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Activity Funded

Center for Research and Development in Agrifood Systems and Sustainability

Centro de Investigação e Desenvolvimento em Sistemas Agroalimentares e Sustentabilidade

Reference
UIDB/05937/2020
Project Start Date
2020-01-01
Project End Date
2024-12-31
Principal Investigator
Funding Program
Concurso de avaliação no âmbito do Programa Plurianual de Financiamento de Unidades de I&D (2017/2018) - Financiamento Base

Abstract

10.2 Summary in English for general dissemination purposes CISAS is a multidisciplinary research and development (R&D) unit, based at the IPVC, which is focused on agri-food systems in the Mediterranean and sustainability issues, heavily involved in promoting a balanced approach between food science, landscape, and agriculture and sustainability studies. Thus, the centre is organized in two main axes, namely Agri-Food Systems and AgroSystems Resource Management and Sustainability. Related to “Agri-food Systems”, CISAS main research lines are food products, endogenous resources valorisation, economic empowerment and consumer-driven development. CISAS will contribute to the development of (new) products and processes, particularly Mediterranean, in order to foster the valorisation of agri-food, forestry, aquaculture and fisheries industries. Concerning the valorisation of endogenous resources, CISAS aims to protect and promote endogenous food products, linked with the Mediterranean diet, adding value and protecting their origin, production methods and market approach. New strategies and policies to promote the commercialization, marketing and internationalization are essential to foster the development of the local economic framework and, therefore, are defined as a key priority in CISAS R&D activities. Considering that food product development needs to be based on consumers' behaviours to be successful, CISAS aims to evaluate the relationship of the sensorial, physical, chemical and microbiological properties of foods with consumption habits and trends towards product valorisation and process optimizations. Agrosystems characterization, smart farm systems and health and sanitary systems are the main research lines in the axis “Agrosystems Resource Management and Sustainability”. Regarding agrosystems characterization, CISAS researchers’ aim to contribute to the valorisation of the regional agrosystems (especially the Vinho Verde terroir) through the characterization and optimization of the territory and the valorisation of the product quality and through the implementation of precisionfarming in agriculture and livestock Pest and disease control, animal welfare, agro-biodiversity and sustainable production are crucial for healthy and safe products. Thus, CISAS intends to develop products, processes and methods with emphasis in the quality, productivity and sustainability of animal and vegetable products, particularly organic. For this purpose, CISAS has defined a medium-term Programme with three phases – organization, affirmation and excellence where internationalization is an important goal, reinforcing the strategy to promote mobility programs, increase the participation in projects, societies and publications and the involvement in doctoral programs. The promotion of scientific employment, the establishment of partnerships, the relation with the regional environment, the promotion of the scientific and technological culture with the dissemination of research data and results, will be intensified. 10.3 Summary in English for evaluation CISAS aims to be an efficient R&D unit, strongly supported by the knowledge in the field of Mediterranean Agri-Food Systems, contributing to the development and innovation of the economic sectors involved and for the development of the social and cultural aspects associated with the Mediterranean food and agricultural traditions. CISAS participates in different ongoing projects, creating knowledge, enhancing quality, promoting sustainability and boosting innovation, mainly in two axis. Relating to Agri-food Systems Axis, foodproducts, endogenous resources valorisation, economic empowerment and consumer driven development are the principal research lines. CISAS will contribute to develop new products and processes, particularly in a Mediterranean basis, in order to the valorisation of agri-food, forestry, aquaculture and fisheries industries. The valorisation of by-products and their application in high benefit food products, allocated to Mediterranean diet proprieties, will continue to be a relevant research line. Concerning endogenous resources valorisation CISAS aims to protect and promote endogenous food products, linked with the Mediterranean diet, adding value and protecting their origin and production methods and market approach. The development of methodologies to guarantee authenticity and certification of origin or the characterization, improvement and promotion of autochthonous species and local breeds, evaluating adaptation and resilience to climate changes and diseases, will be important research activities. New strategies and policies to the commercialization, marketing and internationalization to reinforce development and competitiveness are determinant to the economic empowerment and remain object of studies and proposes from CISAS. Furthermore, the evaluation of traditional circuits of agri-food products, as an important and complementary tool of the characterization of PDO and PGI products, adding them value and notoriety, will be an important topic. Considering that food product development needs to be based on consumers' behaviours and wishes to be successful, it is an objective of CISAS, in this agri-food systems axis, to evaluate the relationship of the sensorial, physical, chemical and microbiological properties of foods with consumption habits and trends towards product valorisation and process optimizations, preserving the basis of Mediterranean diet. Agrosystems characterization, smart farm systems and health and sanitary are the main research lines in the axis agrosystems resource management and sustainability. In agrosystems characterization, CISAS research intends to contribute to the valorisation of the regional agrosystems, in particular, the Vinho Verde terroir, optimizing cultivable land and product quality. Climate change is reinforcing the need for resilient, productive and sustainable farming solutions and water, thermal stress management, influence of geography and soil properties on the products quality will be also important activities. CISAS research intends to contribute to the implementation of precision farming in agriculture and livestock, particularly improving crop protection techniques, as in the vineyard and other relevant crops, as kiwi or chestnut. Pest and disease control, agro-biodiversity and sustainable production are determinant for healthy and safe products. CISAS intends to develop products, processes and methods with emphasis in the quality, productivity and sustainability of the animal and vegetable products, particularly organic and will reinforce the developments on R&D+I in the field of plant and animal diseases control, pest management and animal welfare strategies. For this purpose, CISAS has defined a medium-term Programme with three phases. The first -organization, 2018, intends to prepare, present and manage the evaluation process to support the creation and formalization of the unit. The second – affirmation, 2019-20, intends to Increase the number of applications/consortia for project funding opportunities for R&D, re-equipment, HR financing (post)doctoral grants, scholarships, to support R&D activities in parallel with the leverage protocols and contracts for specialized services. The last phase, excellence, 2021-22, intends to increase the number of researchers and undergraduates, the coordination and integration between the work areas, the definition of PhD Programs and integration in international research networks and pretends to reinforce scientific work, national and international scientific publications, patents and knowledge transfer. Internationalization is an important goal and at that point CISAS aims to reinforce its strategy promoting mobility programs for researchers and students, increasing the participation of senior researchers as Project Coordinators, editors or scientific reviewers, encouraging the coordination and participation of researchers in international societies, as well as the involvement in doctoral programs. Moreover, aims to apply to selected H2020 calls and other international programs. Young scientists are determinant for research and science and one important CISAS objective is the promotion of scientific employment (more than 10 fellows/young researchers and 4 PhD). CISAS foresees the establishment of protocols/partnerships with other national and international R&D Units, the participation in present networks (REXIA2s), new networks (wine), in the consortium digital innovation hub for national agriculture (DSTHUB4AGRI), or other forms of association with other R&D units. institutions and infrastructures of international relevance. CISAS is focused on strengthening the relation with the regional environment, leading to the development of applied research to business needs, transfer of knowledge and technology and economic development. Initiatives that promote the scientific and technological culture will be intensified with the dissemination of research data and results.

Institutions

Main Institutions

  • Centro de Investigação e Desenvolvimento em Sistemas Agroalimentares e Sustentabilidade (CISAS)
  • Universidade Politécnica de Viana do Castelo (IPVC)

Funding 248.000,00 €

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - Portugal

248.000,00 €