Scientific Journals of INIA (Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria)
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Editorial: Identifying agri-food research priorities for Spain - 2017 results
Get PDFAmong other functions, the INIA is involved in national and international cooperation in the field of agri-food research. The process of identifying and classifying gaps in our knowledge forms an essential part of this effort. This article describes that process, the tools and the materials used to achieve the final objective, namely, the identification of research priorities in the Spanish agri-food sector in order to deal with the societal challenges posed by society and the stakeholders involved. These challenges, within the context of the bioeconomy, are the sustainability of primary and forestry production systems, the safety and quality of food and bioproducts as well as the competitiveness of farmers and companies in this sector. It is necessary to optimize resource management and means of production along with improved efficiency to guarantee sustainability throughout the value chain process. The main goal, under the current scenario of climate change, is to develop models which lead to a balance between food quality and production costs (competitiveness and economic sustainability), ecosystem conservation and mitigation of the environmental impacts (environmental sustainability) while maintaining the population in rural areas (social sustainability). These models will be based on new technology in both intensive and extensive production systems. They should support the improvement and valuation of traditional products together with the formulation and development of foods with new functionalities and quality while at the same time ensuring safety. As well as satisfying consumer demand, improved knowledge must lead to a more efficient use of our own resources and by-products within the framework of a circular economy, including the development of bioproducts, eco-innovation and eco-design
Site factors and stand conditions associated with Persian oak decline in Zagros mountain forests
Get PDFAim of study: Drought and stand structure are major and interconnected drivers of forest dynamics. Water shortage and tree-to-tree competition may interact under the current climate change scenario, increasing tree mortality. In this study, we aimed to investigate climate trends, site and stand structure effects on tree mortality, with the main hypothesis that drought-induced mortality is higher as competition increases.Area of study: Persian oak forests from Zagros Range, western Iran.Material and Methods: We split the study area into 20 topographical units (TUs), based on aspect, slope and elevation. In each TU, three 0.1 ha plots were established to quantify site and stand characteristics, namely the diameter of all trees and shrubs, stand density and basal area, canopy dieback and mortality. In addition, soil profiles were analyzed to obtain physical and chemical soil properties. Six transects 100 m length were established per TU to measure tree-to-tree competition for alive and dead trees.Main Results: The highest mortality rates and crown dieback were found at higher elevations and southern and western aspects. Our findings confirm increasing rates of tree mortality in stands with higher tree density and shallow soils. As regard links between climate change and forest decline, our results suggest that changing forest structure may have a significant impact on dust emission.Research highlights: Despite severe dry years occurred recently the study area, they are not significantly different than those recorded in the past. Stand structure appears as a modulating factor of climate change effects, linked to competition-related tree vulnerability to drought
Short communication: The effect of changing temperature and agar concentration at proliferation stage in the final success of Aleppo pine somatic embryogenesis
Get PDFAim of the study: The effect of physical and chemical conditions at proliferation stage was evaluated in order to elucidate if this stage is the determinant phase to induce a marked effect in Pinus halepensis somatic embryogenesis.Area of study: The study was conducted in research laboratories of Neiker (Arkaute, Spain).Material and methods: Pinus halepensis embryonal masses from ten embryogenic cell lines subjected to nine treatments (tissues cultured at three temperatures on media supplemented with three agar concentrations) at proliferation stage.Main results: Significant differences were observed among different proliferation conditions months later at the end of maturation, germination and acclimatization stages.Research highlights: Aleppo pine embryonal masses are cultured under standard conditions on a culture medium supplemented with 4.5 g/L Gelrite® at 23ºC. However, better results in terms of plantlet production can be obtained proliferating the embryonal masses at 18ºC in a culture media with significantly lower water availability.
National assessment of throughfall sensitivity to changes in storm magnitude for the forests of Iran
Get PDFAim of study: To understand throughfall (TF) sensitivity to variability in rainfall amount (Pg) for typical forest sites across the main climate types of Iran.Area of study: Nine forest stands of several common native and introduced tree species situated in all common Iranian climate types, but located primarily in northern Iran.Material and methods: A nondimensional relative sensitivity coefficient was employed to predict responses of TF to Pg changes. Projected Pg changes over the measurement sites for the period 2020-50 were estimated using one of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 (CMIP5) known as HadGEM2-ES under low and high emission scenarios (RCP 2.6 and 8.5).Main results: TF displayed strong positive linear relationships with Pg at all sites [TF=0.66 Pg -0.16; R2=0.91]. The sensitivity coefficient ranged from 0.96-2.35 across the nine forest sites and large sensitivity coefficientdifferences were found between small (< mean annual Pg) and large (> mean annual Pg) storms for arid and Mediterranean plantations. Shifts in Pg and increased small storm frequency are predicted for these regions (2020-50) under low and high emission scenarios.Research highlights: TF sensitivity may be a useful variable when selecting tree species for afforestation to buffer expected shifts in Pg due to climate change.Keywords: climate change; forest ecosystems; precipitation projection; throughfall sensitivity
Epidemiological study of honeybee pathogens in Europe: The results of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain)
