The University of Salamanca has launched a small but ambitious programme to finance research and transfer, and it is now yielding its first fruits.

The programme identifies the technology demands in the primary sector and establishes a group of qualified researchers to develop the system, service or product which can solve the needs of the farmer, rancher or association.

This programme is made possible by the financial support of the Provincial Government of Salamanca, which is very involved with the University in the development of initiatives that impact the society. Small grants of approximately 10,000 euros have permitted various groups to conduct research in very specific areas which required a solution. These projects range from improving animal and vegetable species to developing new crops or automated processes.

One of these projects, recently published in Mundo Agrario, is developing a product to mechanise cattle breeding during various phases in order to improve their living conditions, the gestation/birthing processes, sale, etc. The idea is to create new commercial products based on the developments and inventions of researchers at the University of Salamanca, some of which are in the initial stages of market penetration and yet unknown to farmers. We want to develop a computer system in which artificial intelligence, domotics, automation, sensors and information fusion all work together to improve the daily tasks and hard work of the farmers and ranchers. Over the next few months we will see the results of this and other projects.