INNOLIVA urges the sector to invest in R + D + i, a subject that only 13% of companies approve
Madrid, September 28, 2016
The 21st century brought with it a series of challenges for the agri-food sector that are growing at such a speed that it is difficult to keep up with them. Faced with a growing world population and limited resources, the answer can not be based on patching, but betting on research, development and innovation is essential. INNOLIVA, a company dedicated to the production of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (AOVE), devotes much of its effort to this field, but stresses that this should become a widespread practice within the sector, since, if not, «we are doomed».
A survey carried out by the National Institute of Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA) shows that only 13% of Spanish agri-food companies are innovative. In addition, within them, only 1% of turnover is allocated to innovation, as recently recalled the director of the agency, Miguel Laínez, during the conference ‘Innovation, key in the competitiveness of the agricultural sector -food Spanish.
If we take into account that the food industry accounts for more than 90,000 million euros of turnover per year and around 10% of GDP, being the second pillar of the Spanish economy, the figures leave no doubt: we are not up to the task of the circumstances. Both the society and the institutions and the sector are aware of the situation, so that only one question arises: why is not action taken?
While it is true that organizations and institutions have already launched various plans and strategies to advance the issue (see the Spanish Strategy for Science and Technology and Innovation or the Horizon 2020 framework program launched at European level, among others), sector is the one that, in short, has the upper hand.
«The agri-food sector must seal as soon as possible a firm commitment to innovation that guarantees sustainability,» they say from INNOLIVA.
It should be noted that the Navarre company has been immersed for some time in a continuous search for improvement. The INNOLIVA R + D + i area constantly analyzes and develops projects, such as its already well-known ‘intelligent fields’, which aim to move towards a more sustainable and effective work model.
However, «it is useless for some of us to progress if we do not do it in a block», insists the producer of EVOO, from where they encourage the companies with which they share their trade to follow in their footsteps, something that would benefit the Spanish sector in general. the society itself.
«Resources are limited, but knowledge is not. We must continue working together to ensure the future, «they add.
About Innoliva
The company, which has its head office in Pamplona (Spain), owns more than 5,000 hectares of irrigated olive groves, located in Spain and Portugal, where the Mediterranean climate gives the olive tree the ideal environment for the development and maturation of the fruit; and it favors the obtaining of Extra Virgin Olive Oils with excellent sensory qualities.
With its production system, they guarantee the integral traceability of the entire process: from the olive tree to the final customer.
They make their Extra Virgin Olive Oil cold in the shortest time possible from the entrance of the olive in the oil mill. And they take care of the oil already produced to maintain their excellent sensory and healthy qualities as long as possible.
