as the common topic (focused in the study of the Roman gardens in the case of Tar­ ragona and the gardens of the Loire in the case of Or­ leans) and more specifically on medicinal plants.

IRTA has collaborated in the construction of an ex­ perimental hortus in the Ro­ man village of Els Munts in Altafulla.

Recently this project has been selected by the Autonomous Agency for European Educational Pro­ grams (OAPEE) as one of the three best practices in Spain.

Fruit Production

conference included a com­ plete technical program with diverse field demonstrations and exhibition stands from the companies.

A large number of visitors attended the congress. Over 1,600 participants filled the premises of the Experimen­ tal Station in Lleida in Mo­ llerussa, a 7% increase in comparison with the previous edition.

During the conference, va­ rious visits and demonstra­ tions were performed in the commercial expositions that included 42 stands.

Plant Production

Genome sequencing of the melon A consortium of nine public and private research centers has sequenced the geno­ me of the melon, one of the most economically important species worldwide. This is the first time a Spanish pu­ blic-private consortium had completed the genome of a plant belonging to a higher group (with flowers and seed-bearing) using new massive sequencing tech­ nologies, which are cheaper and more efficient.

Besides sequencing the whole genome of the melon, the researchers have been able to sequence, the geno­ mes of seven different vari­ eties. This study has been published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

The head of the study has been Pere Puigdomènech, from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), and Jordi García Mas from IRTA, who work in the Cen­ ter for Research in Agricul­ tural Genomics (CRAG) in Barcelona. The research group led by Roderic Guigó from the Center for Geno­ mic Regulation collaborated actively with the project.

Nine (9) research centers participated in the Melonomics project, promoted by the Genoma Spain founda­ tion, with the support of five companies and five autono­ mous communities.

The results reveal that the genome of the melon

has around 450 million base pairs and 27,427 genes, which is much larger than its closest relative, the cucum­ ber, with 360 million base pairs.

Four hundred and eleven (411) genes with probable involvement in resistance to diseases have been iden­ tified in the melon. Another interesting point is the ripe­ ning of the fruit, a process in which characteristics such as taste and aroma are defined. The researchers identified up to 89 genes linked to some of these pro­ cesses: 26 associated with the accumulation of carote­ nes (which gives the color to the pulp) and 63 with sugar accumulation and, thus, with the flavor of the melon, from which 21 had not been pre­ viously described.

Collaboration between many institutions The project was led by teams from the Research in Agricultural Genomics

Annual Report 2012 / 60

(CRAG), a CSIC-IRTAUAB-UB consortium, who sequenced and assembled the genome with the colla­ boration of the Center for Genomic Regulation regar­ ding the genome.

Groups from the Pompeu Fabra University (Barcelo­ na), Del Segura Edapho­ logy and Applied Biology Center from the CSIC (Mur­ cia), the Center for Geno­ mic Regulation (Barcelona), the Technical University of Valencia, and the University of Wisconsin (USA) also participated in the project.

On the other hand, Roche Diagnostics made available technologies to help as­ sembling the genome.

The funding of the project, over four million Euros, was provided by Genoma Spain, five autonomic communiti­ es (Andalusia, Castile-La Mancha, Catalonia, Ma­ drid, and Murcia), and the companies Semillas Fitó, Syngenta Seeds, Roche Diagnostics, Savia Biotech, and Sistemas Genómicos.

Researchers from the Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) have par­ ticipated in the discovery of a new clock-regulated circa­ dian mechanism in plants.

According to researchers from the CRAG, the essen­

tial protein known as TOC1 seems to be the responsi­ ble of regulating the rhythm in plants. To date it was believed that this protein activated the genes of the day oscillator, which in turn, suppresses the night oscilla­ tor. However, this new study reveals that the TOC1 acts as a general suppressor of gene expression oscilla­ tors that act during day and night.

This discovery, publis­ hed in Science (issue from

Annual Report 2012 / 61

March 8), modifies the mo­ del that has been used over the last 10 years to explain the functioning of the biolo­ gical clock.

Studying the 24-hour cyclic patter in plants, responsible of many of the processes occurring in these orga­ nisms (e.g., germination, growth, flowering time, mo­ vement of the leaves, and even response to stress), is essential to control their growth and development.

