1. Encontro de Ciência 2017, 3-4-5 Julho, Lisboa
AgroNET:
Alentejo Agricultural Research and Extension Network
Despacho conjunto 2515/2017 de 27 de Março:
Ministros Adjunto, da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior,do Planeamento e das Infraestruturas, da Economia, do Ambiente e da Agricultura, Florestas e Desenvolvimento Rural
Teresa Pinto Correia and Mário de Carvalho,
ICAAM, Universidade de Évora

2. AgroNET: how is it structured
» an entity with no legal status
Partners: *University of Évora – ICAAM (R&D Unit on Mediterranean Agrarian
and Environmental Sciences)
* INIAV (National Institute Agrarian and Veterinary Research,
Ministry of Agriculture) – ELVAS delegation
Coordination: University of Évora
Goals: to implement a scientific and technological network in order to develop
applied research and development in agriculture in the region of Alentejo.
through coordination between public and private entities, research programs
and contracts, and human resources.
Priorities: agro-silvo pastoral system Montado; olive groves and olive oil;
vineyards and wine; irrigated agriculture; knowledge transfer.

3. AgroNET: what is the context
Alentejo: NUTS 2 region,
30% of national territory
BUT 55% of total national UAA
(Utilized Agricultural Area)
characteristic
Mediterranean climate
with s strong interannual
fluctuations
+ strong spatial variations in soils:
a mosaic of bio-physical conditions supporting production systems
a fragile environment requiring the improvement of soil functions

4. a context under change Water productivity is crucial.
ha equipped for irrigation in Alentejo
8% of total agricultural area (UAA)
Water is expensive and limited
Water use should not compromise
territorial cohesion
Water productivity is crucial.
Increased diversification of production systems
»» lack of knowledge on the functioning of these systems and their adaptation capacity to climate change »» needed to support the long term sustainability of the production units

5. AgroNET: what are the expectations
National priorities for research (Compromisso com a Ciência e o Conhecimento, MCTES 2016):
»» strenghtening agrarian research to enlarge, decentralize and specialise
development strategies adapted to the different ecological regions of the country
Research answering to questions emerging from practice
» the production system as the basis
Strenghtening agrarian research requires, in coordination:
1) infrastructures; 2) human resources; 3) research programes
for an effective contribution to the development of the sector, also 4) knowledge transfer
»» particularly complex in a context of multiple indidividual economically small entreprises
The most demanding = human resources but societal impact limited,
as there is a A LONG TERM GAP: the infrastructures
» set of experimental plots replicating the different ecological conditions of the regions
and the different production systems.
Decapitalization of existing public infrastructures
Lack of human resources – research and technical staff
Dispersed plots in private land – fragile in face of contextual changes
»» Long tem experiments and data almost impossible

6. AgroNET: what is nedeed
A POSSIBLE START: one experimental station for irrigated agriculture
In Mediterranean soils »» 33% of Alentejo UAA and 85% of Alqueva irrigated area soils with most potential for irrigated production
Fields, equiped with water and electricity + agricultural equipement » available
Location close to the research unit – proximity as a condition
MODALITY
SIZE
COST (exc.TVA)
Field equiped with fixed sprinkling
10 hectares
euros
Field with drop irrigation
3 hectares
euros
Pivot
14 hectares
euros
Meteo station and equipement for measurements
euros
TOTAL for installation
euros
Maintenance and operations
2 full-time technical staff

7. AgroNET: how to progress
a budget is needed and long term commitment is key
equally important: Installation + Maintenance and Operations
It can only work with an integrated strategy linking
1) infrastructures; 2) human resources; 3) research programes and 4) knowledge transfer
» can not be done by researchers alone
»» can not be supported by short term / project based research funding
»»» a joint effort within the public sector: agriculture and research
a mater of long term political commitement

8. Many thanks
Muito obrigado