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PATH2DEAShowcasesShowcase Vegetables

Showcase Vegetables

About University of Almeria

The University of Almeria (UAL) is a public research institution located in south-eastern Spain, with a strong presence in the area of sustainable agriculture. Research is one of the essential functions of the University of Almeria, evidenced by its 13 research centres and institutes, including but not limited to those related to solar energy, water, arid areas, biodiversity, blue economies, migration, and experimental farms. It has numerous European research and innovative projects aimed at responding to the needs of traditional and emerging productive sectors and the evolving demands of society. One of its main objectives is to promote the development of research projects and knowledge transfer actions in the field of sustainable development of the European Agenda 2030.  The UAL is the first in Spain in protected agriculture and is a benchmark in food production systems, agri-food security and sustainable development.

About COEXPHAL

COEXPHAL is the Association of Fruit and Vegetable Producers' Organisations in the province of Almeria.  It is national in scope, with a strong presence in Almeria and the region of Andalusia. It is currently made up of 101 companies, mainly agricultural cooperatives producing and marketing fruit and vegetables and ornamental plants. Approximately 13,500 small family farmers are members of these cooperatives and producer organisations. It is involved in numerous H2020 and Horizon projects, as well as lead and participant in many EIP Agri Operating Groups, including but not limited to biodiversity, agroecology and biological control. The Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda are part of COEXPHAL's strategic management.

The showcase

It is an experimental greenhouse and research demonstrator on a real scale which reflects the farms of the local greenhouse family farmers. It has a functionality of 1,900 m2 located next to the University of Almería (Spain). It is a sustainable, autonomous, connected and open-intensive cultivation system which combines the highest technology in energy and water to obtain maximum performance in the production phase of greenhouse crops. In turn, the digital technologies used by this system (biomass boiler and CO2 injection, photovoltaic solar energy, storage, aerothermal energy, reverse osmosis and membrane and robotic distillation) contribute to improving the use of resources through the use of solar energy and the optimization of irrigation, to reduce emissions, and to improve social aspects. Additionally, this system considers protocols oriented towards integrating all the elements that make it up and the more open exploitation of data in Big Data and IoT environments. All these aspects are essential to ecological systems, which is why the University of Almería, together with COEXPHAL, are working on this showcase hand in hand with producer and farmer organizations to continue promoting the transition to sustainable agriculture through agroecological practices.

Key persons involved

  • University of Almeria (UAL):
    • Cynthia Giagnocavo
    • Jorge Antonio Sánchez Molina
    • Mónica Duque Acevedo.
  • COEXPHAL:  
    • Victoria Cruz Sánchez
    • Gladys Sánchez Garrido
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