Our research group at the Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (IAS-CSIC) brings extensive experience in tackling challenges related to sustainable agriculture, resource management, and community-driven innovation.
Our Key Expertise:
Innovative Resource Management: Designing and implementing scalable solutions tailored to water-limited environments.
Climate-Resilient Agriculture: Promoting the adoption of drought-tolerant crops and sustainable farming practices to enhance productivity and resilience.
Collaborative Engagement: Facilitating multi-stakeholder initiatives to strengthen local food systems and build community resilience.
Inclusive Education and Empowerment: Delivering training programs that equip smallholder farmers, women, and marginalized groups with practical tools for sustainable agriculture and dietary practices.
This call represents an opportunity to apply our expertise toward fostering transformative shifts in food environments, empowering communities to adopt sustainable food choices and contribute to global health and environmental sustainability.
The Institute of Sustainable Agriculture (IAS), part of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), focuses on making food production sustainable while preserving natural resources and protecting the environment. It addresses the challenges of agriculture in Mediterranean climate zones, aiming to meet global food demands through environmentally friendly practices. Its research emphasizes both rainfed and irrigated farming systems, integrating scientific advancements with practical applications for the agri-food sector.
Located on the 154-hectare “Alameda del Obispo” experimental farm in Córdoba, alongside the IFAPA agricultural research center, the IAS benefits from collaboration with the Regional Government of Andalusia. Its team consists of about 180 individuals, including permanent staff, research collaborators, and visiting scholars. Of these, 36 are consolidated researchers, supported by postdoctoral fellows, technicians, and doctoral candidates. The institute is organized into three scientific programs: Agronomy, Plant Breeding, and Crop Protection.
Research Programs
Agronomy: Focuses on addressing Mediterranean agriculture's challenges, particularly water scarcity and soil conservation. Researchers specialize in irrigation management, engineering, hydrology, crop modeling, remote sensing, soil erosion, and conservation agriculture.
Plant Breeding: Concentrates on improving cereals, legumes, and oil crops. Efforts aim to enhance resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, improve product quality, and develop new varieties meeting market demands.
Crop Protection: Studies soil microorganisms, nematodes, weeds, and wild flora. The program develops modern diagnostic methods, predictive models, and sustainable pest control strategies aligned with circular economy principles.
The IAS is widely acknowledged both nationally and internationally for advancing innovative agricultural research aimed at creating sustainable farming systems that harmonize productivity with environmental stewardship.