Get PDFAs a part of a Pilot Monitoring Program of honey bee health coordinated by the EURL (European Union Reference Laboratory) and according to the criteria established for Spain, 14 apiaries in Castilla-La Mancha were selected at random and sampled during the autumns of 2012-2014 to identify the most prevalent nosogenic agents, potentially those related to the honey bee colony collapse phenomenon. In all the apiaries studied, Nosema ceranae was the most prevalent pathogen detected over the three years, confirming the worldwide spread of this microsporidian, a pathogen that negatively affects honey bee health at an individual and colony level. Trypanosomatids were also very prevalent in honey bee colonies, although the majority of Trypanosomatids detected were not Crithidia mellificae but rather the genetically distinct Lotmaria passim lineage. We also detected Varroa destructor mites, and the particularly high prevalence in 2014 suggests a possible problem regarding mite control in field conditions that requires attention. In agreement with data from other regions, the BQCV and DWV were the most prevalent viruses in honey bee colonies and thus, the Varroa-DVW interaction may be an important cause of bee colony mortality. While there was little evidence of a relationship between the BQCV virus and N. ceranae under field conditions during 2012, this was not the case in 2013 and 2014. Finally, the AKI-complex or LSV-complex was not detected. The information obtained in this study should help orientate future plans for honey bee disease control
Comparison of vapour pressure deficit patterns during cucumber cultivation in a traditional high PE tunnel greenhouse and a tunnel greenhouse equipped with a heat accumulator
Get PDFPlant productivity in protected cultivation is highly influenced by air temperature and humidity. The conditions relating to the moisture content of the air in protected plant cultivation are preferably defined by vapour pressure deficit (VPD), which describes the difference between the maximal and actual water vapour pressure (kPa). VPD is widely used as the parameter describing the climate conditions favourable for the development of fungal diseases and for highlighting conditions unfavourable for plant development. In protected cultivation, both the air temperature and the humidity are influenced by heating systems, and one such system is a heat accumulator, which may store the excessive heat produced during the day by converting the solar energy inside the plastic tunnel, and using it when plant heating is required. The tunnel equipped with a heat accumulator maintained an optimal level of humidity for a longer period, and significantly reduced the time of excessive air humidity. The longest time with an optimal VPD was recorded in August in a tunnel with an accumulator – 30.5% of total time vs. 22.3% of time for control tunnel. The highest difference of total time where the VPD was too low (below 0.2 kPa) was recorded in July – 12.4% of time in a tunnel with an accumulator vs. 39.1% of time for control tunnel. The highest difference of total time with an excessive VPD (over 1.4 kPa) was recorded in May – 12.1% of time in a tunnel with an accumulator vs. 17.9% of time for control tunnel. However, a situation beneficial for plant growth occurred every month during the investigated season
Statistical methods for identifying anisotropy in the Spodoptera frugiperda spatial distribution
Get PDFCorn is a very important agricultural product, however, some pests may cause damage to the corn productivity such as Spodoptera frugiperda, which prevents the plant from growing in a regular manner. Since the indiscriminate use of the pesticide may cause an increasing resistance of the insect besides an environmental damage, it is important to estimate the areas and the dominant directions where the insect may propagate. The main aim of this work was to study the spreading of the fall armyworm in a commercial agricultural area in the South of Brazil. For this, we considered a set including the location of each corn plant attacked by the insect. In particular, we assumed that the spatial locations given by the geographic coordinates constitute a spatial point pattern following a stationary Poisson point process. In order to detect the presence of possible dominant directions in the distribution of the fall armyworm infestation we studied the anisotropic features of the data by using some second-order spatial point-pattern analysis techniques such as the K directional test, the wavelet-based test, and the quadrat counting test. All the results showed that spatial distribution of fall armyworm may follow a clustered Poisson point process with the presence of an evident anisotropy mainly due to the shape and the distance between corn plants of the experimental area. These preliminary results could be used for reducing and optimizing the use of pesticides with a consequent decrease of the environmental impact
Valuation of nutritional and health claims for yoghurts in Spain: A hedonic price approach
Get PDFThis article investigates price effects of nutritional claims (NC) and health claims (HC), in addition to other attributes, on yoghurts in the Spanish market. Prices and product characteristics are collected from yoghurt label references found on the shelves of the main representative retail shops in the capital city of Aragon (Zaragoza) Spain. The total sample included 508 yoghurts. Nutritional and health claims (NHCs) are selected based on the official definitions of the (EC) Regulation No 1924/2006 and No 432/2012. Premium prices of the NHCs and other attributes included were assessed through a hedonic price approach. Results show that yoghurt is a highly differentiated food product. NCs related to fat-free, low in sugar and fiber content did not affect yoghurt prices while most of the health claims received significant positive effects. Health claims outperform nutritional claims leading to higher premium prices. These findings are a useful source in a better understanding of the evolution of NHCs in the Spanish market. Our findings suggest that NCs accompanied by the corresponding HC, which exactly defines the benefits of that nutrient in our health may be a promising strategy for product differentiation
Internationalization and performance in agri-food firms
Get PDFThis paper studies the relationship between internationalization and performance in agri-food firms. In line with the recent literature, it analyses the effects of the degree of internationalization using a uniform sample, a long-term focus and a measure that combines export intensity and regional diversification. The study empirically confirms the hypothesis of a horizontal S-curve relationship between geographical diversification and performance and identifies three phases. Export firms are found in the first phase; their profits are low due the initial costs incurred in exporting. Companies with a more advanced internationalization process are in the second phase; they benefit from the positive outcomes of operating on a larger scale. Lastly, the third phase contains highly international, geographically diversified companies; their performance decreases as a result of the costs of entering extra-regional markets, which are especially steep in this sector; they also face higher transition costs and organisational complexity. The results presented could be interesting for policymakers designing and implementing export programmes for agri-food firms. Policies should include assistance at the start of the internationalization process and an attempt to prolong the strategy until the volume of business is sufficient to start showing an increase in performance. The policies could possibly promote networking between Spanish and foreign companies to reduce the costs of more global internationalization strategies
