Track: Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria

X_Agritech, the first Catalan innovation network in sustainability and livestock, unites the efforts of 8 RDI institutions and 305 researchers working to promote the transfer of the results of their revolt. Representatives of a good part of the entities in the network intervene to present the opportunity, the benefits it offers, its structure, the objectives pursued, and its growth prospects.

The X_AgriTech network presents the results of the technology scouting action carried out among the different research groups that make it up. This paper presents the results classified by the four areas of work of the network: sustainable agronomy, sustainable livestock, genetic improvement and artificial intelligence and date science.

PLANET BIOTECH SL is a CRAG spin-off that provides innovative solutions to mitigate the effects of rapid climate change on agriculture. He collaborates closely with farmers, reference institutions and other industry partners to bring his technology to the market, and in this case we will learn how it was created and accelerated from the CRAG with the support of PRUAB.

AERIS Environmental Technologies S.L. is a spin-off of GENOCOV - Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) created to provide solutions for the treatment of water and industrial waste gases. As for the AEInnova - Alternative Energy Innovations SL startup emerged from the Department of UAB Microelectronics to provide energy efficiency solutions industrial with thermoelectric technologies, "wireless sensing" and IOT. In this case we will know their value proposition, and how both grew, hand in hand from a representative of the UAB Patent and Valuation Office

NEURICE is the acronym for "New commercial EUropean RICE (Oryza sativa) harboring salt tolerance alleles tone protect the rice sector against climate change and apple snail (Pomacea insularum) invasion". This is a project to obtain commercial rice lines tolerant to salinity through an innovative introgressio system "Fast-breeding" developed in the laboratory of Dr.Salvador Nogués of the UB.

Ugiat Technologies is a spinoff of the UPC that develops advanced tools for digital image analysis, audio processing, media content and natural language. Its CEO offers his point of view on the support received from UPC and institutions to transfer its technology.

IRTA, together with local producers, highlights "plant based" varieties of legumes and nuts from the #Localnutleg Project consortium. This initiative defends the "Mediterranean quality" seal, promotes innovation in formulations and considers 3D printing, but above all it claims Km.0 production in a range of varieties increasingly in demand by the consumer, favoring local development and territorial.

Tangential filtration increases throughput and reduces waste streams in industries that process dairy, juice, collagen and alternative protein, and other industries. The circularity of streams leads us towards sustainability.

What changes towards greater sustainability are being made in the traditional cultivation of vineyards and orchards, and in centuries-old food industries? We spoke with two companies in the primary sector: Bodegas Torres and Frutos de Poniente (finalists for the Best Company 2023 awards from the Generalitat of Catalonia).

Today, technologies are already used in the Spanish wine sector to optimize the carbon footprint. In this case, we will address its importance, the opportunities for improvement in both vineyards and wineries and artificial intelligence technologies that address this challenge with some representatives of the state VITEXPERT project.

New decarbonisation data reporting legislation affects food industries, who should measure, report and define objectives sustainability over time. This case exposes Ametller's experience Origin in this regard, and the value of Business Sustainability Councils.

The person responsible for the implementation of the Strategic Plan and digital and sustainable transformation of the FEMAC sector, talks with Lobelia Earth, a leading company in satellite technology and climate science that applies technological solutions to the Drought Observatory and in climate projection projects for the agricultural sector. and rancher.

The Center for Innovation in Alternative Proteins (*CiPA) aspires to be the reference center in southern Europe in the field of alternative proteins, contributing to the development of a Catalan agro-industrial ecosystem focused on ingredients, food, feed and derivatives from sources of alternative proteins. The "sustainable production of proteins" is a transversal strategic scientific initiative of the *IRTA Strategic Plan: its infrastructures, capacities and experience constitute a solid framework on which to build this center, which responds to an opportunity for the country.

The sustainable production of protein foods represents one of the most important challenges for Ri in the agroindustrial sector. The transition trend from protein of animal origin to alternative proteins generates new technological and food safety challenges. The presentation assesses the different sources of alternative protein ingredients, the industrial challenges with alternative proteins, and how they are addressed by IRTA.

On the market we find several analogues of milk and dairy products: vegetable drinks, fermented based on vegetable drinks, and fermented based on vegetable pastes for cheese analogues. Currently, the former are those with the largest market, but innovations in fermented vegetables, due to their nutritional properties, have a promising future. The session exposes the areas of innovation in which action is being taken, the medium-term challenges, and new products with potential.

Ibserinsect is a biotechnology company dedicated to the production and research of products derived from Tenebrio Molitor, the mealworm. Collaborate with IRTA to research healthy, nutritional and sustainable animal feed alternatives based on insect protein.

