INSTITUT DE RECERCA I TECNOLOGIA AGROALIMENTARIES

Their core work

IRTA is Catalonia's leading agri-food research and technology institute, focused on improving livestock production, aquaculture, and crop systems across the full value chain. They specialize in animal genetics, nutrition, welfare, and disease prevention for pigs, poultry, and cattle, as well as plant breeding and food processing innovation. Their applied research bridges the gap between laboratory science and farm-level implementation, with strong capabilities in nutrient cycling, microalgae-based protein production, and sustainable agricultural systems. They also contribute to European research infrastructures for veterinary science and vector-borne disease control.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early H2020 period (2015–2018), IRTA focused heavily on livestock feed efficiency and genetics — improving how pigs, poultry, and rabbits convert feed into production — alongside food processing innovation and pest management. From 2019 onward, their portfolio shifted toward animal welfare, resilience, sustainability, and circular agriculture, with new entries into microalgae-based protein, epigenetics, and nutrient recycling. This mirrors the broader EU policy shift from productivity optimization toward environmental sustainability and alternative protein sources.

IRTA is pivoting from production-focused livestock science toward sustainability, alternative proteins (microalgae), and animal welfare — positioning them well for Horizon Europe's Farm-to-Fork priorities.

How they like to work

IRTA operates overwhelmingly as a consortium partner (36 of 42 projects), contributing deep technical expertise rather than leading large-scale coordination. They have coordinated 3 projects — Circular Agronomics, ProFuture, and one other — which shows they can lead when the topic is squarely in their core domain. With 649 unique partners across 56 countries, they are a highly networked hub, comfortable in large European consortia and well-connected enough to be a valuable addition to nearly any agri-food proposal.

IRTA has collaborated with 649 distinct organizations across 56 countries, making them one of the most widely connected agri-food research institutes in Europe. Their network extends well beyond the EU into global partnerships, though their densest connections are within Mediterranean and Western European agricultural research communities.

What sets them apart

IRTA combines the applied focus of an industry-facing technology institute with the scientific depth of a top-tier research organization — they work on everything from pig genomics to microalgae biorefineries to vineyard climate adaptation. Unlike universities that may lack farm-scale testing facilities, IRTA operates real production infrastructure and research farms, making them a practical partner for projects that need to demonstrate results beyond the lab. Their breadth across livestock, aquaculture, crops, and food processing under one roof is rare and makes them a natural integrator for cross-cutting agri-food projects.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ProFuture
  Their largest single grant (EUR 976K) and a coordinator role — leading a major EU effort on microalgae protein for food and feed, signaling their strategic bet on alternative proteins.
• Circular Agronomics
  Coordinated this EUR 881K project on nutrient cycling in European agriculture — their largest coordination effort and central to their sustainability pivot.
• Feed-a-Gene
  EUR 908K grant in a foundational project on livestock feed efficiency across multiple species — exemplifies their core strength in animal genetics and nutrition.