ASOCIACIÓN AGRARIA DE JÓVENES AGRICULTORES

Their core work

ASAJA is one of Spain's major young farmers' associations, representing agricultural producers and advocating for their interests at national and EU level. In H2020 projects, they serve as the practical farming voice — contributing real-world field trial sites, farmer networks, and end-user validation for innovations in crop protection, plastic waste management in agriculture, and natural alternatives to antibiotics in livestock. Their value lies in bridging the gap between lab-developed agri-food solutions and actual farm-level adoption.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

ASAJA entered H2020 in 2020 with a focus on plant health — specifically olive tree protection against Xylella through biocontrol and biopesticides. Their participation then broadened into circular economy topics (plastic biodegradation, biofertilizers, composting) and natural bioactive compounds for animal health. The shift suggests a move from single-crop protection toward wider sustainable farming practices including waste management and antibiotic reduction.

ASAJA is moving toward sustainability-driven farming innovations — expect interest in antibiotic alternatives, bio-based materials, and agricultural waste valorization.

How they like to work

ASAJA participates exclusively as a consortium partner, never as coordinator — consistent with their role as a farmer association providing end-user validation rather than leading research. With 47 unique partners across 13 countries in just 3 projects, they operate in large, diverse consortia typical of Innovation Actions. This makes them an accessible partner: experienced in multi-national projects, comfortable in supporting roles, and valuable for any consortium needing farmer engagement in Southern Europe.

Despite only 3 projects, ASAJA has built a network of 47 partners across 13 countries, reflecting the large consortium sizes of their Innovation and Research Actions. Their geographic spread is broad for a national farmers' association.

What sets them apart

ASAJA brings something most research consortia struggle to find: direct access to a large network of working farmers in Spain, one of Europe's most important agricultural economies. As a young farmers' association, they can mobilize early adopters who are more open to testing new agricultural technologies. For any project needing field validation, farmer feedback, or dissemination to the farming community in Southern Europe, ASAJA is a practical and well-connected choice.

Highlights from their portfolio

• RECOVER
  Largest budget (EUR 415,724) and tackles the high-profile issue of agricultural plastic pollution through biological degradation — a growing regulatory priority in the EU.
• BIOVEXO
  Directly addresses the Xylella fastidiosa crisis threatening Mediterranean olive production, a major economic and ecological concern for Southern Europe.
• NeoGiANT
  Explores grape extract polyphenols as antibiotic replacements in livestock — connecting wine industry byproducts with animal health in a circular economy approach.