Agri-food Technology and Biotechnology
The doctoral programme in Agri-Food Technology and Biotechnology was born of the UPC’s earlier programme in Agri-Food Biotechnology and Sustainability (Royal Decree 778/1998), which was started in the 2003-04 academic year.
In fact, this programme arose as the result of the academic collaboration between the Barcelona School of Agricultural Engineering (ESAB) and the UPC that aimed to delve into studies and research in the agri-food field. This collaboration was established before the year 2000, at a time when the ESAB was not a stand-alone institution, but rather one dependent academically and financially on the Diputació de Barcelona.
The doctoral programme is currently associated with the UPC’s Department of Agri-Food Engineering and Biotechnology, and it collaborates with some of the professors from the UPC’s Department of Chemical Engineering, who, due to the nature of their particular research work, fit better into our programme’s framework. The programme also collaborates with researchers from other universities and research centres (the IRTA and the CSIC). The Department of Agri-Food Engineering and Biotechnology was created in 2001 specifically to integrate ESAB personnel into the UPC. As previously mentioned, classes began under the name Agri-Food Biotechnology and Sustainability, and later, once legislative changes were passed by the EHEA, the name was changed to its current one: Agri-Food Technology and Biotechnology.
The need for the programme is warranted by the large amount of agri-food trade in Catalonia, especially in the province of Barcelona, where it exceeds 60% of all trade. Given the growing sophistication affecting the agri-food industry and the high level of complexity and multidisciplinary nature of some of its technological aspects (sensors, packaging, logistics, tools for molecular analyses and detection, etc.), there is demand in the industry for personnel specialised in innovation and research. The fact that this doctoral programme is offered from a polytechnic university, such as the UPC, means that the technological aspects that are not specific to research in our Department, but which are covered by other UPC centres and departments, can be easily handled. For example, other UPC bodies conduct research into the fields of chemical engineering, electrical engineering, applied physics, mathematics, communication and signal theory and business management and administration.
It is for this reason that the research performed by the groups that make up this doctoral programme can be directed at a large number of sectors, including,:
• Sustainable agriculture and food quality
• Environmental engineering
• Plant pathology
• Aquaculture production systems
• Computational biology and simulations
• Agriculture economics (in collaboration with the University of Lleida)
• Weed control and plant ecology (in collaboration with the University of Lleida)
• Food technologies
• Precision agriculture (in collaboration with the University of Lleida)
All of these sectors are currently growing notably, both in production and in the innovation and complexity of the technologies that they use. The only way to prepare personnel specialised in research in these fields is through this doctoral programme.
The doctoral programme in Agri-Food Technology and Biotechnology is clearly warranted, not only because of its direct relationship with the industrial sector closest to home, but also because of the existence of other similar programmes across the USA and Europe (e.g., at TI Eindhoven, U. di Bologna, Nottingham, Alberta University and the University of British Columbia, among others). Many Spanish universities offer programmes with similar contents (the Miguel Hernández University of Elche and the Universities of Cádiz, Vigo, Oviedo, Valladolid, etc.). More specifically, in Catalonia, the Universities of Lleida (UdL), Tarragona (URV) and Barcelona (UB) offer doctoral programmes with similar contents, and we maintain close scientific ties and teaching collaborations with them.
The main objective of the programme is to train specialists in research techniques that are specific to the fields of agricultural and food-related technology and biotechnology. These specialists should be able to implement and carry out the most advanced and most technologically competitive techniques and protocols in their fields. Finally, these specialists should be able to form part of the business world as academics and be renowned worldwide.
Other Universities
Universities with joint supervision agreements:
• Lebanese University, Lebanon
• Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Brazil
General information
Access profile
This doctoral programme has a decidedly multidisciplinary nature, and as such, degrees that will grant holders admission to our study programme are varied.
Given the reorganisation and changes that affected master’s programmes, currently, holders of the following degrees are considered to be the most appropriate for admission into the doctoral programme in Agri-Food Technology and Biotechnology: a master’s degree in Agricultural Engineering, a master’s degree in Aquiculture or a master’s degree in Improving Plant Genetics, all of which are offered at the UPC through joint programmes.
In addition to these profiles, and due to the markedly multidisciplinary nature of this programme, graduates from degree programmes focusing on sciences and technologies involving food, agri-food engineering, life sciences or biological systems may also be admitted to the programme, pending their passing of the corresponding master’s programme or 60 ECTS-worth of master’s courses.
Interest in experimental laboratory and/or field work and the ability to work in a team, as well as having critical and analytical abilities and initiative, are relevant aspects that will influence whether or not applicants are admitted.
Output profile
Doctoral candidates who complete a doctoral degree will have acquired the following competencies, which are needed to carry out quality research (Royal Decree 99/2011, of 28 January, which regulates official doctoral studies):
a) A systematic understanding of the field of study and a mastery of the research skills and methods related to the field.
b) An ability to conceive, design or create, put into practice and adopt a substantial process of research or creation.
c) An ability to contribute to pushing back the frontiers of knowledge through original research.
d) A capacity for critical analysis and an ability to assess and summarise new and complex ideas.
e) An ability to communicate with the academic and scientific community and with society in general as regards their fields of knowledge in the manner and languages that are typical of the international scientific community to which they belong.
f) An ability to foster scientific, technological, social, artistic and cultural progress in academic and professional contexts within a knowledge-based society.
The award of a doctoral degree must equip the graduate for work in a variety of settings, especially those requiring creativity and innovation. Doctoral graduates must have at least acquired the personal skills needed to:
a) Develop in contexts in which there is little specific information.
b) Find the key questions that must be answered to solve a complex problem.
c) Design, create, develop and undertake original, innovative projects in their field.
d) Work as part of a team and independently in an international or multidisciplinary context.
e) Integrate knowledge, deal with complexity and make judgements with limited information.
f) Offer criticism on and intellectually defend solutions.
Finally, with respect to competencies, doctoral students must:
a) have acquired advanced knowledge at the frontier of their discipline and demonstrated, in the context of internationally recognised scientific research, a deep, detailed and well-grounded understanding of theoretical and practical issues and scientific methodology in one or more research fields;
b) have made an original and significant contribution to scientific research in their field of expertise that has been recognised as such by the international scientific community;
c) have demonstrated that they are capable of designing a research project that serves as a framework for carrying out a critical analysis and assessment of imprecise situations, in which they are able to apply their contributions, expertise and working method to synthesise new and complex ideas that yield a deeper knowledge of the research context in which they work;
d) have developed sufficient autonomy to set up, manage and lead innovative research teams and projects and scientific collaborations (both national and international) within their subject area, in multidisciplinary contexts and, where appropriate, with a substantial element of knowledge transfer;
e) have demonstrated that they are able to carry out their research activity in a socially responsible manner and with scientific integrity;
f) have demonstrated, within their specific scientific context, that they are able to make cultural, social or technological advances and promote innovation in all areas within a knowledge-based society;
g) have demonstrated that they are able to participate in scientific discussions at the international level in their field of expertise and disseminate the results of their research activity to audiences of all kinds.
Number of places
10
Duration of studies and dedication regime
Duration
The maximum period of study for full-time doctoral studies is four years, counted from the date of first enrolment in the relevant programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited. The academic committee of the doctoral programme may authorise a doctoral candidate to pursue doctoral studies on a part-time basis. In this case, the maximum period of study is seven years from the date of first enrolment in the programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited. To calculate these periods, the date of deposit is considered to be the date on which the thesis is made publicly available for review.
If a doctoral candidate has a degree of disability equal to or greater than 33%, the maximum period of study is six years for full-time students and nine years for part-time students.
For full-time doctoral candidates, the minimum period of study is two years, counted from the date of an applicant's admission to the programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited; for part-time doctoral candidates it is four years.
When there are justified grounds for doing so, and the thesis supervisor and academic tutor have given their authorisation, doctoral candidates may request that the academic committee of their doctoral programme exempt them from the requirement to complete this minimum period of study.
Temporary disability leave and leave for the birth of a child, adoption or fostering for the purposes of adoption, temporary foster care, risk during pregnancy or infant feeding, gender violence and any other situation provided for in current regulations do not count towards these periods. Students who find themselves in any of these circumstances must notify the academic committee of the doctoral programme, which must inform the Doctoral School.
Doctoral candidates may request periods of temporary withdrawal from the programme for up to a total of two years. Requests must be justified and addressed to the academic committee responsible for the programme, which will decide whether or not to grant the candidate's request.
Extension of studies
If a doctoral candidate has not applied to deposit their thesis before the expiry of the deadlines specified in the previous section, the academic committee of the doctoral programme may, at the request of the doctoral candidate, authorise an extension of this deadline of one year under the conditions specified for the doctoral programme in question.
Dismissal from the doctoral programme
A doctoral candidate may be dismissed from a doctoral programme for the following reasons:
- The doctoral candidate submitting a justified application to withdraw from the programme.
- The doctoral candidate not having completed their annual enrolment or applied for a temporary interruption.
- The doctoral candidate not having formalised annual enrolment on the day after the end of the authorisation to temporarily interrupt or withdraw from the programme.
