A reference point in Sardinia for precision agriculture

PRESS RELEASE

ALGHERO. The first precision agriculture center for research and development of the agro-industry is born in Sardinia, serving small, medium and large companies in the agricultural sector. The Interdepartmental Center Innovative Agriculture IA of the University of Sassari will promote innovation and research of products and processes in agriculture respecting sustainability, biodiversity, and the high quality of agricultural production.

The new jewel of the University of Sassari, located in Surigheddu in the territory of Alghero on state road 127 bis, was inaugurated today by the Rector Gavino Mariotti, the Mayor of Alghero Raimondo Cacciotto and the Municipal Councilor for the Budget, Enrico Daga, together with the Director of the Department of Agriculture, Ignazio Floris. Francesco Piroddi was present on behalf of the Regional Councilor for Agriculture Gian Franco Satta.

The structure

It extends for about 54 hectares in total, 22 of which are the surface area intended for cultivation; it is equipped with 4 laboratories and a 30-seat classroom that can be transformed into a 60-seat conference room; it includes offices for employees and 3 greenhouses for protected cultivations, previously built for the needs of the Uniss Plant Biodiversity Center (CBV) aimed at the knowledge, conservation, enhancement and sustainable use of plant heritage. The two centers share part of the facilities.

The new IA Center, directed by Professor Filippo Gambella, professor of the Department of Agriculture of the University of Sassari, will work following the criteria of intelligent specialization and industry 4.0 and will support companies in investments in digitalization, innovation, organization and rationalization. Specifically, the Center will be able to act as the epicenter of the agro-industry of Sardinia with the aim of attracting economic and institutional operators with high skills and know-how to be used, through the valorization of the important heritage of the IA Center, for the improvement of local production and the qualitative and quantitative increase, at the basis of a healthy diet.

The Summer Schools

The Innovative Agriculture Center will soon host, among other activities, two Summer Schools.
The first will be aimed at recent graduates and will aim to accompany them in the transition to the university world through an orientation program dedicated to the themes of sustainable and innovative agriculture, with an eye on the future prospects of precision agriculture.
The second will be an international Summer School aimed at graduates and professionals active in the aquaculture innovation sector. The program, called BEATRICS (BioEconomy of Aquaculture: Technologies, Resources and Innovation for Climate Change and Sustainability).

The inaugural ceremony

At the end of the speeches, this morning the plaque identifying the new center was unveiled and, in closing, those present were invited to visit the exhibition stands and the field demonstrations animated by the companies that participated in the day and that already collaborate on various fronts with the IA center: Maschio Gaspardo, Microgeo, Rurinnova, ITS Academy Taggs, GM Carta & C., Sa Marigosa, azienda Pietro Deiana, Inspire S.r.l.

The works, directed by the University Procurement and Construction Area, were possible thanks to funding from the regional Development and Cohesion Funds FSC 2014-2020, attributed to the University of Sassari in the amount of 1 million euros for the infrastructure of the IA Center. Furthermore, a research project worth 1.5 million euros was financed with FSC funds, in addition to the SMAART project worth 5 million euros financed by MIMIT (Ministry of Business and Made in Italy) which relies on the Innovative Agriculture Center.

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