The Futuribles project arrived in Zaragoza to explore how innovation can unfold alongside the agri-food sector, aiming to balance environmental, economic, and social sustainability across all activities. The initiative, supported by Prensa Ibérica and connected to EL PERIÓDICO DE ARAGÓN, marked its second edition in collaboration with the Government of Aragón, Cooperativas Agroalimentarias de Aragón, Alcampo, Cajamar, and Grupo Térvalis. The event took place on April 26 at the World Trade Center in Zaragoza, Aragón.
The day began with opening remarks from Carmen Urbano, General Manager of Innovation and Agri-Food Promotion for the Government of Aragón, who outlined an Industry 5.0 vision centered on people. She emphasized that technology is a tool and that the future hinges on people, who drive innovation and serve as its most powerful resource. Urbano urged closer collaboration between public institutions and private firms, describing them as the sector’s main protagonists. She stressed that the agri-food strategy should originate from within the food value chain and that all participants must play an active role.
New technologies and methodologies are already enabling more efficient operations across the entire agri-food value chain, from production to distribution to consumer delivery. This integrated approach highlights how innovation can optimize every link in the chain.
A key project highlighted by the regional leadership focuses on promoting food value and enhancing the standing of Aragonese products through the seal Aragó n, Alimentos Nobles. The initiative seeks to humanize the brand so that foods and their producers convey a sense of Aragonese pride. The message is clear: food must be safe, sustainable, and healthy, while also carrying value, differentiation, and a strong role for innovation as a core driver.
Urbano also advanced strategic, innovative partnerships with the Aragonese Government, the Aragonese Food Industries Association (AIAA), distribution networks, denominations of origin, the Horeca channel, and Turismo Aragón. She cited pioneering projects and promotional campaigns designed to elevate the Aragonese agri-food sector.
Innovation and the business model
After Urbano’s remarks, the conference organized two discussion tables featuring corporate leaders, firms, and research institutions. The topics were “Innovation and Transformation in the Agri-Food Sector” and “Aragon’s Business Model for Boosting Efficiency and Productivity.” The dialogue highlighted the ongoing transformation of the agri-food economy and the practical steps behind it.
The closing remarks from the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Environment of Aragón, Joaquin Olona, reinforced the idea that true innovation requires leadership capable of guiding the agri-food sector forward. He framed leadership as the essential lever that can unite public and private efforts in pursuit of shared gains.
Aragon’s prominence in national agrifood affairs remains evident, with core innovation centers like CITA contributing to the conversation. Nicolas Espada, director of EL PERIÓDICO DE ARAGÓN, reflected on how innovative technologies and methodologies can streamline processes across the entire agri-food value chain. He underscored that strong business alliances and robust public-private cooperation are pivotal to nurturing new research and sustaining growth. Espada stressed the importance of conviction in regional capabilities and the role EL PERIÓDICO DE ARAGÓN plays in fostering dialogue and practical outcomes. The event’s purpose, he noted, is to show that the materials and know-how exist to support continued progress in this sector.
The term “Futurible” captures the idea that the future will unfold if certain conditions are met. The delegates, including industry leaders, innovation centers, and corporate representatives, debated this premise as a central thread of EL PERIÓDICO DE ARAGÓN’s discussions.
Agribusiness seeks synergies to translate research into practice
The agricultural sector stands at a pivotal moment. Climate change is reshaping risk profiles and the security of the food chain, while global tensions and inflation pressures complicate how markets respond to demand. The industry must transform to feed a growing population by 2030, and the panel on “Innovation and Transformation in the Agriculture-Food Sector” within the Futuribles framework aimed to map a practical path forward.
Climate action is driving the need to reinvent production and processing systems. Ricardo García, director of Cajamar Innova, summarized the strategic arc by urging a disciplined approach to food security and efficiency. Lucía Soriano, managing director of the Aragón Agri-Food Research and Technology Center (CITA), urged actors to interpret the current context with a clear-eyed view of competitiveness while acknowledging the sector’s strategic value amid a climate emergency. The conversation highlighted the imperative to reduce input intensity and invest in smarter irrigation, with a bottom-up emphasis on empowering smallholders alongside large-scale players and investments that enable meaningful progress.
Jesús Nogués called for a technological leap in family farming, describing it as a significant, yet unresolved, frontier because smaller producers often lack the resources of larger firms. Rural Development Plans and the substantial €580m support to Aragón were cited as critical to improving infrastructure and productivity. Carlos Franco of the CDTI highlighted the need to back cooperatives and small and medium-sized businesses through targeted assistance, asserting that those who invest in the right technologies should guide industry direction.
Lucía Soriano cautioned against relying solely on science to solve every problem, reminding that science must serve the public good and help balance biophysical limits with sustainable production. She framed sustainability as a blend of ecological, economic, and social dimensions. Public-private cooperation emerged as the most effective vehicle for knowledge transfer, while Cajamar Innova’s manager noted that patient, long-term investments are often necessary before profitability emerges. The group also emphasized forming collaboration circles to steer research toward practical, industry-led outcomes.
Aragon’s business model for productivity and agri-food growth
The Futuribles framework also explored Aragon’s business model, tracing connections across the agri-food chain from cooperatives and small producers to large distribution networks. The dialogue underscored the necessity of sustained cooperation to address shared challenges and ensure resilience across the sector.
José Víctor Nogués, president of Cooperativas Agroalimentarias de Aragón, spoke about the importance of guidance and collaboration to help small producers reach new markets, noting how drought has affected crops in rural areas. Luis Villamayor, president of the Aragon Food Industries Association (AIAA), described innovation as essential in responding to climate pressures and highlighted the need to adapt to environmental changes. He and Nogués also pointed to regulatory burdens at the European level as a constraint, arguing that local realities must be reflected in policy to prevent excessive dependencies on external suppliers.
Ignasi Salaet, Research Director at Fertinagro Biotech, stressed that cooperation is more important than ever and urged that innovations aim for both efficiency and profitability. Sergio Román of Alcampo Producción Controlada emphasized that distribution networks should remain closely connected to the productive base, advocating joint efforts to create sustainable, profitable outcomes. The discussions signaled a shared resolve to strengthen local production while keeping a diverse, resilient market ready for the future. In the broader sense, drought, labor shortages, and the need for ongoing talent development were framed as critical hurdles that require coordinated solutions across governance, industry, and education.