Research + Development + Innovation pathways and feedback in the agrofood sector in the Basque Country

INDEX

1. Contextualization 2. How has the Basque Country managed to

become a reference in Europe? 3. What are the forthcoming challenges in

research and development? 4. The role of R+D+i agents in economic

transformation 5. Neiker’s role

Contextualization

The Basque Country is a small densely populated territory, configured as a unique “autonomous community” within the Spanish State. It has an agreement with the State, called the “Economic Agreement”, endowing it with absolute tax economy and develop its own socio-economic policy: • Economic development, • Education, health, • R+D+i, territorial policy • Rural and agroforestry development

Some important data • Small territory: 7,234 km2 • High density population: 2,188,985 inhabitants, with an average density of 300 inhab./km2 • Difficult topography: 85% of municipalities classified as “mountainous” • Transit area: economic corridor between the Iberian Peninsula inland and rest of Europe,

resulting in a heavy infrastructure and town planning demand, with serious repercussions regarding land availability and subsequent shortage thereof for agricultural usage

• Extensive use of agricultural land: 12% is occupied by crops and vegetable gardens, a little over 25% for meadows and pasturelands; and around 55% is forestry

• Furthermore, there is a large area of spaces with a high environmental value, approximately 20.3% of the Basque Autonomy territory comes under Red Natura 2000

Basque agricultural sector

SAU (arable land + meadows)

186.009 ha

Farms: 16.416 (with cattle: 11.249)

% Young people: 9,6% % Women: 30,9%

Average Standard Output

21.634,36 €/farm

GNP percentage

0,75% (Fisheries included)

Basque agricultural sector

Meat industries 1.409 5º 49,1 6º 244,3 6º 21,9 6º 65,4 3º

Processed fish products 1.963 4º 113,2 4º 546,8 4º 283,9 2º 221,2 2º

Dairy products 1.065 6º 82,7 5º 397,2 5º 31,9 5º 60,7 4º

Bread & Milling 5.618 1º 202,6 2º 597,5 3º 65,0 4º 33,4 5º

Other food industries 2.620 3º 184,7 3º 1.052,4 1º 354,7 1º 273,4 1º

Drinks 2.885 2º 304,9 1º 1.001,0 2º 173,5 3º 22,5 6º

Agrofood industry total

(*) DATA 2012. Source: Eustat

15.560 937,2 3.839,1 930,9 676,6

Employment (Nº)

GNP (€ millions)

TURNOVER (€ millions)

EXPORTS (*) (€ millions)

IMPORTS(*) (€ millions)

Degree of self-sufficiency (%)

Some important data The Basque Food Value Chain, by adding all the activities involved and whose hybridization is decisive in the progress of this hub currently represent 10.6% of the GNP and 96,500 direct jobs, a strategy sector for Basque economy defined as a territory of opportunity and entrepreneurial discovery un the RIS3 plan. The Basque Food Value Chain

How has the Basque Country

managed to become a reference in Europe?

Strong innovator region

Ongoing modernization of the Basque agrofood sector and our agricultural environment – recognition as a strategic sector. • Creation and consolidation of critical leverage and agents: • Government Plans and Policies • Education & Training: training centres, management centres, universities,

clusters, groups • R+D+i: Technological Centres, ongoing public-private investment • Investment in critical infrastructures to develop the entire value chain • Anticipation and proactivity to achieve excellence

Research and innovation are and have been a prolonged intense commitment of the Basque Government over time. • This commitment began in the 1980s with the construction of the technological centre network and

continued until reaching the current specialization policy (RIS 3), technology transfer, advanced management and business venture.

• RIS 3 Intelligent Specialization Strategy, is reflected in the “Basque Science Technology & Innovation Plan PCTI2020” and aligned with the EU growth strategy for this decade, proposing 3 priorities which mutually reinforce each other:

- Intelligent growth - Sustainable growth - Integrating growth

Development of quality policies in the last 30 years

ELIKA

Food safety

designations of origin

Quality

AZTI NEIKER

BCC

R & D & I

HAZI BCC AZTI

NEIKER

Entrepreneurship

Universities Agricultural schools

Training

HAZI Management

Centers

Management support

associations Cluster SECTOR

What are the forthcoming challenges in R+D?

Challenges Research, Development & Innovation • Basque smart

Specialization H2020 • Science technology &

innovation plan PCTI2020

RIS 3 3 strategic priorities and 4 opportunity territories have been identified for the Basque Country Strategic Priorities: 1. Advanced manufacture 2. Energy 3. Biosciences / Health Areas of opportunity: 1. Food linked to sustainability and human environment 2. Territorial planning and urban regeneration 3. Certain niches related to leisure, entertainment and culture 4. Specific activities related to ecosystems

Mission of the plan: Promote and develop gastronomy and food as a strategic sector for the economy of Euskadi for its ability to generate employment and economic activity, conserve gastronomic cultural heritage and natural and landscape resources. Promote policies and tools for the promotion of gastronomy and agri-food industry, in particular, which draws a quality and healthy local product, which promotes sustainability, creation of a proposal of quality tourist value and the international diffusion of the Basque brand Country. A chain of Value of Gastronomy and Food: Healthy, Safe, Singular and Sustainable (socially, culturally, economically and environmentally).