Genomics and Biotechnology

A new model that explains the biological rhythm of plants

Plant Production

Authorization to perform ORTs IRTA has been authorized by the Ministry of Agriculture to perform Officially Recog­ nized Tests (ORTs), required by the EU for the official re­ gistry of new phytosanitary products.

The ORTs are carried out by authorized entities. The aim of these tests is to as­ sess the effectiveness of new phytosanitary products under real conditions. Highly qualified professionals with experience in a wide range of crops, plagues, and pro­ ducts must perform these tests, with knowledge in analytical and statistical methods and the capacity to interpret results under different experimental con­ ditions. The results obtained from these test are part of

a set of information requi­ red by the Administration to evaluate its possible com­ mercial use authorization.

IRTA has the ISO 9001:2008 certification (Quality Management Sys­ tem).

Autochthonous plants to restore an old quarry in the Vallès Occidental Since 2006, the company Servial has been restoring the Sot de Goleres quarry, located in Castellar del Vallès (Barcelona), which stopped its activity around 30 years ago. The aim of this work is the recovery of a natural space.

IRTA has been supplying autochthonous mycorrhizal

Annual Report 2012 / 62

plants such as oleander, la­ vender, geranium, sage, and thyme, besides doing the planting in the slopes of the quarry.

Aromatic and medicinal plant collaboration with India With this project, IRTA and the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), initiated and established a Spanish-Indian collaboration focused in the interactions of beneficial plants and organisms. The aim of the project is to increase the quality and the production of aromatic and medicinal plants using cultivars and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, selected and adap­ ted to low fertility soils.

The cooperation between both countries has allowed selecting more effective mycorrhizal fungi for pro­ moting plant growth and increase the performance in the production of essential oils in controlled conditions (greenhouse) as well as in the open. Low fertility soils have been recovered while making profitable use of the soil using an appropriate combination of aromatic plant species with commer­ cial interest and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

Within the framework of the Fruit Attraction fair

(Madrid, October 24-26), IRTA presented a tomato tasting panel associated to an innovation project com­ missioned by the company Semillas Fitó.

It was explained how this panel was created, aiming to define the organoleptic properties of tomatoes. Fur­ thermore, the people that

Annual Report 2012 / 63

assisted to the lecture were able to actively participate in the tasting process and discover the most outstan­ ding values of some of the varieties produced by Semillas Fitó, uncovering this way the organoleptic bene­ fits of tomatoes using the five senses.

Sustainable Plant Protection

IRTA and Semillas Fitó perform a tomato tasting in Fruit Attraction

Plant Production

Extensive farming for winter and recommendations for the 2012-13 campaign in Catalonia During the 2011-2012 winter farming campaign, the cereals that occupied the larger cropping areas in Catalonia were bar­ ley (58%) and soft wheat (32%). Over 296.000 ha were planted with cereals.

The rainfall was very high in November (delaying the planting period) and very low in winter (limiting plant development), while tem­ peratures were very low in January and February.

Regarding the quality of the cereals, their specific weight was higher than in previous campaigns.

The most outstanding varieties of rape, wheat, and barley

Andelos, Bandera, Botticelli, CCB Ingenio, Exotic, Garcia, Innov, Nogal, Paledor, Solla­ rio, Adagio, Aerobic, Idalgo, and Santoyo.

Regarding short cycle barley, the most outstan­ ding have been Belgravia, County, Cristalia, Graphic, Gustav, Pewter, Signora, and Streif, and long cycle barley Anaconda, Anakin, Cierzo, Cometa, Graphic, Meseta, Pewter, Publican, Seduction, Flanelle, Orches­ ta, Propino, and Rocio.

Recovery of the traditional cereal varieties The results of a research project of the National Rural Network performed by IRTA and the CCAA from Navarra, were presented during the 11th Interregional Congress on Arable Crops. The rese­ arch project focused on the

After five years of study, IRTA has observed that the highest yields are obtained from the following rape varieties: Es Hydromel, Hybristar, Champlain, Toc­ cata, and Aviso.

