The Rector of the Miguel Hernández University (UMH) of Elche, Juan José Ruiz, and the President of the Valencian Government, Ximo Puig, presented the Agri-food and Agro-environmental Research and Innovation Center (CIAGRO) on the morning of May 28th at the Orihuela-Desamparados campus. During the event, the Director of CIAGRO and of the Orihuela Higher Polytechnic School (EPSO), Professor Ricardo Abadía, explained the characteristics of CIAGRO to those in attendance. Prior to the inauguration, attendees toured the facilities of the Didactic and Interactive Science Museum of the Vega Baja del Segura region of the Valencian Community (MUDIC), led by its Director, María del Carmen Perea.

Both the visit to the MUDIC and the presentation of CIAGRO were attended by, among other dignitaries, the Regional Minister for Innovation, Universities, Science and Digital Society, Carolina Pascual; the President of the Alicante Provincial Council, Carlos Mazón; the Vice-Rector for Research at the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH), Domingo Orozco; and the Mayor of Orihuela, Emilio Bascuñana.

CIAGRO, established by the Regional Government Council on January 28, 2021, comprises 67 tenured researchers and 24 associate researchers. The research team at this Center covers almost all disciplines within the agri-food and agro-environmental sectors, ranging from agricultural production and means of production to markets and distribution, including food processing and production. All of this is approached from an agro-environmental perspective that promotes biodiversity, resilience to climate change, and the efficient use of natural resources, ultimately fostering sustainability.

Over the past five years, researchers at the UMH’s CIAGRO research center have participated in 18 international research projects, 85 national projects, 205 research contracts with companies and government agencies, and published more than 700 scientific articles in high-impact journals. In this regard, Stanford University (USA) recently published a study ranking 20 UMH researchers among the most cited in the world, eight of whom are members of CIAGRO, whose work focuses on development and innovation in the agri-food chain.