- The doctoral candidate receiving a negative reassessment after the deadline set by the academic committee of the doctoral programme to remedy the deficiencies that led to a previous negative assessment.
- The doctoral candidate having been the subject of disciplinary proceedings leading to their suspension or permanent exclusion from the UPC.
- A refusal to authorise the extensions applied for, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.3 of these regulations.
- The doctoral candidate not having submitted the research plan in the period established in Section 8.2 of these regulations.
- The maximum period of study for the doctoral degree having ended, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.4 of these regulations.
Dismissal from the programme means that the doctoral candidate cannot continue studying at the UPC and that their academic record will be closed. This notwithstanding, they may apply to the academic committee of the programme for readmission, and the committee must reevaluate the candidate in accordance with the criteria established in the regulations.
A doctoral candidate who has been dismissed due to having exceeded the time limit for completing doctoral studies or due to an unsatisfactory assessment may not be Academic Regulations for Doctoral Studies Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya Page 17 of 33 admitted to the same doctoral programme until at least two years have elapsed from the date of dismissal, as provided for in sections 3.4 and 9.2 of these regulations.
Legal framework
Organization
COORDINATOR:ACADEMIC COMMISSION OF THE PROGRAM:
- Claramunt Blanes, Jose
- Gil Moya, Emilio
- Kallas Calot, Zein
- Marine Verges, Montserrat
- Masalo Llora, Ingrid
- Sorribas Royo, Xavier
Universities with joint supervision agreements:
• Lebanese University, Lebanon
• Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Brazil
STRUCTURAL UNITS:
- Department of Agri-Food Engineering and Biotechnology (PROMOTORA)
- Department of Chemical Engineering
https://deab.upc.edu/es/doctorado
CONTACT:
doctorat.deab@upc.edu
Agreements with other institutions
• The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
• The Institute for Research and Technology in Food and Agriculture (IRTA)
Access, admission and registration
Access profile
This doctoral programme has a decidedly multidisciplinary nature, and as such, degrees that will grant holders admission to our study programme are varied.
Given the reorganisation and changes that affected master’s programmes, currently, holders of the following degrees are considered to be the most appropriate for admission into the doctoral programme in Agri-Food Technology and Biotechnology: a master’s degree in Agricultural Engineering, a master’s degree in Aquiculture or a master’s degree in Improving Plant Genetics, all of which are offered at the UPC through joint programmes.
In addition to these profiles, and due to the markedly multidisciplinary nature of this programme, graduates from degree programmes focusing on sciences and technologies involving food, agri-food engineering, life sciences or biological systems may also be admitted to the programme, pending their passing of the corresponding master’s programme or 60 ECTS-worth of master’s courses.
Interest in experimental laboratory and/or field work and the ability to work in a team, as well as having critical and analytical abilities and initiative, are relevant aspects that will influence whether or not applicants are admitted.
Access requirements
As a rule, applicants must hold a Spanish bachelor's degree or equivalent and a Spanish master's degree or equivalent, provided they have completed a minimum of 300 ECTS credits on the two degrees (Royal Decree 43/2015, of 2 February).
Applicants who meet one or more of the following conditions are also eligible for admission:
a) Holders of official Spanish degrees or equivalent Spanish qualifications, provided they have passed 300 ECTS credits in total and they can prove they have reached Level 3 in the Spanish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education.
b) Holders of degrees awarded in foreign education systems in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), which do not require homologation, who can prove that they have reached Level 7 in the European Qualifications Framework, provided the degree makes the holder eligible for admission to doctoral studies in the country in which it was awarded.
c) Holders of degrees awarded in a country that does not belong to the EHEA, which do not require homologation, on the condition that the University is able to verify that the degree is of a level equivalent to that of official university master's degrees in Spain and that it makes the holder eligible for admission to doctoral studies in the country in which it was awarded.
d) Holders of another doctoral degree.
e) Holders of an official university qualification who, having been awarded a post as a trainee in the entrance examination for specialised medical training, have successfully completed at least two years of training leading to an official degree in a health sciences specialisation.
Legal framework
Admission criteria and merits assessment
Specific admission requirements
Degrees that grant holders admission directly (and do not require bridging courses) are:
• Master’s degrees in Agricultural Engineering (UdL-UPC-URV-UdG)
• Master’s degrees in Aquaculture (UPC-U. of Barcelona)
• Master’s degrees in Improving Plant Genetics (UPC-U. Politècnica de València)
Graduates and engineers must accredit having taken all of the credits needed to attain a master’s degree.
Candidates are required to have at least a B2 (Vantage) level of English as per the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, this is equivalent to the British Council’s First Certificate in English (FCE).
If applicants request a specific subject matter for their doctoral thesis, they will be supervised by a coordinator from the corresponding research group in order to ensure that the project is feasible and provide them with the most ideal supervisor for their thesis. In these cases, admission decisions will take into consideration the suggested supervisors’ feedback. In the following meeting, the doctoral programme’s Academic Committee shall make a final admission decision, assign a supervisor and, if necessary, define required bridging courses.
For applicants who do not specify a particular field of research, the coordinator will provide them with information and counsel them about the possibilities offered by the different research groups associated with the programme. Then, the coordinator will inform the Academic Committee about the application, and, taking into account the applicant’s educational background and his/her expectations and interests, the Committee will make an admission decision and assign a thesis supervisor who will, if necessary, suggest what bridging courses the applicant should take.
Criteria for assessing merits and weighting
Of the documentation turned in with every application, the Academic Committee will first consider whether there is clear evidence that the applicant’s academic background is in line with the area of research in which he/she wishes to carry out his/her thesis. Of almost equal importance is the applicant’s academic transcript and his/her ability to obtain funding through a grant. Thirdly, the Academic Committee will consider the applicant’s previous research experience as well as his/her motivation and readiness. Finally, knowledge of languages, in addition to English, will be positively considered.
In order to carry out an objective assessment, we more strictly define the parameters as follows:
• Weighting of conformity between academic background and area of research: 30%.
• Weighting of academic transcript: 35%.
• Weighting of motivation: 10%.
• Weighting of knowledge of other languages: 10%.
• Weighting of research experience: 15%.
Training complements
The academic committee for the programme may require that doctoral students pass specific bridging courses. In this case, the Committee will monitor the bridging courses and set up appropriate criteria to limit their length.
The courses shall involve training in research, but in no case will candidates be required to enrol in 60 or more ECTS credits (as per the academic regulations for doctoral studies, bridging courses could also include transversal education, but this is likely to be changed to include only research-related credits, especially in cases of 300-ECTS-credit doctoral programmes).
Depending on the doctoral student activity report, the programme’s Academic Committee may propose measures, in addition to those established by current regulations, that would disassociate candidates who do not meet the established requisites.
The Academic Committee of the doctoral programme in Agri-Food Technology and Biotechnology finds that those meeting the aforementioned admission requirements will not have to take any bridging courses.
If the academic committee or assigned thesis supervisor feels that the candidate should take bridging courses, and considering the multidisciplinary nature of this programme, they will require coursework be taken, basically from the master’s programmes in areas related to biosystems engineering, the environment and sustainability and natural resources, or from the master’s programme in Biomedical Engineering, the master’s programme in Chemical Engineering or some other related programme depending on the research lines covered by the candidate’s doctoral thesis, his/her professional and educational background, and required bridging courses
Enrolment period for new doctoral students
Between September and April.
More information at the registration section for new doctoral students
Enrolment period
That which is established by the Doctoral School.
Monitoring and evaluation of the doctoral student
Formation activities
Activity: Tutorial.
Hours: 288.
Type: compulsory.
Activity: Mobility.
Hours: 480.
Type: optional.
Activity: Assessment based on doctoral student activity report (DAD) and research plan.
Hours: 4.
Type: compulsory.
Activity: Training in information skills.
Hours: 1.5.
Type: optional.
Activity: Research methodology.
Hours: 12.
Type: optional.
Activity: Innovation and creativity.
Hours: 8.
Type: optional.
Activity: Language and communication skills.
Hours: 18.
Type: optional.
Activity: Courses and seminars.
Hours: 40.
Type: optional.
Activity: Workshops.
Hours: 10.
Type: optional.
Activity: Publications.
Hours: 150.
Type: compulsory.
Before turning in their theses, candidates must prove that they have been the lead author on at least one article that has been published or accepted in a high-impact journal.
Procedure for assignment of tutor and thesis director
The academic committee of the doctoral programme assigns a thesis supervisor to each doctoral candidate when they are admitted or enrol for the first time, taking account of the thesis supervision commitment referred to in the admission decision.
The thesis supervisor will ensure that training activities carried out by the doctoral candidate are coherent and suitable, and that the topic of the candidate’s doctoral thesis will have an impact and make a novel contribution to knowledge in the relevant field. The thesis supervisor will also guide the doctoral candidate in planning the thesis and, if necessary, tailoring it to any other projects or activities undertaken. The thesis supervisor will generally be a UPC professor or researcher who holds a doctoral degree and has documented research experience. This includes PhD-holding staff at associated schools (as determined by the Governing Council) and UPC-affiliated research institutes (in accordance with corresponding collaboration and affiliation agreements). When thesis supervisors are UPC staff members, they also act as the doctoral candidate’s tutor.
