IRTA leads a project to retrieve historical cultivation in South-Western Europe

To the overproduction of plant products intended for human consumption and animal in Europe in general, and in the countries of the Southwest including (Spain, France and Portugal), the countries of this area are involved in this project with the aim of finding common solutions to exploit the surplus of this plant production and designThus, projects for the future such as biofuels, the biodisolventes and the antifungal.

This plant recovery can also be translated in the recovery of crop historical taking advantage of new production technologies (natural dyes, aromático-medicinales extracts of high added value, etc.). Given that there is no a real culture of recovery of plants in these countries, it is so it is marked as main objective boost these new practices. Among other actions, the project aims to promote and enhance the non-food crops; disseminate among the major sectors of activity primary, secondary and tertiary, the different possibilities of non-food crops; retrieve historical cultures taking advantage of existing extractive techniques, and promote the creation of new businesses or business lines based on the ideas and activities of Agrival.

Based on the experience of the participants and proposed activities, the Agrival project will provide new ways of development in these countries of the European West. It is planned to also create a scientific network between research centres of France, Spain and Portugal for the development of new recovery technologies to provide environmental, sustainable and innovative solutions to the agricultural and industrial sector.

This project is part of the programme Interreg III B Sudoe, a Community initiative of the European Fund of Regional Development (ERDF) in favour of cooperation between the European regions, in this case the region of the southwest of Europe.