The most outstanding short cycle varieties of wheat have been Artur Nick, Gades, Galeon, An­ foreta, and Nogal, and the long cycle varieties Aguila, Annual Report 2012 / 64

Ramularia leaf spot, a new disease in barley A new disease in barley, ramularia leaf spot (Ramularia collo-cygni), causes yield loss, both in quantity and quality of the grain. Using varieties and applying a combination of triazoles and chlorothalonil helps controlling this disease in barley. use of traditional varieties of wheat and other cereals in Catalonia. This recovery of the biodiversity is not only important for its historical and environmental value, but also because it provides the opportunity to obtain products with added value, which could significantly contribute to the sustainabi­ lity of this sector.

On the other hand, a suc­ cessful recovery case of traditional wheat varieties for the production of the “Tramontana Bread” (Pan de Tramontana) was pre­ sented. This project aims producing quality wheat, developed in collaboration with the Artisanal Baker´s Guild from the Gerona Re­ gion and IRTA´s Mas Badia.

The goal is to give value to the local production of a tra­ ditional cereal and promote the consumption of regional products.

The project titled Dissection of phenotypic and genotypic components of drought tolerance and its implications or improving wheat: study on the genetic and molecular bases of chlorophyll content, studied the effect of several cha­ racteristics associated to drought tolerance on the agronomical and physiologi­ cal behavior of wheat. The feature “pigment content” served as a study model for the genotypic-phenotypic re­ lationship and for identifying candidate genes associa­ ted to it that could regulate carbohydrate metabolism in conditions of water stress.

Adaptation patterns of hard wheat Phenological and genetic basis of adaptation patterns of hard wheat at different photothermal conditions and use for germplasm development within the framework of Spain-CIMMYT relation­ship. This project aims generating scientific information for the design of allelic combinations of Annual Report 2012 / 65

genes involved in photope­ riodic responses. Pairs of near-isogenic lines with spring growth carrying all the possible combinations of the known alleles from the major Ppd-A1 and Ppd-B1 genes habit were evaluated.

Due to the studied latitudes, the presence of alleles that confer insensitivity to the Ppd-A1 locus resulted in longer grain fill duration, a higher harvesting rate, and higher yield.

Genetic improvement of wheat This project provides con­ tinuity to the improvement program developed by IRTA, the IFAPA (Andalu­ sia), the ITACyL (Castile-Le­ on) and the ITAP (Castile-La Mancha), were over 60,000 lines have been evalua­ ted, from which more than 95% were crosses made by these entities. The ENEAS variety has been registered in the OEVV, and has pro­ vided a mean yield of 106% above the testimonies from the OEVV tests and 107% in the GENVCE network.

Currently two new varieties are registered in the trials of the registry, one flour wheat and one hard wheat.

Field Crops

Wheat drought tolerance

ENVIRONMENT AND GLOBAL CHANGE

Environment and Global Change / 66

Environment and Global Change

Intensive clearing up of fruits during drought Fruit production in Medi­ terranean areas has been lately compromised due to drought related water res­ trictions.

Studies carried out by IRTA had already con­ firmed that the negative effect of droughts on fruit growth (and consequently on the final commercial ca­ liber) could be alleviated by performing a clearing up of the fruit in the trees when there are irrigation cuts.

Clearing up reduces the competition between the fruit regarding the nutrients supplied by the tree, and improves the water content of the tree.

To better understand how the clearing up increases the water content of the tree, two experiments were performed in IRTA-Lleida and in the Experimental Station in Lleida, financed by the Ministry of Science

and Technology. The first ex­ periment was done with the “Conference” pear and the second on the O’Henry pe­ ach variety.

Better caliber after the clearing up. In pear trees, a sig­ nificant reduction in the num­ ber of fruit in the trees leads to a clear and sustainable reduction of the opening of the stomata in the leaves.

The clearing up improved the content of water in the tree as well as their caliber.

The outcome of the clea­ ring will depend on the mo­ ment at which it is done. This is because the response from the tree is not immedia­ te, but increases 15 days up to a month after the clearing.

Thus, it is important to do the clearing up before water restrictions occur. The com­ munities of irrigators should inform in advance of any ex­ pected water restrictions.

The best results were ob­ tained with a clearing up of 20% of the fruit (130 fruits/ tree) in conditions of 20% water restrictions. When res­ Annual Report 2012 / 68

trictions are more strict, the clearing up should be more intense.

Clearing up also improves root growth. Besides the stomata, the tree also improves its water content due to the increase or re­ duction of its root system.

A second experiment was carried out with peach trees in IRTA-Lleida. In this experi­ ment, it was shown that cle­ aring up the fruit causes the roots of the trees to grow.

Larger root systems com­ bined with the opening of stomata are the two factors that help increase the water content in the trees.

Despite the fact that the clearing up of the fruit is an expensive technique that re­ duces the productive capa­ city of the tree, it can be very useful in drought situations, particularly if, as previously discussed, the clearing up is made before water restric­ tions and adjusting it to the stress levels that the tree will suffer.

The Irrigation Expert Si­ mulator (IES) is a project financed by the Europe­ an Commission within the LIFE+2011 framework and made up by a consortium of three entities: the Depart­ ment of Agriculture, IRTA, and the technological center BARCELONA DIGITAL. The IES will be a set of decision-making and simu­ lation tools integrated in a web platform that will be­ have as an expert offering customized and optimized irrigation programs used by the farmers. The farmers will be able to introduce the data regarding their farm, see the effects of their management, and obtain personalized re­

commendations.

The main objective of this project is to optimize the use of the water in the irrigati­ ons. Using real data from di­ fferent Catalonian plots and irrigators, the project will also test the defined models and the closeness between the most efficient agrono­ mical use and the real use.

Specifically, three validation sites will be available: an experimental IRTA farm in which the models will be va­ lidated globally, a real in situ water set, and high number of irrigators that are also users of Ruralcat, that will make their water consumpti­ on and production data avai­ lable during one campaign.

The IES project will be accessible from the Ru­ ralCat portal (www.ruralcat. net), has the support of the Department of Agriculture of the Catalonian Government (DAAM), will last three ye­

Annual Report 2012 / 69

ars, and counts with a bud­ get of 1 M €.

Collaboration with Lebanon on irrigation During its visit to Leba­ non last January 12, the minister of Agriculture, Mr. Josep Maria Pelegrí, offered the support from Catalonia to the Minister of Energy and Water in Lebanon, Mr. Gibran Bassil, regarding ir­ rigation efficiency and tech­ nological transfer applied to the agri-food sector. Mr. Pe­ legrí met with the Lebanese Minister to explore new co­ llaboration routes on rural and agro-forest matters and offered support and expert IRTA knowledge for develo­ ping training and knowledge transfer projects on irrigati­ on improvement and effecti­ veness to farmers.

Efficient Use of Water

Web platform for simulating and optimizing irrigation

Environment and Global Change

CO2 recycling: from large power plants to intensive agriculture

gases that most contribute to global warming.

IRTA´s research, framed within the SOST-CO2 project, has analyzed the complete cycle of the CO2 discharged by a carbon plant and a na­ IBERDROLA and IRTA tural gas plant, both owned have carried out a study on

by IBERDROLA. The rese­ the possible use of the car­ archers studied the capture bon dioxide generated by stages and the application of cogeneration plants (those producing simultaneously the carbon dioxide to a wide electric and thermal energy) spectrum of vegetable spe­ as a fertilizer for growing cies in intensive agricultural plants in greenhouses. exploitations.

This fertilization method in Good results in terms of parallel to a specific mana­ productivity for growing cer­ gement of the cultivation pa­ tain herbaceous and woody rameters has increased the plants in greenhouses were productivity in plants such obtained with the gas from as tomato, gerbera, yew, the natural gas plant. In the and palm, among others. case of the tomato, for exam­ The results of the research ple, the yield is higher when provide new opportunities growing commercial plants for intensive production of with carbonic fertilization in these plant species recy­ comparison with growing cling one of the residual

Annual Report 2012 / 70

plants without CO2.

On the other hand, the stu­ dy discards the carbonic fer­ tilizer from the carbon plant due to high levels of sulphur dioxide, ethylene, and other compounds mixed with the CO2.