PhD holders who do not meet these criteria (as a result of their contractual relationship or the nature of the institution to which they are attached) must be approved by the UPC Doctoral School's Standing Committee in order to participate in a doctoral programme as researchers with documented research experience.
The academic committee of the doctoral programme may approve the appointment of a PhD-holding expert who is not a UPC staff member as a candidate’s thesis supervisor. In such cases, the prior authorisation of the UPC Doctoral School's Standing Committee is required. A UPC staff member who holds a doctoral degree and has documented research experience must also be proposed to act as a co-supervisor, or as the doctoral candidate’s tutor if one has not been assigned.
A thesis supervisor may step down from this role if there are justified reasons (recognised as valid by the committee) for doing so. If this occurs, the academic committee of the doctoral programme will assign the doctoral candidate a new thesis supervisor.
Provided there are justified reasons for doing so, and after hearing any relevant input from the doctoral candidate, the academic committee of the doctoral programme may assign a new thesis supervisor at any time during the period of doctoral study.
If there are academic reasons for doing so (an interdisciplinary topic, joint or international programmes, etc.) and the academic committee of the programme gives its approval, an additional thesis supervisor may be assigned. Supervisors and co-supervisors have the same responsibilities and academic recognition.
The maximum number of supervisors of a doctoral thesis is two: a supervisor and a co-supervisor.
For theses carried out under a cotutelle agreement or as part of an Industrial Doctorate, if necessary and if the agreement foresees it this maximum number of supervisors may not apply. This notwithstanding, the maximum number of supervisors belonging to the UPC is two.
Permanence
The maximum period of study for full-time doctoral studies is four years, counted from the date of first enrolment in the relevant programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited. The academic committee of the doctoral programme may authorise a doctoral candidate to pursue doctoral studies on a part-time basis. In this case, the maximum period of study is seven years from the date of first enrolment in the programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited. To calculate these periods, the date of deposit is considered to be the date on which the thesis is made publicly available for review.
If a doctoral candidate has a degree of disability equal to or greater than 33%, the maximum period of study is six years for full-time students and nine years for part-time students.
If a doctoral candidate has not applied to deposit their thesis before the expiry of the deadlines specified in the previous section, the academic committee of the doctoral programme may, at the request of the doctoral candidate, authorise an extension of this deadline of one year under the conditions specified for the doctoral programme in question.
Dismissal from the doctoral programme
A doctoral candidate may be dismissed from a doctoral programme for the following reasons:
- The doctoral candidate submitting a justified application to withdraw from the programme.
- The doctoral candidate not having completed their annual enrolment or applied for a temporary interruption.
- The doctoral candidate not having formalised annual enrolment on the day after the end of the authorisation to temporarily interrupt or withdraw from the programme.
- The doctoral candidate receiving a negative reassessment after the deadline set by the academic committee of the doctoral programme to remedy the deficiencies that led to a previous negative assessment.
- The doctoral candidate having been the subject of disciplinary proceedings leading to their suspension or permanent exclusion from the UPC.
- A refusal to authorise the extensions applied for, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.3 of these regulations.
- The doctoral candidate not having submitted the research plan in the period established in Section 8.2 of these regulations.
- The maximum period of study for the doctoral degree having ended, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.4 of these regulations.
Dismissal from the programme means that the doctoral candidate cannot continue studying at the UPC and that their academic record will be closed. This notwithstanding, they may apply to the academic committee of the programme for readmission, and the committee must reevaluate the candidate in accordance with the criteria established in the regulations.
A doctoral candidate who has been dismissed due to having exceeded the time limit for completing doctoral studies or due to an unsatisfactory assessment may not be Academic Regulations for Doctoral Studies Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya Page 17 of 33 admitted to the same doctoral programme until at least two years have elapsed from the date of dismissal, as provided for in sections 3.4 and 9.2 of these regulations.
Legal framework
Learning resources
The doctoral programme offers the scientific and technical installations needed to ensure that accepted thesis projects can be carried out.
The library is located in the campus services building of the Baix Llobregat Campus. It can be accessed from the ground floor, and its web page is https://bibliotecnica.upc.edu/bcbl. Its main objective is to meet the specific in-person and online need for technical and scientific information, learning, research and continuing education.
The Department offers 14 research laboratories, 12 in the Department of Agri-Food Engineering and Biotechnology (Baix Llobregat Campus) and 2 in the Department of Chemical Engineering (Terrassa Campus and South Diagonal Campus). Among them, there are laboratories for instrumental chemical and biochemical analyses (HPLC, UV-VIS spectroscopy, atomic absorption, infrared, texture analyser, etc.), cellular and molecular biology laboratories (laminar flow cabinets, CO₂ incubators, etc.), the Microbiology Laboratory, the Sensory Analysis and Product Tasting Laboratory, the Plant Health Laboratory, the Ground Physics and Waste Treatment Laboratory, the Aquaculture Laboratory and the Molecular Modelling Laboratory. All of the laboratories have with specific instrumentation depending on the subject areas they are designed to study, in addition to basic gas installations, selective waste collection, heating and air conditioning, internet connection, etc.
The doctoral programme also offers an experimental station: Research Unit in Biological Systems and Peri-Urban Agriculture Engineering (Agrópolis), located 5 kilometres from the campus and offering 10 hectares of land and a general services building. This experimental station is fully operational and offers basic services (irrigation, communications, a green house, etc.) which allow for field tests for experimental theses on agriculture to be carried out.
Doctoral Theses
List of authorized thesis for defense
NO RESULTS: there are no theses in this list.
Last update: 11/12/2025 05:46:16.
List of lodged theses
NO RESULTS: there are no theses in this list.
Last update: 11/12/2025 05:31:22.
List of defended theses by year
- BIN CHE MUSTAPA, MUHAMMAD ADZRAN: Consumer preferences and acceptance for sustainable food systemsAuthor: BIN CHE MUSTAPA, MUHAMMAD ADZRAN
Thesis link: http://hdl.handle.net/10803/695568
Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN AGRI-FOOD TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
Department: Department of Agri-Food Engineering and Biotechnology (DEAB)
Mode: Article-based thesis
Reading date: 25/09/2025
Thesis director: KALLAS CALOT, ZEINCommittee:
PRESIDENT: BRUGAROLAS MOLLA-BAUZA, MARGARITA MARÍA
SECRETARI: RAHMANI MEDDOUR, DJAMEL
VOCAL: COSTA FONT, MONTSERRAT
Thesis abstract: As consumers increasingly recognise the health, ethical, and environmental impacts of their dietary choices, a shift toward sustainable food systems is emerging. This dissertation explores consumer preferences, willingness to pay (WTP), and factors influencing the acceptance of innovative and sustainable food products through seven empirical studies.The first study examines Spanish consumers’ willingness to consume (WTC) animal products fed with insects. A survey of 1,260 individuals analysed using Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests reveals significant uncertainty, with females showing greater acceptance. Key factors influencing WTC include financial situation, age, and education.The second study explores the effect of informational contexts on WTP for insect-fed animal products using a Heckman model with 1,006 responses. Findings indicate WTP premiums of 21%–31%, with higher education, online shopping habits, and shopping at municipal markets increasing WTC likelihood.The third study assesses WTP for organic aquaculture products, focusing on organic sea bass. A survey of 1,300 consumers analysed via binary logistic regression finds a €2.26 (25%) WTP premium. Age, financial stability, and attributes like price, origin, and freshness significantly influence WTP.The fourth study examines Spanish consumers’ sensory acceptance of plant-based products. Data from 132 respondents analysed using SPSS and PLS-SEM show that perceived behavioural control, sensory perceptions, attitudes, and informed tasting significantly impact purchasing intentions.The fifth study investigates acceptance and WTP for legume-based gnocchi using the Becker–DeGroot–Marschak (BDM) auction method. A hedonic evaluation of 127 consumers reveals moderate attitudes toward legume-based products. Tasting negatively impacts WTP, while education, income, government support perceptions, and sensory attributes influence WTP.The sixth study analyses European meat substitute consumption patterns using Mintel data from 5,000 consumers across four countries. Over half have reduced red meat intake, with Germans showing the highest vegan adherence. Women consume less meat and are more inclined to reduce intake. Economic and sustainability concerns drive reduction, with preferences for locally sourced, natural, and meat-like substitutes.The seventh study conducts a meta-analysis of consumer WTP for short food supply chain (SFSC) products across 47 studies. Findings indicate an average 34.5% premium, with gender, education, study year, age, region, product category, and sustainability attributes affecting WTP. Organic products receive the highest WTP, with meat, poultry, dairy, and honey leading categories.
