CIAGRO-UMH · About us
About CIAGRO
Institute for Agri-Food and Agri-Environmental Research and Innovation of Miguel Hernández University. Learn about our objectives, who leads us, how we are organised and the results of our research activity.
Our objectivesGoverning bodiesScientific output
Who are we?
An institute that connects science and industry
CIAGRO-UMH is the Institute for Agri-Food and Agri-Environmental Research and Innovation of Miguel Hernández University. Our work covers the entire agri-food chain, from production to processing and market impact.
We research, develop and transfer knowledge with a clear goal: turning science into real solutions for the sector. The institute has been designed with an interdisciplinary approach to meet the needs of the university community and the challenges of society.
01 · Objectives
What drives us
CIAGRO-UMH was created to pool capabilities: coordinating its groups, transferring knowledge to the sector and responding to the major agri-food and agri-environmental challenges.
Fostering synergies and competitiveness
In research activities, through the joint and coordinated work of the research groups that make up the institute.
Raising public awareness
Informing about and conveying the importance of science and knowledge in general, as well as the advances made at the institute itself.
Training research talent
Strengthening the training of researchers (doctoral studies) and promoting postgraduate and specialised training courses.
Increasing technology transfer
From UMH to the productive sector, with comprehensive solutions to the needs of the agri-food sector and to agri-environmental challenges such as climate change and biodiversity.
Prioritising society’s challenges
A vision focused on social challenges that contributes to the development and improvement of the social environment and well-being.
Attracting resources for research
Boosting the acquisition of financial and human resources, as well as the equipment, infrastructure and technical means needed for research.
Valorising R&D&I
Highlighting Research, Development and Innovation capabilities and strengthening public-private partnerships to increase investment.
Contributing to the SDGs
Working towards the Sustainable Development Goals and a knowledge-based economy, aligned with the 2030 Bioeconomy Strategy and the Biodiversity Strategy.
More ambitious projects
Submitting proposals to public calls (infrastructure, large equipment, conferences…) with high chances of success, and comprehensive regional, national and international projects, especially European ones.
02 · Governing bodies
Who leads CIAGRO
CIAGRO-UMH has a Director, a Deputy Director and an Institute Secretary, supported by the Institute Advisory Board, made up of the six representatives of the specific research lines and the representatives of the institute’s three internal committees.
Institute management
Management Board
Food markets, quality, safety and health
Innovative technologies for food development
Innovative technologies for sustainable and smart primary production
Biodiversity and ecosystem services
Climate change and sustainable management of agri-food resources (soil, water and energy)
Sustainability of socio-ecological systems
03 · Scientific structure
A matrix organisation
CIAGRO-UMH research is organised in a matrix that crosses 2 strategic research lines y 6 specific research lines with the research groups that make up the institute.
Each group develops research topics in at least two of these lines. In the chart, the crosses identify the lines in which each group is involved, which encourages interdisciplinary work and collaboration between teams.
CIAGRO-UMH matrix scientific structure: rows show the strategic and specific lines; columns show the research groups. Click on the image to enlarge it.
04 · Our team
The people behind CIAGRO
A multidisciplinary team covering the entire agri-food chain: from soil and crops to food and the market.
Research groups
The institute’s teaching and research staff mostly belong to research groups recognised in the UMH Register of Research Groups.
Research staff
Researchers specialising in food technology, plant and animal production, agroforestry engineering, soil science, agricultural economics and genetics, among other disciplines.
05 · Strategic Plan
Strategic Plan 2025–2028
The CIAGRO-UMH Strategic Plan 2025–2028 is the institute’s roadmap for the coming years: it sets priorities, lines of action and targets to strengthen research, knowledge transfer and collaboration with the agri-food sector.
Read the full document as an e-book or PDF, or download the executive summary.
06 · Annual report
Annual report 2025
A year of CIAGRO-UMH activity in figures: publications, conferences, projects and transfer to the productive sector.
JCR scientific articles
Articles in Q1 journals
Books and book chapters
Conference contributions
Competitive call projects
Contracts and service agreements
Competitive projects (4 international, 22 national, 22 regional and 44 UMH internal) brought in €1.43M, and the 60 contracts and 22 service agreements with public and private organisations €1.09M, plus 2 company chairs (€50,000). In 2025 the institute met or exceeded every indicator in its Strategic Plan.
64% of JCR articles were published in first-quartile (Q1) journals. Institute members also presented 306 conference contributions, 214 of them international.
JCR articles by quartile
2025 report · 216 articles in indexed journals
64% of JCR articles were published in first-quartile journals.
Funding by source
2025 income by type of activity
Over €2.5M raised for R&D&I through competitive calls, contracts, services and company chairs.
Projects and contracts
Number of projects and agreements active in 2025
Plus 2 postdoctoral contracts funded by the Generalitat Valenciana to attract talent.
07 · Scientific output
Scientific output
CIAGRO-UMH research activity in 2025, according to the institute’s annual report: 59 full members, 89 associate members and 22 auxiliary members in 11 research groups.
Strategic Plan targets
2025 result versus annual target (the marker shows the target)
All scientific output indicators exceeded their 2025 target.
Articles in JCR journals. In 2025 CIAGRO-UMH published 216 articles in JCR-indexed journals, 138 of them in the first quartile. 69.4% were co-authored with other organisations, and every scientific output indicator in the Strategic Plan exceeded its target.
Other publications and conferences
2025 report
306 conference contributions and 51 publications outside the JCR.
Other publications and conferences. Institute staff also published 4 books, 29 book chapters and 18 articles in other journals, presented 306 conference contributions (214 international and 92 national), and 19 doctoral theses linked to CIAGRO-UMH were defended.
08 · Scientific publications
Featured publications
A selection of articles published in 2025 by CIAGRO-UMH researchers.
Rodríguez-Caro, R.C. et al.
Synergistic and additive effects of multiple threats erode phylogenetic and life history strategy diversity in Testudines and Crocodilia
Garrido-Auñón, F. et al.
Melatonin boosts the phytochemical profile of blood oranges, enhancing (poly)phenol and endogenous melatonin content, through pre¿ and postharvest treatments
Moraga-Babiano, L. et al.
Encapsulated prickly pear peel co-product extract: An antioxidant and colourant additive to preserve the quality of beef burgers packaged in modified atmosphere
Álvarez Alonso, C.A. et al.
Impact of composts from decentralized composting models on R. officinalis physiology and nutrient contents under abiotic stress
Hadjadj, I. et al.
Food restriction induces changes in ovarian folliculogenesis, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and production of regulatory peptides in rabbits
Cano Lamadrid, M. et al.
Obtaining carotenoid encapsulates with polysaccharides carriers after pilot scale accelerated solvent extraction and ultrasound-assisted extraction from industrial tomato by-product
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