The conclusions of the stu­ dy cn be found in the “Manual for CO2 use in horticultural farming”, in which IRTA´s scientists cover the diffe­ rent aspects related with the adaptation of the mentioned combustion gases for achie­ ving a better production and increase yield in intensive horticulture.

The SOST-CO2 project, fi­ nanced by the National Stra­ tegic Consortia for Technical Research (CENIT) program of the Spanish government to increase public and priva­ te investment in R&D lasted four years (2008-2011).

Environmental Horticulture A project from the Olive Oil Council to determine the carbon footprint of the olive oil

categories of environmental impact, particularly the water footprint. Diverse national and international olive oil ex­ perts participated in the me­ eting, as well as members of the OOC.

A meeting was held in the headquarters of the Inter­ national Olive Oil Council (OOC) to create a multidis­ ciplinary team of experts in olive oil, sustainability, and climatic change to promote a technical-scientific discussi­ on to analyze the viability of preparing a protocol of the ecological footprint of olive oil. The starting point is the analysis of the carbon foot­ print of olive oil, but bearing in mid extending it to other

Course for greenhouse vegetable producers in warm climates IRTA, the Center for Ad­ vanced Technologies in Agriculture (CEATA), and the Spanish-Jamaican Foun­ dation, organized a course on protected horticulture, Annual Report 2012 / 71

addressed to horticultural technicians and producers in the Caribbean countries.

The course took place in Ja­ maica in October.

For the second year in a row, the course was pos­ sible thanks to the funding the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM). This training program was developed for the par­ ticipants to put into practice what they learnt during the theoretical sessions and among the objectives of this edition was to learn how to build a greenhouse with ma­ terials that could be found locally.

Environment and Global Change

The ACCUA Project : the Fluvià, Tordera, and Siurana basins against climatic change Within the framework of the ACCUA project, IRTA has participated (with fun­ ding from the Social Project Work Foundation of the Caixa de Catalunya) toget­ her with the CREAF, the Polythechnical University of Catalonia, and the Europe­ an Topic Centre for Spatial Information and Analysis (ETC/SIA).

ACCUA (acronym for Adaptaciones al Cambio Climático en el Uso del Agua - Adaptations to cli­ mate change on the water use) is a project initiated in 2008. The aim of the project is to assess the vulnerabi­ lity of the Catalonian region against the first effects of

climate change regarding the availability of fresh water and, at the same time, de­ termine which measures are the most recommended to respond to the vulnerability and minimize the negative consequences.

The study focused on the availability of fresh water.

Innovating technology was used, as for example, the integration of very different databases (climatic, ecolo­ gical, economic, social, etc.) approaching the problem from a local scale. Thus, the study was carried out in three basis representative of the Catalonian coast: the Fluvià, the Tordera, and the Siurana.

Results indicate there will be a relevant decrease in the availability of water in the future, as expected for the rest of the Mediterrane­ an Basin. The decrease will be different for each of the studied basins and their are­ as (water masses, forests,

Annual Report 2012 / 72

agriculture, urban uses, etc.).

Negative effects will be larger in the most humid basins (Fluvià and Tordera) (particularly in the headwa­ ters). On the other hand, re­ garding the Siurana basin, in spite of being the most arid, the effects can be important due to an amplification cau­ sed by changes in soil use.

The forests will be the most vulnerable areas due to decreased water availabi­ lity, the changes in life con­ ditions, or because the risk of fires will always be higher.

The agriculture can also be affected if the farming is not adapted to the new conditi­ ons, particularly regarding the advance or delay of certain annual cycles of the plants (flowering, pollination, or fruition), or the water use efficiency.

In general, the results point to gradual changes in short-term (in the next 10-15 years) that will accelerate in medium- and long- term.

However, extreme episodes can eventually occur (in­ tense heat waves or severe droughts), which could inter­ fere with these changes.

The authors of the study point out the importance of promoting medium- and long-term measures recom­ mended in the project, at fo­ rest, agricultural, and urban level to buffer the effects of climate change.

