Agriculture Commissioner: “Impressive visit to campus”
At the Rabanales campus of the University of Córdoba, Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Luis Planas described the agro-food sector as one that already carries the seeds of its future while stressing the need for small farms to become an integral part of that future. He spoke during the technical visit of EU ministers to the experimental farm housed within the campus area.
Prominent European officials were greeted by Planas and the university’s rector, Manuel Torralbo, near the entrance to the auditorium around 9:00 in the morning. The event that followed saw Torralbo introduce the officials and the vice-chancellor for Scientific Policy. Maria Jose Polo also highlighted the path and ongoing work at the University of Córdoba.
Speaking to his European colleagues, university representatives and the media, Planas called for a stronger link between scientific advances and the practical needs of the field. He reiterated the message from the ministerial meeting held in Córdoba, emphasizing the importance of developing knowledge, innovation and technology to help farming adjust to climate change.
Among other remarks, he acknowledged that environmental challenges are shaping the EU’s political agenda and noted concerns from farming organizations about rising production costs and perceived reductions in productivity due to stricter environmental demands. He added that the green transition is essential and urgent, and should not be treated as a political wedge. Transition requires effort, but, more importantly, it demands the right tools and the necessary knowledge.
In the interview area, the delegation heard plans for closer collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture. The aim is to involve Spain as a member of the European AgrifoodTef network to provide services that evaluate and validate artificial intelligence and robotics solutions designed to maximize the digitization of the agriculture sector.
The director of the ETSIAM, Rosa Gallardo, welcomed the ministers and noted several areas where the school excels, including research in the olive oil sector, water-use efficiency, soil health, conservation agriculture and the digital transformation of the agri-food industry. The group also observed tractors, drones and other agricultural machinery on the Rabanales farm during the visit.
Key participants included Francisco Marquez, the technical director of the Rabanales experimental farm, along with instructors and researchers who discussed digitization and efforts to improve farm profitability. They also touched on studies in protective agriculture and the World Olive Gene Plasma Bank. A sample of several olive varieties prepared by the University of Córdoba was shared with attendees during the tour.
European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski posted on social media that the campus visit was impressive and particularly interesting, underscoring the EU’s support for multiple projects exploring digital, productive and sustainable agriculture. His remarks reflected the broader aim of linking EU innovation programs with field-level agricultural practice.
The ministerial gathering benefited from additional movement on the schedule, as the train from Madrid to Córdoba was delayed by heavy rains affecting travel. The disruption also impacted the arrival of the Lithuanian Minister of Agriculture, Kestutis Navickas, and other Commission members traveling on the same train.