Consulting and transfer
Fertilization and Sustainability
The search for more efficient and sustainable fertilizers remains a key challenge for the agricultural industry. One technological strategy invovles combining nitrogen sources with nitrification inhibitors, offering added value when derived from natural origins. Another challenge for the sector is the development of new fertilizers with efficient micronutrients that are effective for crops while remaining environmentally stable, preventing losses through leaching or rapid degradation. In the case of nanofertilizers, their high nanopartical surface area may represent a greater potential for their phytoavailability. However, it is important to rule out their potential phytotoxicity. On the other hand, integrated studies of agricultural systems that consider soil tillage managament, the selection of species and cultivars in crop rotations, and the inclusion of cover crops- serve as powerful tools for achieving more economically and environmentally efficient agircultural systems.
CEIGRAM provides various avenues for collaboration with companies, researchers and stakeholders from the sector to support the transition to a more productive and sustainable agriculture.
Scientific and Technological Services
Development of sustainable fertilizers
Research capacity
The research group has 15 researchers, a laboratory technician and a project manager and is led by Antonio Vallejo García. In the last 3 years, the group has participated in 2 international projects, 7 projects with companies in the fertilizer sector and managed 2 national projects generating economic resources of around 0.6 M€.
Antonio Vallejo, with 107 publications, has an H-Index of 41. The group as a whole has 77 papers and ranks 34th out of 194 groups in the UPM.
Lines of work
- Determination of greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural soils
- Volatilization of ammonia from agricultural and livestock systems
- Agricultural use of organic waste
- Optimization of fertilizer management (inorganic and organic)
Principal researcher
Vallejo, Antonio
Full ProfessorVallejo, Antonio
Full ProfessorProf. Vallejo has been PI of 8 national projects focused on the study of the effect of N use efficiency in cropping systems. In addition, he has also led 2 EU projects (PI of the Spanish partner), several projects of the Community of Madrid and, since 2009, he coordinates the AGRISOST Research Program.
During the last 10 years, he has obtained private funding from fertilizer companies (Fertiberia, Agrotain, EurochemAgro, Fertinagro, etc.) through annual contracts and competitive public calls for public-private partnerships.
Since 2000, his research work has been focused on the evaluation of nitrogen oxide emissions from cropping systems, delving into the mechanism and processes that control these emissions. Prof. Vallejo, presents a h=46 and has published 34 SCI articles since 2013, of which 32 are in Q1 journals. The group as a whole has published in this period a total of 77 SCI being more than 85%Q1.
- Department:Chemistry and Food Technology
- Research Group:Contamination of Agrosystems by Agricultural Practices (COAPA)
- School / Faculty:Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas.
- Agency:Universidad Politécnica de Madrid.
- Research areas:Greenhouse gas and reactive N emissions, denitrification, ammonia volatilization, nitrogen balances, aquifer pollution.
More information
UPM Impact HubRemote sensing and cover crops to enhance nitrogen use efifciency in herbaceous crops
Research capacity
The Agricultural Systems Group (AgSystems) of the Polytechnic University of Madrid is made up of 13 researchers and is led by Miguel Quemada, who has participated in 5 international projects in the last 3 years. (SolACE, Towards INMS, Climate-KIC, MACSUR2, DIVERSify), 8 projects with companies in the fertiliser, seeds, horticulture and agricultural insurance sectors; and led 2 national projects. Miguel Quemada has published 38 high impact articles since 2013 and the group is ranked 31st out of 204 groups in the UfM.
Lines of work
- Water and nitrogen management in agricultural systems
- Crop and farming systems modelling
- Uncertainties associated with projections of the impact of change in farming systems. Adaptations
Principal researcher
Quemada Saenz-Badillos, Miguel
Full ProfessorDepartment:910671079Email:miguel.quemada@upm.esQuemada Saenz-Badillos, Miguel
Full ProfessorWorld's Top 2% ScientistFull Professor in the Agricultural Production Department in the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid since 2008. He did his PhD in Agronomy in The University of Georgia in 1995.
In the last 30 years, his research lines have had a focus on the development of waetr and nitrogen use strategies that allow to have a sustainable crop system in the current and future conditions. In the last years, he has been focusing on the application of new technologies (sensors, remote sensing) to improve the resource use and to promote agroecological techniques (cover crops, soil conservation). He has coordinated several national and international projects and participated in many partnerships with fertilization and agrarian businesses He has coordinated several national and international projects and participated in many partnerships with fertilization and agrarian businesses He coordinated the Network of Scientific Excelence SIRENA. He has participated as an expert in different scientific panels, such as the European Nitrogen Expert Panel (EUNEP).
Professor Quemada, presents an h index (WOS) of 43, and has published 70 scientific papers since 2015, being 92% of them indexed in Q1 journals.
- Department:Agricultural Production
- Research Group:Agricultural Systems Group (Agsystems)
- School / Faculty:Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas.
- Agency:Universidad Politécnica de Madrid.
- Research areas:water and nitrogen cycle in agricultural systems, agricultural system modelization, application and decomposition of organic matter into soil.