The control of refrigeration and drying chambers is mainly based on temperature monitoring. This case presents the work carried out jointly between the company AKO and IRTA to develop intelligent control Yacht systems to monitor the quality and safety of stored products in real time.

The drying process of raw and cured/fermented meat products is expensive in terms of time and energy consumption, and there is a risk of product spoilage if the process is not carried out correctly. This case exposes, in a dialogue with the company Boadas 1880, the impact of regulation on the energy cost of the drying process and innovations on the matter.

The use of more sustainable materials and eco-design of packaging are on the rise. This trend pushes food companies to implement more responsible practices in response to current environmental challenges. This case will present innovative solutions for more sustainable packaging, without compromising technological functionality or food safety.

The creation of a plant that optimizes the generation of biogas with waste from a pig slaughterhouse is a project of IRTA and Mafrica, this year it was recognized by the CBC Innovation Award. The participants in this case demonstrate that their recovery strategy through the production of biogas is already a reality.

The Fundació Catalana per a la Recerca i la Innovació (FCRI) has a unique capacity to contribute to innovation dynamics between public and private agents. Its representative, responsible for the Industrial Doctorate Program in AGAUR companies, talks with representatives of VEnvirotech Biotechnology to delve into the two and a half year collaboration experience with an industrial doctoral student: Any.

Presentation morning of 15 startups: 

Andres Cano  (Cooling Photonics) - Maria Eugenia Martín Hidalgo (Color Sensing) -Matias Cesano (Ingredalia) - Iñaki Iturria (Genbioma Aplicaciones SL) - Aitor Susano (Corium) - Iria Varela Campo (ODS Protein) - Iñigo Martin Aizpuru (BioBee) - Rosa Sàbat (Innolarva) - Anaut Frantz   (Algaloop) - Milos Dukat  (ISAUKI Foods) - Diego Fernández  (Wine Luthier SL) - Andrea Giordano  (PLANeT Biotech SL) - Alexandre Roca (ModPoW) - Pablo Ignacio Sánchez (Innomy) - Giuseppe Scionti (Novameat) - Juan Manuel Viejo Blanjard (FOOD+I) - Ayman Moghnieh (NakedInnovations) - Daniel Gonzálvez Ortuño (GCO Ventures) - Clara Bartra Corominas (Ivoro Ventures) - Maria del Carmen Adan De Manuel (LS Technova Barcelona) - Glòria Cugat (DACC) - Marta Fonrodona (IREC)

In meat preparations and products, the classification of some derivatives poses difficulties in interpreting legal definitions, which can cause non-compliance with regulations on the use of additives and consumer information. The presentation presents a methodology developed at IRTA for the objective classification of meat derivatives.

Afternoon presentation of 15 startups:

Jordi Vernet Bescós (Alguímia) - Alejandro Caballero (Bioazul SL) - Jorge Garcia del Arco (Aquadat) - Francoise de Valera Rose   (Pack2Earth) - Maria Cuairan Calvo (Sanygran) - Juan Garrido (Bread Free SL) - Jose B. Carbajo Elena (Bondalti Water (GA)) - Luis Chimeno Moral (Oscillum) - Guillem Quintana (FACTIC, Inc.) - José Racionero (Rospetal SL) - Berta Daina Troguet (Agro Biomaterials) - Juan Francisco Carrillo (Cofling) - Ana Martínez (Almotech) - Bernardo Ausejo (Clean Wood) - Jose M. Martínez-Fortún (Ceratonia Plus) - Adrián Martín (Bronze) - Alejandro M. Gonzalez Navech (Pascual) - Anna Gallés   (CanRoldos Sociedad Inversora) - Mireia Solà Llort (ENISA) - Cristina Sáenz de Pipaón Soba (Freelance) - Carmen Galindo  (EIT Food) - Sofía Mendoza Sullivan (Eatable Adventures) - Alejandro Ribó (Netmentora)

RawData is a startup for the digitalization of agricultural companies, and BonaTerra is a "food marketplace." Both were funded by ENISA, and in this they will talk about entrepreneurship and collaboration in startups, as well as their financing challenges.

TeamUp is a European program from EIT Food that pairs brilliant innovators with compatible and complementary profiles, forming solid teams for agri-food stratups interested in impacting the market. In this session, the European VB EIT-Food will address the acceleration cases of the companies Acuadat and Bioazul.

Mercabarna, in collaboration with Barcelona Activa, annually announces three INNOVA awards. In this session, your Cluster Manager talks with the startups awarded in the latest edition of the program: Best innovative initiative in operations and business models, in packaging and in food products.

Food Tech startups, such as Groots Uban Farming, have emerged as catalysts of innovation for large companies in the food industry. These technology companies are revolutionizing food production and actors like Stage2 are helping to accelerate their adoption, generating benefits for the entire sector.