The Agri-food Research and Technology Centre of Aragon (CITA) will begin four selected projects from the 2024 «Projects for Knowledge Generation» call starting in September, framed within the State Programme for Research and Experimental Development of the State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation 2024-2027. The studies, which will last between three and four years, will have a total funding of 696,250 euros.
The projects will be led by researchers from the Animal Science Department, the Cross-sectional Unit of Agri-food Economy, and the Department of Agricultural, Forestry, and Environmental Systems at CITA. One of the projects led by Guillermo Ripoll is called HEAT2MEAT, which aims to assess how the inclusion of betaine in the diet can help mitigate the effects of thermal stress on the production and quality of light lamb meat; non-invasive tools will be developed to detect meat defects caused by this stress. Another study, named BEEFCAKE, led by Isabel Casasús, will investigate the use of agro-industrial by-products—such as olive pomace or rapeseed cake—in fattening calf diets, examining their impact on productive performance, efficiency, methane emissions, and meat quality.
A third proposal, FORTES, led by researcher Tiziana de Magistris, will focus on promoting more sustainable diets and reducing food waste through the development of a digital food recommendation system (SBRS) with gamification, which encourages healthy and sustainable habits in various population segments. Finally, the project P4WATER, under the direction of Farida Dechmi, will address the dynamics of phosphorus transport from agricultural soils to water bodies in irrigation regions, as well as measures to prevent diffuse pollution and protect water quality using agronomic and hydrological models.
With these four initiatives, CITA strengthens its commitment to linking scientific research with the real needs of the Aragonese agri-food sector, environmental protection, and public health improvement. In addition to generating specialized knowledge, these projects aim to design applicable solutions that promote sustainability, reduce environmental impacts, and enhance productive efficiency.
