"GreenUPorto - Research Centre on Sustainable Agrifood Production"(https://www.fc.up.pt/GreenUPorto/en/) is a recently established Research Unit (RU) of thePortuguese Scientific System, rated Excellent by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).Since 2021, this RU is also part of the Associate Laboratory "Inov4Agro - Institute for Innovation,Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-food Production". GreenUPorto's mission is to contribute to scientific and technological development and knowledge transfer in the fields of agronomy, food,and environmental sciences, promoting innovation and sustainable growth in this sector. Aligned withthe R&D+i strategy for smart specialization, this is the only Portuguese RU mainly focused on thehorticulture value chain (with a special emphasis on fruits, vegetables, ornamentals, and viticulture:both in open-air production systems as well as in protected cultivation) and the protection of soilsand agroecosystems. To implement its mission, GreenUPorto is organized in three multidisciplinaryand interconnected thematic lines: TL1 - Plant Biology, Production and Post-harvest; TL2 -Valorisation, Consumption and Human Nutrition; and TL3 - Environmental Quality and RiskAssessment.
GreenUPorto has several research laboratories, walk-in chambers, greenhouses, and open fields,located in the two poles of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (Vairão e CampoAlegre). During the last years, an important investment was made to further equip the laboratories tosupport the research activities of the three TLs. Presently, GreenUPorto has 26 integratedresearchers, 40 PhD students, and 13 collaborators. Within these collaborators, some are hired byor collaborating with the industry, administration, or SME companies, having an important role inmaking the bridge between stakeholders' R&D needs and GreenUPorto research.
GreenUPorto has generally achieved the objectives established for the period 2020-2023, setting upthe foundations to grow further and stronger, aligned with the previous goals. These are timely andaligned with the United Nations Agenda 2030, in particular SDGs 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15,and the implementation of European, national, and regional strategies/ policies towards climateresilient and sustainable food production systems, fine-tuned through research & innovation.GreenUPorto is highly committed to retaining and attracting promising young researchers andoffering compelling conditions for fostering their scientific careers (see section 8.2). Moreover, theknowledge and technologies developed in this RU will continue to contribute to the smartspecialization of this sector and the subsequent economic empowerment of the region, creating jobopportunities and promoting rural development. |
