ISAC

Artigos publicados

The development of any production-chain always relies on the solution of several critical problems, leading, in the end, to the improvement of productivity, food security, and create income and employment by linking the production to the market opportunities. Nowadays, one major concern in the production chain is the increasing demand for animal and plant derived foods, which has been responsible for the growing pressure over the land use and all the negative consequences that come with it. The development of the livestock and crops at global level, and as well in Portugal, puts pressure on the environment, human health and the welfare of animals. In addition, climate change is also an extra pressure for sustainability and therefore, increasing efficiency but decreasing the environmental footprint is urgently required. The means to improve sustainability and productivity of agro-food systems imply new and innovative approaches.

The main aims of the Innovation for Sustainable Agro-food Chains (ISAC research line) are, on the one hand, to assess the understanding of how the impacts from agriculture, climate change and land use affect the functioning and diversity of the ecosystems and how these impacts may be mitigated. On the other hand, the aim is to understand how the production conditions can be improved to increment the productivity, economic income and quality of life, of farmers and regional population.

To accomplish the general goals stated above we set to achieve the following:

1. Develop agro-food production chains related research;
2. Address technological questions from producers and stakeholders through innovative tools and solutions;
3. Develop effective solutions, through research, to address an efficient strategy leading to the decrease of GHG emissions and the efficient improvement of the use of animal manures;
4. Development of crop models through new and updated methods, in order to maximize the incomes and nutritional quality, in a context of climate change;
5. Fostering applicable methods to evaluate the bioactivities of several agro-food products and co-products.
6. Develop effective processes and solutions to optimize human and animal health, through studies of plant biotechnology, bioactivities, and quality control;
7. Aligned with RIS3 and regional thematic programmes, stimulate economic growth and attract companies for the social and territorial cohesion by incrementing the knowledge and innovation, and efficient use of local resources, which contributes to create employment and quality of life.

This research line intends to introduce innovative agricultural practices and technologies that promote the performance of main agro-food chains, nowadays under adverse climate conditions, to protect the environment and the quality and safety of food products, to reduce costs and provide ecosystem services, contributing to achieve the sustainable development of agro-food chains and rural areas.

The ISAC research line is organized in five integrative and complementary projects.