The President of the Provincial Council of Lleida, Joan Talarn, and the Deputy for Economic Promotion, Jordi Verdú, have emphasized the importance of the four Transformative Innovation Centers (CITs) promoted by the Council. These centers, after a year of operation, have already defined action plans and launched initiatives in regenerative agriculture, bioeconomy, and agri-food transformation, as highlighted during the second day of the Agrobiotech Innovation Forum 2026 at Fira de Lleida.
Talarn explained that the CITs facilitate collaboration between farmers, ranchers, companies, researchers, and administrations to identify needs and find solutions. He stressed the challenge of executing projects so they translate into concrete improvements for the productive sector, stating that "innovation cannot remain solely in laboratories [...] It must reach farms, companies, and professionals".
The president advocated for an economic model that better utilizes the territory's raw materials, strengthens local businesses, and creates jobs, aiming to "produce better, transform more within the territory, and ensure that the value of our economic activity benefits the people who live here".
For his part, Jordi Verdú pointed out the need to incorporate new technologies to address challenges such as climate change, efficient water use, and generational renewal. He highlighted the Lleida Alimenta project, promoted by the Agri-food Value Chains CIT, as an example of the work being done.
The event also hosted the Agrobiotech Lleida Investment Forum, where eight business projects presented their proposals seeking funding. The Provincial Council of Lleida collaborated in the organization along with the Lleida City Council, ACCIÓ, Parc Agrobiotech, the University of Lleida, EconomistesBAN, and the Chamber of Commerce of Lleida.
Additionally, five companies presented their technological innovations at the institutional stand, including Jygsa, Agrinpulse (autonomous tractor), Agrodevices (measurement systems), Teyme (crop protection equipment), and Arcusin (agricultural bale handling).
