Centro de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agroalimentaria de Aragon (CITA)

The e Agri-Food Research and Technology Centre of Aragon (CITA) is a public body attached to the Department of Employment, Science and  Universities of the Government of Aragon.  CITA carries out research and technology development work for the agri-food, forestry and environmental sectors.

CITA’s aims are:

• To produce quality scientific agri-food, forestry and environmental research.

• To foster innovation, technology development, training and knowledge sharing activities in the aforementioned fields.

• To offer accurate and useful scientific information to private sector stakeholders, government and the general public.

The specific aims set out in CITA’s Strategic Plan 2021-2026 are as follows:

• To align CITA’s research and innovation with European and national funding bodies’ public R+D+I policies, thematic areas and strategic plans, as well as those of the Aragon Government.

• To strengthen our partnerships with the agri-food and environmental sectors in response to the economic, environmental and social challenges faced by public and private stakeholders, and the general public.

• To internationalise our research activity and infrastructure, positioning CITA within international bodies and programmes in scientific-technological areas of interest, as well as to promote international cooperation and knowledge sharing.

• To update working practices, internal communication and the management of CITA’s human resources to enhance efficiency, flexibility and employee well-being.

• To increase collaboration between research centres, in particular to boost IA2’s activity and strengthen collaboration with the University of Zaragoza, the other organisations on the Aula Dei campus (CSIC, CIHEAM) and the ITA, as well as the INIA-CCA system, gaining specific weight, interdisciplinarity and scientific positioning.

• To strengthen communication and dissemination of research outcomes to increase their impact on the design of agri-food public policy through innovation, and to offer useful and objective information to the general public.