The Department of Agriculture has brought together specialists and members of the avocado producing sector in order to promote responses tailored to the demands of the Valencian sector. It has been during a day in which various scientific studies carried out by the Valencian Institute of Agricultural Research (IVIA) have been made known.
The Director General of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), Ángel Marhuenda, has brought to an end this Tuesday the first sector roundtable promoted by the Valencian Institute of Agricultural Research (IVIA) focused on avocado cultivation. This initiative seeks to strengthen the relationship between research work and the specific needs of farmers in the Valencian Community, according to what the Generalitat stated in a press release.
During the session, six research projects carried out at the IVIA were presented, mostly linked to the Marisa Badenes predoctoral contract program.
These studies focus on areas such as fertilization and sustainable nutrition, genetic improvement and tolerance to salinity, the main diseases of the crop, and the quality and conservation of the fruit after harvesting.
In his remarks, Marhuenda stated that "agricultural research has to be connected with the reality of the countryside. It is essential to listen to farmers, understand their problems, and direct the work of our researchers toward solutions that can be brought to the farms."
The Director General has also emphasized that "collaboration between research centers and the sector is essential in order to move toward a more competitive, sustainable agriculture prepared to face new challenges."
Professional organizations, cooperatives, and different entities took part in the meeting, including AVA-ASAJA, ASOPROA, LA UNIÓ, Anecoop, and ASFPLANT, which shared their vision and the main needs of this crop.
The day also included a roundtable between IVIA researchers and representatives from the sector, designed to exchange proposals, identify new avenues for collaboration, and help define future research lines.