The Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has published the call for applications for aid for research into agriculture, livestock and fisheries in the Balearic Islands. This is an annual call, which on this occasion increases the budget by 240%. In this call, corresponding to 2021, it will allocate 340,000 euros, 240,000 euros more than in the previous call. Specifically, 301,000 euros will be allocated to research projects in agriculture and livestock; 30,000 euros to projects in the field of fisheries; and 9,000 euros to end-of-degree or master’s degree projects of interest to the world of agriculture or fisheries. In the latter case, the Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research and Training (IRFAP), attached to the Agricultural and Fisheries Improvement Services (SEMILLA), will issue a suitability report. The deadline for submitting applications begins this Monday, 17 January, and ends on 28 February.
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According to the councillor, Mae de la Concha, “we are clearly committed to research in order to move towards a more profitable and innovative sector”. She explained that many of the projects eligible for funding are related to the effects of climate change on crops, as “we are interested in having a sector that is increasingly prepared for the changes that this emergency implies, especially in an island territory such as ours”.
Subsidies will be given to research projects in agriculture and livestock related to the following topics: biology and control of pests that affect crops such as vines; the development of the technique of thermotherapy to obtain plant material of almond trees, vines and olive trees free of xylella fastidiosa; implementation of sensors to monitor the cultivation of almond trees to prevent fungal diseases and / or pests; chemical, physical and sensory characterization of carob from Mallorca and study the link with the geographical environment; influence of climate change on viticulture in Mallorca and the impact on the chemical composition of the grape; influence of the variety and management of the hemp plant on its cannabinoid content during the growth and maturity phases; characterisation of honey from Formentera and study of the link with the geographical environment; the effect of deficit irrigation with purified water on fodder crops; studies on the influence of the production area and irrigation dose on the nutritional composition of almonds; studies on the prevalence and economic/productive repercussions of animal diseases; the evolution of the main agro-climatic parameters in the areas of Mallorca; the characterisation and selection of Mallorcan black oats, among others.
As for fishing projects, the following are eligible: the monitoring of recreational surface fishing catches in the Migjorn de Mallorca Marine Reserve; the study of raor populations in the Balearic Islands, fecundity, state of maturity according to latitude and depth, and parasite affectation; and the study of the octopus fishery with nase in the Balearic Islands, among others.
The beneficiaries may be research and knowledge dissemination organisations; legal entities carrying out a research project related to one of the eligible subjects; or individuals carrying out a final degree project or a final master’s degree project related to the world of agriculture or fisheries.
Beneficiaries will be selected on a competitive basis. The amount of the aid is 100% of the eligible expenses. The maximum amount of aid varies depending on the project, and ranges from 1,000 euros to 17,000 euros per project.
The presentation of the documentation must be done through the Balearic Islands Agricultural and Fisheries Guarantee Fund (FOGAIBA), a body dependent on the Balearic Islands Ministry of Agriculture. All the information on these aids can be consulted at this link.