For additional information see: http://www.creaf.uab.cat/accua/ ACCUA_divulgativa_internet.pdf

IRTA, together with the Catalan Federation of Nur­ sery, has promoted the pre­ sentation and execution of a knowledge transmission project addressed to the enterprises (TRACE) and funded by the MEyC. The efforts have been focused on the design and applicati­ on of tools and methods that control irrigation to increase water- and nutrient-use effi­ ciency in these nurseries.

The project has the

support of the Department of Agriculture of the Cata­ lan Government (DAAM), the Catalan Waste Agen­ cy (ARC) within the De­ partment of Planning and Sustainability, and the companies COPERSA, Establiments Sabater, Ter­ vex-Terres Vegetals, and the fertilization plant of Cabrils. Besides the previously mentioned topic, the project has another branch of study focused on the use of autoc­ hthonous substrates in them growth of potted plants.

It is worth pointing out, for example, that the use of an element that continuously

Annual Report 2012 / 73

measures substrate water content (electrotensiome­ ter), connected to a contro­ ller-switch of the irrigation valve, has saved 37% of the supplied water in com­ parison with the regular irrigation performed by the irrigator, by cutting out un­ necessary irrigation and wit­ hout affecting plant growth.

Regarding the two irriga­ tion control systems deve­ loped and tested by IRTA thanks to the TRACE pro­ ject, the technologies are currently mature enough to promote the manufacturing of commercial models and spread its use.

Environmental Horticulture

Water saving in horticulture

Environment and Global Change

INCASÒL transfers a farm for the LIFE project The Catalan Institute of Soil has transferred the use of the Violí farm in which a restoration and management project of the habitats in La Alfacada and La Tancada lagoons will be carried out.

IRTA participates in this pro­ ject.

The agreement establishes the transfer for a period of 20 years of the farm within the Xarxa Natura 2000 from the Ebro river delta. The surface area of the farm is 63 hectares and will be com­ pletely incorporated in the European LIFE+DELTA-LA­ GOON project for the resto­ ration and management of the habitats in the Alfacada and Tancada lagoons loca­ ted in the coast of the Ebro delta, limiting with Sant Jaume d’Enveja.

It is a 4-year project with the participation of IRTA, ac­ ting as coordinator, the Soci­ al Project Work Foundation

of the Caixa de Catalunya, the Natural Park of the Ebro Delta, the Directorate Gene­ ral for the Sustainability of the Coast and the Sea within the Ministry of the Environ­ ment and Rural and Marine Affairs, and the company Forestal Catalana S.A. The Violí farm is located of the sites of previous wet­ lands as part of La Afacada lagoon and were dried out to transform them into rice fields. With this project, it will be transformed back into a wetland, which will allow increasing its use for the pu­ blic with observatories and itineraries designed for bird watching and/or enjoy the landscape. Thus, the nea­ rest most sensitive areas of the Alfacada and the Illa de Buda will be better preser­ ved, some of the most im­ portant reserves in the Park of the Ebro Delta.

Reintroduction of the pond turtle in the lagoon During the 60s, the pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) was a very

Annual Report 2012 / 74

abundant species in the Ebro delta. Despite this, to date this species has almost disappeared in this wetland as well as from most humid areas in Catalonia.

To try to improve the situa­ tion of this turtle in the Ebro delta, the LIFE+ DELTA-LA­ GOON project titled Renova­ tion and management of the habitat of two coastal lagoon en the Ebro delta: La Alfacada and La Tancada has programmed, among other actions, its reintroduction in the Alfacada lagoon.

Thus, once the renovation works of the hydrological network in La Alfacada lago­ on are finished, the second release of turtles program­ med within the Life project will be carried out, which aims reintroducing a mini­ mum of 20 turtles every year until 2014.

The final goal of these reintroductions is to create a viable population of pond turtles in freedom in the.

This wetland is owned by the Caixa de Catalunya and is part of the Natural Park of the Ebro Delta (PNDE).

The turtles came from the rearing in captivity program of the Canal Viejo Wildlife Center (PNDE) and after staying three years in the rearing premises they were taken to a habituation site in the Alfacada, were they stayed for almost one year.

All the turtles are marked with microchips placed un­ der their skin (same as the ones used in pets), a code mark in their shell plaques (a system commonly used to mark turtles), and a radio

A species of the American mud crab is detected for the first time in Catalonia

seen.

