On April 4th 2013 two collaborative protocols were signed, the first creating a CONSORTIUM FOR PROMOTION AND COMPETITIVENESS OF THE RESEARCH IN THE AGRARIAN SECTOR (CPECIA) between CITAB, the Centre for Functional Ecology (CEF) at the University of Coimbra, the Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV) at UTAD and AgroBioPlant - CITAB's Research Group based at the University of Minho. The second was signed between UTAD, the University of Coimbra, the University of Minho and the Confederation of Farmers of Portugal (CAP). It is expected that these protocols will meet the development needs of the agrarian sector in Portugal, working in close cooperation with the business community and active social partners in the sector. These initiatives will place the participating research centres in a very strong position to face the challenges posed by new Common Agricultural Policy and within the European research programme Horizon 2020.
We are very pleased to inform that our proposal “Agricultural Production Chains - From Fork to Farm” submitted to FCT International Doctoral Program on 20th February 2013 was recommended for funding! This Doctoral Programme had as proponent institution CITAB/UTAD and as participating institutions the Chemistry Centre of Vila Real /UTAD, the University of Minho, the University of Wageningen (Netherlands) and the Polytechnic University of Valencia (Spain), to whom once more we give our gratitude. This funding will allow the recruitment of 32 PhD studentships between 2013 and 2017, which will certainly boost research in Agricultural Sciences, with expected positive effects on the competitiveness of companies of the sector in Portugal.
We are proud to announce that the bid for an european FP7 project "EUROLEGUME - Enhancing of legumes growing in Europe through sustainable cropping for protein supply for food and feed" has been approved for funding! UTAD is the coordinator institution and CITAB's Director, Prof. Eduardo Rosa, is the project leader . This project involves a total of 19 organizations (of 10 Member States) and a total budget of almost €5M for a period of four years.
CITAB is a multidisciplinary centre with researchers that have expertise in agri-food, forestry, environmental studies and engineering under three investigation groups:
The key focus area for the new centre is ecoystems sustainability and the improved uses of natural resources. Several projects area being developed:
