IRTA, the acronym for the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology, was established in 1985 under an Act of the Parliament of Catalonia. We are a public company attached to the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food of the Government of Catalonia and a member of the Catalan system of research centres of excellence, CERCA.
We are more than a thousand professionals from around forty nationalities and a wide range of disciplines, working across Catalonia and connected with all five continents to address the major challenges of food and food production. More than half of IRTA’s staff are women, and one quarter come from an international background.
We carry out research, innovate, provide advice, and transfer our knowledge to support the environmental, economic and social sustainability of the agrifood sector, strengthening both its resilience and that of the wider territory.
We work to ensure the supply of high-quality, safe food for healthy diets that contribute to the wellbeing of the population. We also bring science closer to society, helping citizens develop a critical and evidence-based perspective in a world increasingly affected by misinformation.
We transfer scientific knowledge to the public administration to support rigorous decision-making.
And we do all this in partnership with research centres, universities, institutions and businesses, both nationally and internationally.
With:
· Integrity: We are a non-profit public institution and carry out our work with transparency and rigour.
· Commitment: To the territory, the sector and society.
· Excellence: We strive to deliver the highest quality in everything we do.
· Respect for the environment: In every project and activity, we use resources efficiently, minimise emissions and promote the circular economy.
These are our values.
We aim to contribute to transforming food systems for a future of sustainable wellbeing.
This is our purpose. You can learn more about our vision in the IRTA Manifesto.
Discover IRTA in this short video presenting our purpose and its connection to both global and local food challenges.
And join us for a retrospective journey through the last decades of IRTA’s history:
