and the Mediterranean
Programs, Projects and Links
Institute of the Mediterranean
IRTA
COOPERATION WITH THE INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND
TECHNOLOGY, CATALONIA
In 1988, the division of agriculture and natural resources of the
University of California encompassing both the agricultural experiment
station and cooperative extension adopted a plan of cooperation with IRTA
(institut de recerca I tecnologia agroalimentaries). It is the intent of
that plan that IRTA and the University of California will share
information regarding management and organizational structure for research
and extension programs; they will cooperate in the exchange of scientists
and students; and there will be an exchange of appropriate scientific
technology and publications.
During the past years the activities between UC and IRTA have included group visits, individual training programs, and UC faculty who spent sabbatical leaves in Catalonia. Tours of California agriculture by government personnel, faculty and private business people have included a group of almond and hazel nut growers, the Catalan forest managers who came to study forest fire control, and visits by the management of IRTA to observe field station management. Reciprocally, a group of Californians came to Catalonia to observe olive production systems with close planting and mechanical harvesting.
The primary focus of the cooperative research projects has included Integrated pest management, irrigation and water use efficiency, plant biotechnology and horticultural practices. In 2002, the Division of Agricultural and Natural Resources of the University of California; the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Universities, Research and Information Society approved the expansion of the IRTA/University of California agreement to include a joint plant biotechnology Laboratory. In March 2003 an international conference on Bemesia (white fly) was held in Barcelona. IRTA hosted the conference with the cooperation of the University of California.
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG
http://www.waterresources.ucr.edu
http://danr.ucop.edu/calag