- CANO LÓPEZ, ALICIA: Novel strategies to reduce persistent, mobile, and toxic substances in groundwater and wastewater: impact on agriculture and human healthAuthor: CANO LÓPEZ, ALICIA
Thesis link: http://hdl.handle.net/10803/696018
Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN AGRI-FOOD TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
Department: Department of Agri-Food Engineering and Biotechnology (DEAB)
Mode: Normal
Reading date: 07/11/2025
Thesis director: MATAMOROS MERCADAL, VÍCTOR | ESCOLÀ CASAS, MÒNICACommittee:
PRESIDENT: SALVADÓ MARTÍN, VICTORIA DE LOS ÁNGELES
SECRETARI: BUTTIGLIERI, GIANLUIGI
VOCAL: LYU, TAO
Thesis abstract: Water scarcity is one of the most pressing global challenges, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions such as the Mediterranean basin. In countries like Spain, where agriculture is a major consumer of water resources, the reuse of reclaimed water has become essential for ensuring both water and food security. However, treated wastewater effluents and even groundwater can contain organic micropollutants that are partially removed in conventional water treatments. Among these, persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT) substances are especially concerning due to their resistance to degradation, mobility through water systems, and their toxicity potential in the environment, posing risks to ecosystems, crops, and human health.This PhD thesis explores both the reduction and impact of PMT substances across four experiments. Two focus on treatment technologies, a chemical approach (advanced oxidation process, AOP) and a biological system (nature-based solution, NBS), to eliminate PMT substances from groundwater and wastewater. The other two assess the effects of PMT-contaminated irrigation water on crops, using both hydroponic and soil-based systems. Chapter 3 compares eight oxidation treatments for removing chlorinated solvents from contaminated groundwater, coupled with a human health risk assessment. Chapter 4 investigates four NBS configurations for removing short-chain PFAS and other PMT substances from groundwater and wastewater, focusing on the influence of factors like filter media, grain size, vegetation, and microbial communities. Chapter 5 evaluates PMT uptake and bioaccumulation in lettuce grown in a hydroponic setup, alongside assessments of plant health, metabolomic responses, and implications for food safety. Chapter 7 explores an on-going soil-based irrigation study comparing secondary and pilot-scale quaternary effluents, analysing suspect PMT uptake, and crop quality, complementing the hydroponic findings.Overall, this thesis provides novel insights into PMT substances in water resources and agricultural systems, offering both treatment evaluations and risk-based perspectives that may inform future water reuse strategies and regulatory frameworks.
- COLLANTES VELIZ, RUBEN DARIO: Desarrollo de un sistema de apoyo a la toma de decisión para la evaluación cuantitativa de los equipos de aplicación de productos fitosanitarios en función del riesgo medioambientalAuthor: COLLANTES VELIZ, RUBEN DARIO
Thesis link: http://hdl.handle.net/10803/694133
Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN AGRI-FOOD TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
Department: Department of Agri-Food Engineering and Biotechnology (DEAB)
Mode: Change of supervisor
Reading date: 05/03/2025
Thesis director: GIL MOYA, EMILIO | SCHLOSSER, JOSE FERNANDOCommittee:
PRESIDENT: MARTÍNEZ CASASNOVAS, JOSE ANTONIO
SECRETARI: KALLAS CALOT, ZEIN
VOCAL: GARCIA RAMOS, FRANCISCO JAVIER
Thesis abstract: Since the adoption of the Machinery Directive 2009/127/EC and theimplementation of the new Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230, which willbe mandatory from 2027, manufacturers of agricultural sprayers have beenrequired to ensure that their equipment is technologically sound and suitablefor sustainable use. Technology is a key resource that can significantlycontribute to increasing agricultural production while enabling the safe andsustainable use of crop protection products to protect human health and theenvironment. Machinery for applying crop protection products plays a crucialrole in the agricultural sector. However, despite the availability of advancedtechnology, many machines still do not meet the design standards required bylegislation. Additionally, manufacturers often face difficulties in accessing these regulations, which affects the production process. In some cases,performing the necessary tests to certify the compliance of their equipment presents an additional challenge. In this context, the aim of this work was todevelop a decision support system for quantifying and classifying pesticide application equipment based on the risk of contamination and the degree ofcompliance with European regulations. This system takes into consideration the technical criteria established in the ISO 16119 and ISO 16122 standardsfor evaluating and classifying application equipment. Another aim is also to promote this support in Latin American countries where it is not yet fullymandatory to test application equipment, nor are they required to be designed or manufactured with the protection of human health and the environment inmind. The system has been validated on boom sprayers and airblast sprayers manufactured in Spain, Brazil and Peru. The results indicate specific areas forimprovement, mainly in the cleaning systems and in the information provided in the instruction manual. This system can be a valuable tool formanufacturers, helping them optimize their products while ensuring the protection of crops, the environment and human health.
- FULLANA PONS, AÏDA MAGDALENA: Management strategies of Meloidogyne-resistant plant germplasm to avoid virulence selectionAuthor: FULLANA PONS, AÏDA MAGDALENA
Thesis link: http://hdl.handle.net/10803/693665
Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN AGRI-FOOD TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
Department: Department of Agri-Food Engineering and Biotechnology (DEAB)
Mode: Normal
Reading date: 04/02/2025
Thesis director: SORRIBAS ROYO, FRANCISCO JAVIER | GINÉ BLASCO, ARIADNACommittee:
PRESIDENT: CASTILLO CASTILLO, PABLO
SECRETARI: SERRANO PORTA, LIDIA
VOCAL: PISA MATA DA CONCEIÇÃO, ISABEL LUCI
VOCAL: HELDER, JOHANNES
VOCAL: MORTON JUANEDA, ANA
Thesis abstract: During the development of the PhD, several studies were conducted to explore the potential of plant resistance for the management of Meloidogyne in horticultural crops, none of which promoted the selection of virulent populations in the resistant germplasms used. Specifically: i) the effect of three growing seasons of resistant germplasm rotation; ii) the effect of Solanum torvum as a tomato rootstock as a method of alternating resistance sources in monoculture situations; iii) the capacity of zoophytophagous mirids to induce resistance in tomato germplasm susceptible to nematodes to reduce the frequency of use of resistant germplasm.; and iv) the response of potential rootstocks of melon and cucumber or watermelon to quarantine species in Spain as a possible management tool if they are found and not eradicated. The results obtained showed that: i) the rotation sequence with resistant germplasm ( tomato grafted (grft.) onto ‘Brigeor’ - melon grft. onto Cucumis metuliferus - pepper grft. Onto ‘Oscos’ – watermelon grft. onto Citrullus amarus - resistant tomato cv. Caramba) cultivated in plots infested by an avirulent (Avi) or partially virulent (Vi) population of M. incognita to the Mi1.2 resistance tomato gene reduced the Avi population density by 94% and the Vi population density to below detectable levels. Cumulative yield was 1.5 and 2.4 times higher in plots infested with Avi and Vi, respectively, compared to rotation with susceptible germplasm. The Avi population did not acquire virulence to any of the resistant germplasms used in the rotation; ii) the severity of the disease and nematode reproduction in tomatoes grafted onto S. torvum were reduced by 8.6 and 56 times, respectively, compared to non-grafted tomatoes, and yield was up to 87% higher at densities above 1 J2/cm3 of soil. The resistance of S. torvum remained unchanged after three consecutive crops; iii) exposure of susceptible tomatoes to 15 nymphs/plant of Nesiodiocoris tenuis or Macrolophus pygmaeus for 24 hours before transplanting such as (Z)-3-hexenil propanoato volatile emitted by fed tomato plants, reduce nematode’s reproduction until 60, 70 and 45% respectively; and iv) Cucumis metuliferus was immune to M. chitwoodi, highly resistant to M. enterolobii, and resistant to M. luci. Citrullus amarus ranged from resistant to moderately resistant to M. chitwoodi and M. enterolobii, and resistant to M. luci.The results of these studies provide valuable information for nematode control, even in scenarios where species and/or populations virulent to specific resistance genes coexist, which are increasingly common in production areas.