The Dyspanopeus sayi crab is considered a great predator of bivalve mollusks.

Massive presence of this crab could negatively affect autochthonous populations of mollusks as well as tho­ se grown in the Ebro delta farms.

The presence of this crab,

Researchers from the University of Regensburg (Germany), the Institute of Marine Sciences (CSIC), and IRTA, have commu­ nicated the discovery of a population of the mud crab (Dyspanopeus sayi) in the Alfacs Bay (Ebro delta).

This is the first time this new marine species is ob­ served in Catalonian co­ asts, a predator of bivalve mollusks.

Although Dyspanopeus sayi mud crab has been introduced in diverse sites of Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, and has previously been seen in the lagoon of Venice (Italy), it is the first time its presence is reported in Catalonia. The authors of the study sug­ gest the primary introducti­ on mean of this species into the West Mediterranean Coast could be by the trans­ portation of larvae in the ballast water of ships, from populations of the Atlantic Europe or the Black Sea, were they have also been Annual Report 2012 / 75

originally from America, has been corroborated by the finding in the Ebro delta of females carrying eggs, in di­ fferent years. DNA analysis has confirmed the identity of the species, which has great genetic variability, allowing the establishment of the po­ pulation in our territory.

Aquatic Ecosystems

tracking device. Follow up of the turtles, which will last for over a year, is very impor­ tant, as it is the only way to determine their survival and consolidation of this new po­ pulation. IRTA´s technicians also participate in the weekly follow up stage.

Environment and Global Change

The GIRO Joint Research Unit IRTA-UPC is created The new GIRO Joint Re­ search Unit IRTA-UPC has moved to the Torre Marimon center, creating a multidis­ ciplinary working unit with IRTA researchers and aca­ demic staff from the UPC. The different people that form this new unit belong to diverse areas of knowle­ dge and will jointly develop research and technological development, technological transfer agreements, and counseling services in the fields of integrated waste and organic sub-product management.

Clean an aquifer contaminated by organochlorinated residues in an old factory For the next three years, an international consortium made up by researchers from the University of Bar­ celona, the GIRO Joint Re­ search Unit IRTA-UPC, and the Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung, in Leip­ zig, Germany, will study the use of isotopic and molecu­ lar techniques to determine biodegradation mechanisms and design of strategies for the bioremediation of aquifers contaminated with organochlorinated com­

pounds.

The research will be per­ formed Òdena, in a location exhibiting high complexity and linked to an old factory in which pesticides and ot­ her chemical products were produced. The presence of diverse contaminants stored in buried tanks and the inadequate residue ma­ nagement are the primary factors of the contamination of an aquifer in the region of Anoia.

Specifically, the mecha­ nisms of tetrachloroethylene and trichloroethylene micro­ bial degradation will be stu­ Annual Report 2012 / 76

died, i.e, the capacity of the microorganisms to decom­ pose the contaminants in smaller chemical elements, innocuous for the environ­ ment. The researchers aim determining the efficacy of the new methods by using molecular biology and preci­ se geochemical tools, such as the analysis of stable iso­ topes, to find out the degra­ dation mechanisms of the two organochlorinated com­ pounds. The different bio­ remediation systems (clean technology that incentivizes the natural potential of the microorganisms to eliminate

Exploiting cattle manure The CowCompost project frorm the GIRO Joint Re­ search Unit IRTA-UPC has launched. The main objecti­ ve is to study and develop a new process for producing

Annual Report 2012 / 77

a high-quality organic subs­ trate from cattle manure in farms for products with ad­ ded value to be used by two different markets: - the farming/horticultural market - the market of extractive industries and remediation of soils.

GIRO

or transform contaminants into compounds that are more innocuous) will also be assessed for future in situ use in the area.

The IMOTEX-BOX rese­ arch project is funded by the Seventh Framework Pro­ gramme (FP7).

Passeig de GrĂ cia, 44, 3r 08007 Barcelona irta@irta.cat www.irta.eu

T. +34 934 674 040 F. + 34 934 674 042

ANNUAL REPORT 2012