More information
UPM Impact HubEvaluation of metalic nanoparticles as fertilizers for zinc micronutrient supply
Research capacity
Published research articles (JCR): 5 (Q1) + 1 (Q2). Book chapters: 1. Communications presented at international conferences: 9 Transfer articles: 1 (Technical journal) Informative articles on the web: 1 Public funding received by the working group: 158,000 euros.
Lines of work
- Agronomic efficacy for crops sensitive to zinc deficiency
- Behaviour and mobility in soil of Zn applied as NPs
- Effects on terrestrial organisms: micro-organisms (functionality and diversity) and earthworms
- Toxicity to aquatic organisms. Toxicity markers based on biochemical alterations.
Principal researcher
Obrador, Ana
Associate ProfessorDepartment:910671129Email:ana.obrador@upm.esObrador, Ana
Associate ProfessorPhD in Agricultural Engineering from UPM. Research focused on the efficient use of agricultural inputs to identify sustainable farming practices (effects on crop yield and quality, residual impact, and potential soil and water contamination). Specific areas of study include the evaluation of commercial micronutrients (Zn and Cu), the valorisation of organic waste in agriculture, and, currently, the potential use of Zn-based nanofertilisers to enhance agricultural production and nutrient use efficiency.
Recognised with four research productivity periods (“sexenios”). Scientific publications: 35 articles indexed in WOS (22 in Q1). Additional contributions include outreach articles in non-indexed journals, several book chapters, and 43 presentations at national and international conferences.
Active participation in 13 publicly funded research projects and multiple research contracts in collaboration with private companies. Expert reviewer for the National Agency for Evaluation and Foresight (ANEP) in the fields of Agriculture and Earth Sciences. Peer reviewer for scientific journals such as Geoderma, Science of the Total Environment, Plant and Soil, Journal of Environmental Management, among others. Associate Editor of INIA monographs (Environmental Series).
Member of the Fertilisation Expert Committee of the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Participant in the AGRISOST public-private research consortium.- Department:Chemistry and Food Technology
- Research Group:Contamination of Agrosystems by Agricultural Practices (COAPA)
- School / Faculty:Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas.
- Agency:Universidad Politécnica de Madrid.
- Research areas:Speciation of metals, micronutrients, zinc, biofortification of crops with micronutrients, nanofertilizers, organic residues, agroecosystem contamination.
More information
UPM Impact HubComprehensive study of agricultural systems for greater economic and environmental sustainability
Research capacity
J.L. Gabriel is a Senior Scientist at INIA, with 24 JCR publications and an h-index of 11. Since 2016 he has participated in 6 publicly funded projects for a total value of close to 2 million € (being PI in 2 of them) and in 5 contracts with companies for 70.000 € (being PI in 2 others).
Lines of work
- Water and nutrient use efficiency and soil management
- Reduction of nitrate leaching and other nutrient losses
- Ground-based and remote sensing for decision making
- Modelling of agricultural systems in current and future climates
Principal researcher
Gabriel, José Luis
Associate Researcher (CSIC - INIA)Department:913471480Email:gabriel.jose@inia.esGabriel, José Luis
Associate Researcher (CSIC - INIA)PhD Agricultural Engineer from the School of Agricultural Engineers, Technical University of Madrid (UPM).
Since 2017, he has been a Researcher at the National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA), with an additional 12 years of experience at the Technical University of Madrid, University of Florida (USA, 2010), and the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium, 2012–2013).
His research focuses on sustainable production systems, specifically in efficient use of water and nitrogen and the introduction of vegetative cover crops for optimising production and reducing pollution. This work is based on both field trials (including the use of soil and plant sensors, both proximal and remote) and simulation models to analyse different scenarios. He has participated in 5 AGL projects (National Plan, one as Principal Investigator (PI)), 3 European projects (one as PI), an AT project at INIA, and 3 research programmes from the Community of Madrid (one as PI), as well as in several projects with industry partners such as Fertiberia, EuroChem, Yara, and Uralchem, being PI in two of them.
He is the author of 26 publications in SCI journals, most of which are of high impact in his field, over 20 book chapters, more than 30 international conference papers, and 10 national conference papers, along with several outreach publications in national agricultural magazines. Additionally, he has received awards from both Fertiberia and UPM for his doctoral thesis, as well as from the Spanish Society of Horticultural Sciences (SECH) and INIA for his research career.
- Department:Environment and Agronomy.
- Agency:INIA (National Institute of Agricultural and Food Research and Technology)
- Research areas:Sustainable agricultural systems, nitrogen, water, soil management, remote sensing, modelling, climate change, cover crops.
More information
UPM Impact HubCompleted Projects
Desarrollo de inhibidores de la nitrificación de origen biológico para su uso en fertilización
With companiesEvaluación de la fertilización de precisión en una explotación de olivar
With companiesAsesoramiento técnico y científico en materia de instalaciones de climatización, fertilización corbónica y manejo de cultivos de alto valor añadido
With companiesDesarrollo de indicadores del estado nutricional del cultivo como criterios de decisión en el manejo de la fertilización nitrogenada de la remolacha azucarera
With companies