- SALAS I BARENYS, BERNAT: Precision Agriculture in Fruit Orchards: Development and Evaluation of a Smart Sprayer for Variable Rate Pesticide Application in 3D cropsAuthor: SALAS I BARENYS, BERNAT
Thesis link: http://hdl.handle.net/10803/694170
Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN AGRI-FOOD TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
Department: Department of Agri-Food Engineering and Biotechnology (DEAB)
Mode: Article-based thesis
Reading date: 14/03/2025
Thesis director: GIL MOYA, EMILIO | SALCEDO CIDONCHA, RAMONCommittee:
PRESIDENT: BAPTISTA, FÁTIMA DE JESUS FOLGÔA
SECRETARI: CAMPOS TOBAJAS, JAVIER
VOCAL: GIOELLI, FABRIZIO STEFANO
Thesis abstract: European agriculture is currently experiencing an intense debate about the production model, linked to a growing social awareness regarding the use of agrochemicals in general, and plant protection products in particular. In this sense, there is a notable increasing focus on precision agriculture, which aims to optimize the use of these inputs by considering the intra-field variability among trees or plants. One example is the OPTIMA project (Optimised PesT Integrated MAnagement), funded by the EU under the H2020 program (http://optima-h2020.eu/en), within which this doctoral thesis has been developed. For the UMA-UPC research group, the goal was to design and integrate a novel system for applying plant protection products in a conventional hydropneumatic sprayer with constant flow for treatments in fruit trees. This system was designed to be able to adjust the amount of liquid sprayed based on the width and density of the tree canopies, thus avoiding excess or insufficient presence of pesticides on the target vegetation of the treatment. To achieve this, it uses a set of ultrasonic sensors to determine the size and leaf density of the canopy, sending this information to a computer that regulates a set of motorized valves to modify the flow rate in real time through the nozzles.With these premises, the present thesis encompasses, in the first part, the characterization of the sprayer, the design and implementation of the intelligent spraying system and the validation of the prototype conducted through field trials on apple applications. In these experiments, the coating and deposition of product on leaves were evaluated, both in terms of quantity and distribution uniformity, as well as the direct losses of plant protection product to the soil.The results of the sprayer characterization showed that the asymmetry of air velocities from the fan was accentuated as the airflow increased. Additionally, it was observed that the homogeneity of the coating on the tree canopies increased when working with larger droplet sizes along with higher airflow configurations in the fan. These results helped establish the configuration of the prototype during subsequent field trials (fan and nozzle parameters). Regarding the results of the second part, the prototype's ability to continuously modify the flow rate of the nozzles according to crop characteristics was successfully demonstrated, in terms of speed and precision level. The efficiency and robustness of the prototype and its components were successfully evaluated, including an in-depth analysis of the ultrasonic sensor configurations. All of this allowed for the selection of the appropriate configuration of both sensors and actuators as well as the parameters introduced into the algorithm for the final part of the thesis.The results obtained in this thesis demonstrate the success of the VRA system in achieving its fundamental objectives: reducing the volume of plant protection products applied and minimizing environmental impact. The intelligent spraying system allowed for a significant reduction of 45% in liquid use compared to conventional sprayers, maintaining optimal levels of leaf deposition. This optimization not only improves the efficiency of plant protection treatments but also reduces the direct losses of product to the soil, decreasing the risk of environmental contamination. Thus, the implementation of this technology contributes to more sustainable agriculture, aligning with the principles of the EU's Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive and other regulatory frameworks that promote reducing dependence on chemical products in crop protection.
Last update: 11/12/2025 06:02:35.
Theses related publications
| Encara no hi ha publicacions associades a tesis d'aquest programa. Aún no hay publicaciones asociadas a tesis de este programa. There are no publications associated with theses from this program yet. |
Research projects
| START DATE | END DATE | ACTIVITY | FINANCING ENTITY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01/01/2024 | 31/12/2027 | E-01854 | Commission of European Communities |
| 01/12/2023 | 31/01/2025 | Efectes del reg amb aigües regenerades en la producció de cultius hortícoles al Baix Llobregat | CETAQUA |
| 26/10/2023 | 25/10/2025 | Canvi climàtic i resiliència de l'agricultura catalana: impuls interdisciplinari i multi-escala de la diversificació amb lleguminoses com estratègia de mitigació i adaptació | Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (Agaur) |
| 27/09/2023 | 26/09/2025 | Cátedra Syngenta-UPC de formación y nuevas tecnologías para una agricultura sostenible | SYNGENTA AGRO, S.A. |
| 01/09/2023 | 31/08/2026 | Evaluación de la aptitud biológica de poblaciones de Setaria adhaerens y Digitaria sanguinalis resistentes a herbicidas y modelización de | AGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION |
| 10/07/2023 | 31/03/2024 | Comprobar la eficiencia de absorbentes y adsorbentes de etileno elaborados por Naturpod (NP/B2C), en la vida útil de frutas sensibles, almacenadas en condiciones de refrigeración a escala doméstica | TEMPO FRESCO, SOCIEDAD LIMITADA |
| 01/07/2023 | 31/12/2023 | Determination of the nematicidal effect on Meloidogyne spp. of three formulations from Andermatt Iberia SL, | ANDERMATT IBERIA SOCIEDAD LIMITADA |
| 21/06/2023 | 15/12/2025 | Sant Boi Respira + Verde | FUNDACION BIODIVERSIDAD |
| 01/06/2023 | 31/12/2023 | Suport desenvolupament productes químics i biològics.Prova de diferents tècniques/tecnologies d'aplicació d'esprai pel seu efecte sobre la distribució de l'aerosol,deriva de l'esprai i l'eficàcia dura | Cheminova A/S |
| 15/05/2023 | 17/04/2024 | CULTISENSOR | MIN. INDUSTRIA ENERGIA TURISMO |
| 15/05/2023 | 17/04/2024 | Sensorización y digitalización de paneles recuperadores de fitosanitarios para viticultura vinculado a una plataforma de toma de datos y decisiones | MIN. INDUSTRIA ENERGIA TURISMO |
| 01/05/2023 | 31/07/2023 | Contracte per a assaig de deriva potencial | ASCENZA PRODUCTOS PARA AGRICULTURA |
| 12/02/2023 | 11/05/2023 | Contracte d'assessorament en la organització del Workshop per Europa Occidental del projecte BlueAir | TEHNOLOSKI PARK LJUBLJANA d.o.o. |
| 01/01/2023 | 31/12/2025 | Xarxa de R+D+I Marítima de Catalunya-Catalan Network for Blue Innovation | AGAUR. Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca |
| 01/01/2023 | 31/12/2024 | Molecular mechanism of the visual disorders caused by G90D rhodopsin mutations | Research to Prevent Blindness |
| 01/01/2023 | 31/12/2024 | Implantación de biochar como herramienta biorremediadora en áreas periurbanas: nuevo modelo de producción responsable para el Área Metropolitana de Barcelona (BioUrban) | Ajuntament de Barcelona |
| 01/01/2023 | 31/12/2026 | SYMBIOSYST. From the design to the implementation, a symbiosis where PV and agriculture can have a mutually beneficial relationship | Commission of European Communities |
| 23/12/2022 | 30/06/2024 | Implantación de biochar como herramienta biorremediadora en áreas periurbanas: nuevo modelo de producción responsable para el Área Metropolitana de Barcelona | Ajuntament de Barcelona |
| 01/12/2022 | 01/12/2024 | Adopción de nuevas tecnologías para la reducción de fitosanitarios. Drones y satélites para aplicación variable en plantaciones de viñedo y olivo | AGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION |
| 01/12/2022 | 30/11/2025 | Cierre de ciclos hacia la sostenibilidad local en la agricultura: producción de biofertilizantes enriquecidos en nutrientes y enmiendas orgánicas con propiedades biopesticidas y bioestimulantes (Ferti | AGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION |
| 01/12/2022 | 30/11/2024 | FERTILAB. Cierre de ciclos hacia la sostenibilidad local en al agricultura: producción de biofertilizantes enriquecidos en nutrientes y enmiendas orgánicas con propiedades biopesticidas y bioestimulantes | Agencia Estatal de Investigación |
| 01/12/2022 | 30/11/2023 | App Dosaviña finalista dels premis RuralApp 2022 | GENERALITAT DE CATALUNYA |
| 01/11/2022 | 31/10/2026 | Unite! University Network for Innovation, Technology and Engineering | European Commission. Education Audiovisual and Culture Agency Executive Agency (Eacea) |
| 01/09/2022 | 31/08/2025 | Gestión integrada de Meloindogyne en cultivos hortícolas mediante resistencia inducida y cultivos de cobertura | AGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION |
| 25/07/2022 | 29/04/2023 | Sensorización y digitalización de maquinaria existente vinculado a una plataforma de toma de datos | MIN. INDUSTRIA ENERGIA TURISMO |
| 01/07/2022 | 31/12/2023 | Contracte de col·laboració per a la determinació del model fenològic de Meloidogyne hapla en tomàquets i comparació amb el desenvolupament del nematode en la maduixa. | BAYER CROPSCIENCE, S.L. |
| 01/06/2022 | 31/05/2026 | Industrial Urban symbiosis and its social, economic and environmental impact on different European regions | Commission of European Communities |
| 01/04/2022 | 31/03/2025 | Ensure fair NEXUS transition for climate change adaptation and sustainable development implementation based on coupled nature-based systems and bioeconomy | European Commission |
| 15/03/2022 | 31/12/2023 | Contracte de Col·laboració pel desenvolupament de dinàmica d'emergència de J2 en Meloidogi | BAYER CROPSCIENCE, S.L. |
| 18/01/2022 | 18/01/2022 | Composición para el control de malas hierbas. | |
| 22/12/2021 | 21/12/2024 | Hub de Innovación UPC-XIELINE | XIELINE EVOLUTIONS, SOCIEDAD LIMITA |
| 01/12/2021 | 17/06/2024 | Reducció de l'ús de coure en cultius hortícoles mitjançant la tècnica de la microencapsulació | GENERALITAT DE CATALUNYA |
| 01/12/2021 | 17/06/2024 | Sistema de suport a la decisió per a la GESTió de males HERBes | GENERALITAT DE CATALUNYA |
| 01/09/2021 | 29/02/2024 | Producción de bioestimulantes a partir de cianobacterias y agua residual en el marco de la bioeconomía circular | AGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION |
| 01/08/2021 | 31/07/2024 | Los sistemas productivos de cultivos de granos y el impacto de las malezas: bases funcionales y modelos diagramáticos para el desarrollo y transferencia de prácticas integradas de manejo | Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica |
| 01/08/2021 | 01/08/2023 | Conveni amb la FAUBA (PICT-2018-02164) | Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica |
| 28/06/2021 | 31/12/2021 | - Análisis de estrategias de control integrado de Meloidogyne | BAYER CROPSCIENCE, S.L. |
| 15/01/2021 | 14/01/2024 | Partnership Agreement projecte Erasmus+ AGRISAT | Commission of European Communities |
| 01/01/2021 | 31/12/2024 | An Open Innovation Test Bed for Nano-Enabled Bio-Based PUR Foams and Composites | Commission of European Communities |
| 01/01/2021 | 31/12/2024 | A Collaborative Paradigm for Human Workers and Multi-Robot Teams in Precision Agriculture Systems | Commission of European Communities |
| 01/01/2021 | 31/12/2024 | Ampliación del contrato de colaboración para la identificación y diseño de pequeñas moléculas como nuevas cabezas de serie inhibidores de MAP quinasas y proteína Ras | Allinky Biopharma S.L. |
| 01/01/2021 | 31/05/2022 | Valorization of co-products from waste treatment technologies for the production of innovative value-added products for agriculture. | Commission of European Communities |
| 01/01/2021 | 31/12/2023 | PLANING THE FUTURE OF R&I IN EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY ALLIANCE UNITE | European Commission |
| 01/01/2021 | 31/12/2023 | Planing the Future of R&I in European University Alliance Unite | European Commission |
| 21/12/2020 | 31/12/2024 | Multi-agent Agri-food living labs for new supply chain Mediterranean systems. Towards more sustainable and competitive farming addressing consumers’ preferences and market changes | European Commission |
| 30/11/2020 | 30/11/2024 | Developing innovative plant-based added-value food products through the promotion of LOCAL Mediterranean NUT and LEGUME crops | European Comission |
| 01/11/2020 | 31/03/2021 | TOPPS. Diseño y elaboración vídeos | ASOC EMPRESARIAL PARA LA PROTECCION |
| 01/11/2020 | 31/10/2024 | Integrated novel strategies for reducing the use and impact of pesticides, towards sustainable Mediterranean vineyards and olive groves | European Commission |
| 01/11/2020 | 28/02/2023 | Desarrollo e implementación integral de nuevas tecnologías, productos y estrategias para reducir la aplicación de cobre en viñedos y remediar suelos contaminados en la región SUDOE (Development and comprehensive implementation of new technologies, products and strategies to reduce copper application in vineyards and remediate contaminated soils in the region SUDOE) | INTERREG III B SUDOE |
| 01/11/2020 | 31/10/2023 | Innovative curriculum in smart AGRIculture through SATellite and remote sensing data in SEA | Comission of European Communities |
| 01/11/2020 | 28/02/2023 | “Desarrollo e implementación integral de nuevas tecnologías, productos y estrategias para reducir la aplicación de cobre en viñedos y remediar suelos contaminados en la región SUDOE | Commission of European Communities |
| 01/10/2020 | 30/09/2024 | Ddesarrolla un conjunto de estrategias novedosas, integradoras y sostenibles, técnica y económicamente viables,en aplicación de fitosanitarios en viña y olivos. | Commission of European Communities |
| 01/09/2020 | 31/08/2023 | Programme européen de formation en industrie 4.0 dans le cadre de l'Université Européenne UNITE! | Gobierno de Francia |
| 01/09/2020 | 30/06/2022 | Mediterranean Innovation Alliance for sustainable blue economy | DG Regio, European Commission |
| 01/07/2020 | 01/09/2022 | Avaluació de l'eficàcia dels tractaments fitosanitaris realitzats amb broquets de baixa deriva en cultius horticoles de port baix al baix llobregat | GENCAT-D.AGRICULTURA, RAMADERIA, |
| 01/06/2020 | 29/02/2024 | Nuevos ligandos alostéricos del receptor acoplado a proteína G visual rodopsina y el mecanismo molecular de enfermedades | AGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION |
| 01/06/2020 | 29/02/2024 | Pulverización inteligente para viñedo y olivar sostenible - Volumen de aplicación | AGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION |
| 01/06/2020 | 31/05/2023 | Are promotional strategies a barrier to reduce greenhouse gases emissions from meat products? | Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación |
| 06/05/2020 | 06/09/2020 | Identificacion de inhibidores de la proteasa Mpro del virus COVID-19 por repovisionamiento de medicamentos | INSTITUTO DE SALUD CARLOS III |
| 01/03/2020 | 01/03/2021 | Desenvolupament d'un prototip per l'aplicació de productes fitosanitaris a les ferides de poda en vinya amb un especial enfoc a l'aplicació del producte Vintec. | BELCHIM CROP PROTECTION ESPAñA SA |
| 15/01/2020 | 15/04/2021 | Posada en funcionament d'un sistema d'aplicació variable de fitosanitaris en base a mapes de prescripció i creació d'un sistema de traçabilitat i gestió de dades per al cultiu de l nabiu | Hortifrut Perú S.A.C |
| 01/01/2020 | 31/12/2020 | PUESTA EN MARCHA DE UN PROTOCOLO PARA LA APLICACIÓN DE PRODUCTOS FITOSANITARIOS EN PLANTACIONES DE MANZANOS | NUFRI S.A.T. |
| 01/01/2020 | 01/05/2020 | La història darrera d'un aliment. Impacte del relat emocional sobre la percepció sensorial dels aliments (61156-CREDA) | Generalitat de Catalunya. Departament d'Agricultura, Ramaderia i Pesca |
| 01/12/2019 | 30/11/2021 | el projecte tracta de implementar un sistema intern de garantia de la qualitat a Russian-Tajik (Slavonic) University | Russian-Tajik Slavonic University |
| 01/11/2019 | 01/02/2020 | Hidrocol·loides en alimentació animal | PSITTACUS CATALONIA, SL |
| 01/11/2019 | 31/10/2022 | University Network for Innovation, Technology and Engineering | European Commission |
| 16/10/2019 | 09/08/2023 | Organisation and implementation of training activities on inspection and calibration of plant protection product application equipment in compliance with the provisions of Directive 2009/128/EC under | ASOCIACIÓN DE INVESTIGACIÓN DE LA |
| 03/10/2019 | 03/10/2019 | Composición para el control de malas hierbas | |
| 01/09/2019 | 31/08/2022 | Systemic University Change Towards Internationalisation for Academia | Commission of European Communities |
| 01/07/2019 | 30/06/2024 | INnovations in plant VarIety Testing in Europe to foster the introduction of new varieties better adapted to varying biotic and abiotic conditions and to more sustainable crop management practices | European Commission |
| 01/06/2019 | 31/05/2020 | Fertilizació en cànem industrial | BIOBIZZ WORLDWIDE SL |
| 01/05/2019 | 30/06/2020 | Valoració campanya productes proximitat catalans en els consimidors (61143-CREDA) | Generalitat de Catalunya. Departament d'Agricultura, Ramaderia i Pesca |
| 01/03/2019 | 30/09/2020 | Millora de l'eficiència dels tractaments de fitosanitaris en cultiu de tomaquera exterior al Baix Llobregat | GENCAT-D.AGRICULTURA, RAMADERIA, |
| 01/03/2019 | 28/02/2020 | Projecte Malawi | Centre de Cooperació per al Desenvolupament , UPC |