STRATEGIC PLAN OF GASTRONOMY AND FOOD Gastronomy has dived head first into the chain to drive and foster the Basque Agrofood sector which is the local produce traction force, generate employment and economic wealth, the creation of a tourist value proposal, preservation of the cultural landscape and territorial heritage; and last but not least international diffusion the Basque Country brand. The new plan proposes agents linked to the R+D+i area continue working on the generation of collaborative experimental projects.

• Drive the development of strategic industrial innovation projects in priority areas under the RIS3 intelligent specialization plan, in the area of healthy food and new safe sustainable food production systems.

• Foster the creation and development of R+D+I projects of scientific-technological excellence with enormous economic importance, vertical (participation of different value chain agents) and horizontal integration.

• Foster ecological production via actions affecting the entire value chain: production, processing, commercialization and consumption; giving priority to those production directions with greatest growth and sustainability potential.

• Drive experimental projects in the Bioeconomy and circular food sector by making use of the entire Basque food value chain (production, processing, sale, reuse and making use of byproducts).

The role of R+D+i agents in economic

transformation

Innobasque (Basque Innovation Agency)

NEIKER

AZTI

BCC

R&D and Transfer to agrofood and forestry sector

R&D and transfer to the food industry

R&D and transfer to the gastronomic industry

V A L U E

C H A I N

Basque Culinary Center • Faculty of Gastronomic Sciences • Supports the Gastronomic Industry in the exploration of new models, formats, experiences, etc. • Regarding the R+D+i unit, this area is specialized in researching, developing and transferring

gastronomic applications (concepts, techniques, preparations, etc.) on topics of global gastronomic interest

Complete connection with the primary sector: • Primary sector connection seeking new local produce applications • Primary sector connection seeking to recover old varieties • Primary sector connection seeking healthier more sustainable produce (less - • Primary sector connection seeking greater quality products (breeds, profiles) • Primary sector connection seeking improvement in flavours, textures and colours as per people’s

expectations and sensoriality

AZTI

Technological Centre which provides innovative solutions to the food industry in order to develop new improved products which prioritize quality, safety and food identity and environment friendliness with the consumer as the central focus. There are 4 areas of specialization in food research: • New foods: Integral solutions for the food industry (new foods, processing and preservation) • Efficient sustainable processes: Innovate to flexibilize food industry production, applying improvement measures for

its environment action as well as socio-economic development. • Food quality, safety and identity: Differentiations and improving quality, control and identity at all production stages:

raw materials, production and end product. • Consumer and market: Make use of market trends commercially and economically fostering innovation, converting

ideas into profitable differentiated solutions for the food industry.

Complete connection with the primary sector: • Added value processing • Creation of new products leveraged from local production • Giving value to local produce

NEIKER Technological Centre providing innovative solutions for agrofood and forestry sector. Commitments: • To improve productivity and competitiveness of agricultural production systems. • To develop and apply new management technologies in farms • Meeting the quality needs of the agri-food processing industry, the distinctive products

and the general consumer. Also becoming the technological infrastructure for the response against biological threats, to the food production system itself and the population in general.

Today taking into consideration the RIS3 definition and PCTI 2020 (food and health), likewise the recent the Strategic Food and Gastronomy Strategic Plan, at Neiker there are 4 strategic transformer projects tackling:

1. Research and development of solutions aimed at converging economy

and Bioeconomy. 2. Research and development of solutions aimed at rationalisation of drugs

and phytosanitary products. 3. Research and development of solutions aimed at modelization and

treatment of scientifically advanced predictive data. 4. Research and development of crop alternatives to create new healthier

more natural and sensorially improved produce with local origin.

The role Of Neiker

Mission To support, promote and contribute to improving the competitiveness of the Basque agrifood section and conservation of the environment, generating scientific knowledge and transferable solutions, which provide wealth and well-being for the Basque Country, with committed motivated people.

Staff Highly qualified professionals. We have a staff of over 180 people. More than half have PhDs and degrees.

Publications 63 publications in 2014. 69 publications in 2015. 60 publications in 2016.

Facilities Own infrastructure. We have the equipment and installations necessary to efficiently carry out our activity. Experimental farms, experimental flock, animalarium, P2 Greenhouse, P3 laboratory, Incinerator furnace, etc.

Strategic research lines: Vegetable Production • Genetic Vegetable Improvement • Agricultural production systems and good practices • Alternative cultures and biomolecules of agrifood interest • Agricultural waste revaluation and treatment • Agrofood sector economic, environmental and social assessment

Strategic research lines: Vegetable Health. • Epidemiology and control of vegetable and forest diseases • Diagnosis and detection vegetable pests and diseases • Analysis of vegetable disease risk

Strategic research lines: Animal Production. • Improve animal genetics • Animal food and nutrition • Animal production systems • Applied aetiology and animal well-being

Strategic research lines: Animal Health. • Food safety • Control of diseases caused by microbacteria • Diagnosis and control of zoonosis and emerging diseases • Epidemiological surveillance of forest fauna • Vectors and transmitted diseases

Strategic research lines: Conservation Of Natural Resources. • Conservation and sustainable use of agricultural and natural resources • Recovery of soils and degraded environments • Climate change impact, mitigation and adaptation

Conclusions

• Policies • Plans • Public-private investment • Agents (R+D+i, training, transference) • Training • Research Talent • Financial Instruments • Demanding targets “excellence” • Scientific-technological excellence • Researched aimed at socio-economic

transformation without losing sight of sustainability

• Entrepreneurship from R+D+i as well • Focus on value chain and reinforcement

agents • Perseverance • Teamwork

Thank you!