IRTA Promotes Regenerative Agriculture with workshops and guided tours

More than one hundred high school students from different parts of Catalonia have participated in scientific outreach activities.

At IRTA, we have launched a campaign of scientific outreach workshops focused on regenerative agriculture during the months of March, April, and May. Over 100 science high school students from various public schools in Catalonia have attended. The main objectives of the outreach campaign were to bring students closer to our research centres, to highlight local research, to inspire scientific careers in the agricultural field, and to showcase the research we conduct on regenerative agriculture.

We highlight the results of the activity evaluation surveys, where students rated the workshop and the visit with an average score of 8.3 out of 10. We also note the change in students’ perception towards scientific careers in the agricultural field. Before the sessions, only 13% considered the possibility of working or specializing in this area, and by the end of the activity, this percentage increased to 38%.

Students rated the workshop and the visit with an average score of 8.3 out of 10.

Several high schools have visited IRTA’s experimental fields to learn about the regenerative farms involved in the AgriRegenCat and AgriCarboniCat projects. In Amposta, students from the Alfacs Institute and the Ramon Berenguer Institute explored the rice paddies. In Mollerussa, the Terres de Ponent Institute visited the apple fields. In Cabrils, the Pere Ribot Institute learned about the horticultural crops. Finally, in Mas Badia, the Montgrí Institute saw the extensive crops and apple orchards.

The workshops were structured into three blocks, with a total duration of two hours.

The first part focused on the importance of science in society, with references to the FECYT’s survey on the social perception of science. Next, the workshop introduced applied science in agriculture, traditional agricultural practices, and the relevance of research in regenerative techniques associated with the AgriRegenCat project.

Subsequently, the students had the opportunity to ask questions directly to the researchers about regenerative agriculture, their roles in academia, and the ongoing research at IRTA. Some highlighted questions were:

“Why is regenerative agriculture being researched now?”

– What are the benefits of mycorrhizal fungi for plants?

– Why is it beneficial not to till the fields?

– How do you plant without tilling?

– Why is regenerative agriculture being researched now?

The workshops have proven to be an effective tool for increasing young people’s knowledge and interest.

The session concluded with a visit to IRTA’s experimental fields, where students could see firsthand the experimental fields and demonstration farms where regenerative techniques explained during the theoretical session are applied.

At IRTA, we are pleased with the results of the outreach workshops focused on regenerative agriculture because they have proven to be an effective tool for increasing young people’s knowledge and interest in this field.

For more information on Regenerative Agriculture, consult the following section: https://www.irta.cat/ca/agricultura-regenerativa/