| 01/03/2019 | 28/02/2020 | Análisis de la Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutrición Sostenible con Enfoque de Género en Comunidades Vulnerables de Chihuahua, México. | Centre de Cooperació per al Desenvolupament , UPC |
| 01/03/2019 | 28/02/2020 | Tecnologia low cost para promover la reutilización de aguas residuales en espacios fluviales de zonas alto andinas (Fase II) | Centre de Cooperació per al Desenvolupament , UPC |
| 01/03/2019 | 28/02/2020 | Objectius ODS 2 i 12. Lluita contra la fam a través de la lluita contra el malbaratament alimentari. Rol de la societat civil, un exemple: 32 anys del Banc dels Aliments de Barcelona. I nosaltres què? | Centre Cooperació per al Desenvolupament |
| 01/01/2019 | 31/12/2019 | Conveni marc de col·laboració entre la IGP Torró d’Agramunt i la Fundació Miquel Agustí (FMA), per garantir la qualitat sensorial del torró acollit a la IGP. Tercera addenda | Consell Regulador de la IGP Torró d'Agramunt |
| 01/01/2019 | 31/12/2020 | SMARTOMIZER | Commission of European Communities |
| 01/01/2019 | 31/12/2021 | TOPPS | ECPA,EUROPEAN CROP |
| 01/01/2019 | 30/09/2022 | Estrategias de gestión de la luz para maximizar la productividad de Ulva en los sistemas IMTA-RAS y para promover efectos probiótics inducidos por la microbiiota | AGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION |
| 01/01/2019 | 31/12/2019 | EIT Urban Mobility Start-up phase | EIT Urban Mobility |
| 01/12/2009 | 31/12/2024 | DESENVOLUPAMENT D'UN ESTUDI DE COSTOS AMBIENTALS EN EL MARC DEL PROJECTE LIFE MICROPHILOX | CESPA GR,S.A. |
Teaching staff and research groups
Research groups
UPC groups:
- CREDA-Centre for Agrifood Economics and Development
- HorPTA-Horticultura: producció, transformació i aprofitament
- UMA-Sustainable Agriculture and Food Quality
Grups externs:
- FMA. Ref. 2017 SGR 00017. Fundació Miquel Agustí
Teachers
Doctoral Programme teachers
- Achaerandio Puente, Isabel
- Almajano Pablos, Maria Pilar
- Garriga Sole, Pere
- Gil Moya, Emilio
- Giné Blasco, Ariadna
- Gras Moreu, Anna Maria
- Hernandez Yañez, Eduardo
- Izquierdo Figarola, Jordi
- Kallas Calot, Zein
- Mas Serra, Maite
- Masalo Llora, Ingrid
- Perez Gonzalez, Juan Jesus
- Pujola Cunill, Montserrat
- Reig Puig, Lourdes
- Sepulcre Sanchez, Francisco Luis
- Serrano Porta, Lidia
- Sorribas Royo, Xavier
- Verdu Gonzalez, Amc
Other teachers linked to the Doctoral Programme
Research projects
| START DATE | END DATE | ACTIVITY | FINANCING ENTITY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01/01/2024 | 31/12/2027 | E-01854 | Commission of European Communities |
| 01/12/2023 | 31/01/2025 | Efectes del reg amb aigües regenerades en la producció de cultius hortícoles al Baix Llobregat | CETAQUA |
| 26/10/2023 | 25/10/2025 | Canvi climàtic i resiliència de l'agricultura catalana: impuls interdisciplinari i multi-escala de la diversificació amb lleguminoses com estratègia de mitigació i adaptació | Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (Agaur) |
| 27/09/2023 | 26/09/2025 | Cátedra Syngenta-UPC de formación y nuevas tecnologías para una agricultura sostenible | SYNGENTA AGRO, S.A. |
| 01/09/2023 | 31/08/2026 | Evaluación de la aptitud biológica de poblaciones de Setaria adhaerens y Digitaria sanguinalis resistentes a herbicidas y modelización de | AGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION |
| 10/07/2023 | 31/03/2024 | Comprobar la eficiencia de absorbentes y adsorbentes de etileno elaborados por Naturpod (NP/B2C), en la vida útil de frutas sensibles, almacenadas en condiciones de refrigeración a escala doméstica | TEMPO FRESCO, SOCIEDAD LIMITADA |
| 01/07/2023 | 31/12/2023 | Determination of the nematicidal effect on Meloidogyne spp. of three formulations from Andermatt Iberia SL, | ANDERMATT IBERIA SOCIEDAD LIMITADA |
| 21/06/2023 | 15/12/2025 | Sant Boi Respira + Verde | FUNDACION BIODIVERSIDAD |
| 01/06/2023 | 31/12/2023 | Suport desenvolupament productes químics i biològics.Prova de diferents tècniques/tecnologies d'aplicació d'esprai pel seu efecte sobre la distribució de l'aerosol,deriva de l'esprai i l'eficàcia dura | Cheminova A/S |
| 15/05/2023 | 17/04/2024 | CULTISENSOR | MIN. INDUSTRIA ENERGIA TURISMO |
| 15/05/2023 | 17/04/2024 | Sensorización y digitalización de paneles recuperadores de fitosanitarios para viticultura vinculado a una plataforma de toma de datos y decisiones | MIN. INDUSTRIA ENERGIA TURISMO |
| 01/05/2023 | 31/07/2023 | Contracte per a assaig de deriva potencial | ASCENZA PRODUCTOS PARA AGRICULTURA |
| 12/02/2023 | 11/05/2023 | Contracte d'assessorament en la organització del Workshop per Europa Occidental del projecte BlueAir | TEHNOLOSKI PARK LJUBLJANA d.o.o. |
| 01/01/2023 | 31/12/2025 | Xarxa de R+D+I Marítima de Catalunya-Catalan Network for Blue Innovation | AGAUR. Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca |
| 01/01/2023 | 31/12/2024 | Molecular mechanism of the visual disorders caused by G90D rhodopsin mutations | Research to Prevent Blindness |
| 01/01/2023 | 31/12/2024 | Implantación de biochar como herramienta biorremediadora en áreas periurbanas: nuevo modelo de producción responsable para el Área Metropolitana de Barcelona (BioUrban) | Ajuntament de Barcelona |
| 01/01/2023 | 31/12/2026 | SYMBIOSYST. From the design to the implementation, a symbiosis where PV and agriculture can have a mutually beneficial relationship | Commission of European Communities |
| 23/12/2022 | 30/06/2024 | Implantación de biochar como herramienta biorremediadora en áreas periurbanas: nuevo modelo de producción responsable para el Área Metropolitana de Barcelona | Ajuntament de Barcelona |
| 01/12/2022 | 01/12/2024 | Adopción de nuevas tecnologías para la reducción de fitosanitarios. Drones y satélites para aplicación variable en plantaciones de viñedo y olivo | AGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION |
| 01/12/2022 | 30/11/2025 | Cierre de ciclos hacia la sostenibilidad local en la agricultura: producción de biofertilizantes enriquecidos en nutrientes y enmiendas orgánicas con propiedades biopesticidas y bioestimulantes (Ferti | AGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION |
| 01/12/2022 | 30/11/2024 | FERTILAB. Cierre de ciclos hacia la sostenibilidad local en al agricultura: producción de biofertilizantes enriquecidos en nutrientes y enmiendas orgánicas con propiedades biopesticidas y bioestimulantes | Agencia Estatal de Investigación |
| 01/12/2022 | 30/11/2023 | App Dosaviña finalista dels premis RuralApp 2022 | GENERALITAT DE CATALUNYA |
| 01/11/2022 | 31/10/2026 | Unite! University Network for Innovation, Technology and Engineering | European Commission. Education Audiovisual and Culture Agency Executive Agency (Eacea) |
| 01/09/2022 | 31/08/2025 | Gestión integrada de Meloindogyne en cultivos hortícolas mediante resistencia inducida y cultivos de cobertura | AGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION |
| 25/07/2022 | 29/04/2023 | Sensorización y digitalización de maquinaria existente vinculado a una plataforma de toma de datos | MIN. INDUSTRIA ENERGIA TURISMO |
| 01/07/2022 | 31/12/2023 | Contracte de col·laboració per a la determinació del model fenològic de Meloidogyne hapla en tomàquets i comparació amb el desenvolupament del nematode en la maduixa. | BAYER CROPSCIENCE, S.L. |
| 01/06/2022 | 31/05/2026 | Industrial Urban symbiosis and its social, economic and environmental impact on different European regions | Commission of European Communities |
| 01/04/2022 | 31/03/2025 | Ensure fair NEXUS transition for climate change adaptation and sustainable development implementation based on coupled nature-based systems and bioeconomy | European Commission |
| 15/03/2022 | 31/12/2023 | Contracte de Col·laboració pel desenvolupament de dinàmica d'emergència de J2 en Meloidogi | BAYER CROPSCIENCE, S.L. |
| 18/01/2022 | 18/01/2022 | Composición para el control de malas hierbas. | |
| 22/12/2021 | 21/12/2024 | Hub de Innovación UPC-XIELINE | XIELINE EVOLUTIONS, SOCIEDAD LIMITA |
| 01/12/2021 | 17/06/2024 | Reducció de l'ús de coure en cultius hortícoles mitjançant la tècnica de la microencapsulació | GENERALITAT DE CATALUNYA |
| 01/12/2021 | 17/06/2024 | Sistema de suport a la decisió per a la GESTió de males HERBes | GENERALITAT DE CATALUNYA |
| 01/09/2021 | 29/02/2024 | Producción de bioestimulantes a partir de cianobacterias y agua residual en el marco de la bioeconomía circular | AGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION |
| 01/08/2021 | 31/07/2024 | Los sistemas productivos de cultivos de granos y el impacto de las malezas: bases funcionales y modelos diagramáticos para el desarrollo y transferencia de prácticas integradas de manejo | Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica |
| 01/08/2021 | 01/08/2023 | Conveni amb la FAUBA (PICT-2018-02164) | Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica |
| 28/06/2021 | 31/12/2021 | - Análisis de estrategias de control integrado de Meloidogyne | BAYER CROPSCIENCE, S.L. |
| 15/01/2021 | 14/01/2024 | Partnership Agreement projecte Erasmus+ AGRISAT | Commission of European Communities |
| 01/01/2021 | 31/12/2024 | An Open Innovation Test Bed for Nano-Enabled Bio-Based PUR Foams and Composites | Commission of European Communities |
| 01/01/2021 | 31/12/2024 | A Collaborative Paradigm for Human Workers and Multi-Robot Teams in Precision Agriculture Systems | Commission of European Communities |
| 01/01/2021 | 31/12/2024 | Ampliación del contrato de colaboración para la identificación y diseño de pequeñas moléculas como nuevas cabezas de serie inhibidores de MAP quinasas y proteína Ras | Allinky Biopharma S.L. |
| 01/01/2021 | 31/05/2022 | Valorization of co-products from waste treatment technologies for the production of innovative value-added products for agriculture. | Commission of European Communities |
| 01/01/2021 | 31/12/2023 | PLANING THE FUTURE OF R&I IN EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY ALLIANCE UNITE | European Commission |
| 01/01/2021 | 31/12/2023 | Planing the Future of R&I in European University Alliance Unite | European Commission |
| 21/12/2020 | 31/12/2024 | Multi-agent Agri-food living labs for new supply chain Mediterranean systems. Towards more sustainable and competitive farming addressing consumers’ preferences and market changes | European Commission |
| 30/11/2020 | 30/11/2024 | Developing innovative plant-based added-value food products through the promotion of LOCAL Mediterranean NUT and LEGUME crops | European Comission |
| 01/11/2020 | 31/03/2021 | TOPPS. Diseño y elaboración vídeos | ASOC EMPRESARIAL PARA LA PROTECCION |
| 01/11/2020 | 31/10/2024 | Integrated novel strategies for reducing the use and impact of pesticides, towards sustainable Mediterranean vineyards and olive groves | European Commission |
| 01/11/2020 | 28/02/2023 | Desarrollo e implementación integral de nuevas tecnologías, productos y estrategias para reducir la aplicación de cobre en viñedos y remediar suelos contaminados en la región SUDOE (Development and comprehensive implementation of new technologies, products and strategies to reduce copper application in vineyards and remediate contaminated soils in the region SUDOE) | INTERREG III B SUDOE |
| 01/11/2020 | 31/10/2023 | Innovative curriculum in smart AGRIculture through SATellite and remote sensing data in SEA | Comission of European Communities |
| 01/11/2020 | 28/02/2023 | “Desarrollo e implementación integral de nuevas tecnologías, productos y estrategias para reducir la aplicación de cobre en viñedos y remediar suelos contaminados en la región SUDOE | Commission of European Communities |
| 01/10/2020 | 30/09/2024 | Ddesarrolla un conjunto de estrategias novedosas, integradoras y sostenibles, técnica y económicamente viables,en aplicación de fitosanitarios en viña y olivos. | Commission of European Communities |
| 01/09/2020 | 31/08/2023 | Programme européen de formation en industrie 4.0 dans le cadre de l'Université Européenne UNITE! | Gobierno de Francia |
| 01/09/2020 | 30/06/2022 | Mediterranean Innovation Alliance for sustainable blue economy | DG Regio, European Commission |
| 01/07/2020 | 01/09/2022 | Avaluació de l'eficàcia dels tractaments fitosanitaris realitzats amb broquets de baixa deriva en cultius horticoles de port baix al baix llobregat | GENCAT-D.AGRICULTURA, RAMADERIA, |
| 01/06/2020 | 29/02/2024 | Nuevos ligandos alostéricos del receptor acoplado a proteína G visual rodopsina y el mecanismo molecular de enfermedades | AGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION |
| 01/06/2020 | 29/02/2024 | Pulverización inteligente para viñedo y olivar sostenible - Volumen de aplicación | AGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION |
| 01/06/2020 | 31/05/2023 | Are promotional strategies a barrier to reduce greenhouse gases emissions from meat products? | Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación |
| 06/05/2020 | 06/09/2020 | Identificacion de inhibidores de la proteasa Mpro del virus COVID-19 por repovisionamiento de medicamentos | INSTITUTO DE SALUD CARLOS III |
| 01/03/2020 | 01/03/2021 | Desenvolupament d'un prototip per l'aplicació de productes fitosanitaris a les ferides de poda en vinya amb un especial enfoc a l'aplicació del producte Vintec. | BELCHIM CROP PROTECTION ESPAñA SA |
| 15/01/2020 | 15/04/2021 | Posada en funcionament d'un sistema d'aplicació variable de fitosanitaris en base a mapes de prescripció i creació d'un sistema de traçabilitat i gestió de dades per al cultiu de l nabiu | Hortifrut Perú S.A.C |
| 01/01/2020 | 31/12/2020 | PUESTA EN MARCHA DE UN PROTOCOLO PARA LA APLICACIÓN DE PRODUCTOS FITOSANITARIOS EN PLANTACIONES DE MANZANOS | NUFRI S.A.T. |
| 01/01/2020 | 01/05/2020 | La història darrera d'un aliment. Impacte del relat emocional sobre la percepció sensorial dels aliments (61156-CREDA) | Generalitat de Catalunya. Departament d'Agricultura, Ramaderia i Pesca |
| 01/12/2019 | 30/11/2021 | el projecte tracta de implementar un sistema intern de garantia de la qualitat a Russian-Tajik (Slavonic) University | Russian-Tajik Slavonic University |
| 01/11/2019 | 01/02/2020 | Hidrocol·loides en alimentació animal | PSITTACUS CATALONIA, SL |
| 01/11/2019 | 31/10/2022 | University Network for Innovation, Technology and Engineering | European Commission |
| 16/10/2019 | 09/08/2023 | Organisation and implementation of training activities on inspection and calibration of plant protection product application equipment in compliance with the provisions of Directive 2009/128/EC under | ASOCIACIÓN DE INVESTIGACIÓN DE LA |
| 03/10/2019 | 03/10/2019 | Composición para el control de malas hierbas | |
| 01/09/2019 | 31/08/2022 | Systemic University Change Towards Internationalisation for Academia | Commission of European Communities |
| 01/07/2019 | 30/06/2024 | INnovations in plant VarIety Testing in Europe to foster the introduction of new varieties better adapted to varying biotic and abiotic conditions and to more sustainable crop management practices | European Commission |
| 01/06/2019 | 31/05/2020 | Fertilizació en cànem industrial | BIOBIZZ WORLDWIDE SL |
| 01/05/2019 | 30/06/2020 | Valoració campanya productes proximitat catalans en els consimidors (61143-CREDA) | Generalitat de Catalunya. Departament d'Agricultura, Ramaderia i Pesca |
| 01/03/2019 | 30/09/2020 | Millora de l'eficiència dels tractaments de fitosanitaris en cultiu de tomaquera exterior al Baix Llobregat | GENCAT-D.AGRICULTURA, RAMADERIA, |
| 01/03/2019 | 28/02/2020 | Projecte Malawi | Centre de Cooperació per al Desenvolupament , UPC |
| 01/03/2019 | 28/02/2020 | Análisis de la Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutrición Sostenible con Enfoque de Género en Comunidades Vulnerables de Chihuahua, México. | Centre de Cooperació per al Desenvolupament , UPC |
| 01/03/2019 | 28/02/2020 | Tecnologia low cost para promover la reutilización de aguas residuales en espacios fluviales de zonas alto andinas (Fase II) | Centre de Cooperació per al Desenvolupament , UPC |
| 01/03/2019 | 28/02/2020 | Objectius ODS 2 i 12. Lluita contra la fam a través de la lluita contra el malbaratament alimentari. Rol de la societat civil, un exemple: 32 anys del Banc dels Aliments de Barcelona. I nosaltres què? | Centre Cooperació per al Desenvolupament |
| 01/01/2019 | 31/12/2019 | Conveni marc de col·laboració entre la IGP Torró d’Agramunt i la Fundació Miquel Agustí (FMA), per garantir la qualitat sensorial del torró acollit a la IGP. Tercera addenda | Consell Regulador de la IGP Torró d'Agramunt |
| 01/01/2019 | 31/12/2020 | SMARTOMIZER | Commission of European Communities |
| 01/01/2019 | 31/12/2021 | TOPPS | ECPA,EUROPEAN CROP |
| 01/01/2019 | 30/09/2022 | Estrategias de gestión de la luz para maximizar la productividad de Ulva en los sistemas IMTA-RAS y para promover efectos probiótics inducidos por la microbiiota | AGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION |
| 01/01/2019 | 31/12/2019 | EIT Urban Mobility Start-up phase | EIT Urban Mobility |
| 01/12/2009 | 31/12/2024 | DESENVOLUPAMENT D'UN ESTUDI DE COSTOS AMBIENTALS EN EL MARC DEL PROJECTE LIFE MICROPHILOX | CESPA GR,S.A. |
Quality
The Validation, Monitoring, Modification and Accreditation Framework (VSMA Framework) for official degrees ties the quality assurance processes (validation, monitoring, modification and accreditation) carried out over the lifetime of a course to two objectives—the goal of establishing coherent links between these processes, and that of achieving greater efficiency in their management—all with the overarching aim of improving programmes.
Validation
- Verification Memory (Doctoral Programme) - 2013
- Verification Resolution (MECD) - 2013
- Agreement of the Council of Ministers (BOE)
Monitoring
Accreditation
- Accreditation Report (Doctoral Programme) - 2021
- Official Degree Accreditation Evaluation Report (AQU) - 2022