... THE PROJECT

ANCARES is an innovation project that drives the digitalisation and sustainability of the dairy sector through the development of an advanced tool for territory management and carbon quantification on livestock farms.

The project facilitates the transition towards a model of sustainable livestock farming, supporting sector professionals in data-driven decision-making, improving soil management and contributing to climate change mitigation.

The dairy sector plays a key role in the economy and territorial cohesion of regions such as Galicia and Asturias, being fundamental for job creation and the retention of population in rural areas. However, it faces important challenges related to emission reductions, adaptation to European climate policies and the need to improve the sustainability of its production systems.

In this context, one of the main challenges is the lack of tools to accurately measure and manage carbon sequestration in agricultural soils, as well as evaluate the impact of management practices on soil health and farm efficiency.

ANCARES responds to this challenge through the development of an innovative solution that integrates digital mapping, soil analysis, data obtained through remote sensors and predictive algorithms, enabling the characterisation of the territory, monitoring of key variables and estimation of the carbon sequestration potential on dairy cattle farms.

The project brings together key actors from the entire value chain —cooperatives, industry, technology centres and research entities— to ensure the development, validation and transfer of solutions applicable in real conditions.

General objective

Develop and implement an integrated digital tool that allows territory characterisation, assessment of soil health and quantification of carbon sequestration potential on farms in the dairy sector, facilitating decision-making and promoting more sustainable management practices.

Specific objectives

• Development of spatial digital tools for territory management

Develop spatial digital tools for the characterisation of the territory and dairy farms, as a basis for environmental assessment and sustainable planning.

• Generation of reference data for the European carbon framework

Obtain reference data from the various dairy farming idiotypes in Green Spain (Galicia and Asturias), aimed at the future implementation of the European Regulation on Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming (CRCF).

• Promotion of innovative livestock systems and good practices

Promote innovative dairy livestock systems, together with the development of associated good practice guides that help improve the sustainability of the sector.

The ANCARES Operational Group is made up of entities with extensive experience in the dairy sector, applied research and technological development, coming mainly from Galicia and Asturias, with a track record in innovation and sustainability projects.

In sector representation and implementation on livestock farms, key entities participate such as AGACA (Galician Association of Agricultural Cooperatives), CAPSA FOOD and CLAS (Asturian Dairy Central), which contribute their sector knowledge, access to farms and capacity for transfer of results.

In the field of research and generation of scientific knowledge, USC (University of Santiago de Compostela) and UNIOVI (University of Oviedo) are involved, responsible for soil characterisation, data analysis and the development of applied technical knowledge.

In the development of digital technologies, territorial analysis and remote sensors, CETEMAS (Forest and Wood Technology Centre) participates, responsible for mapping generation, spatial data integration and development of predictive algorithms.

Finally, in project coordination, strategic analysis and communication and dissemination activities, MEDRAR SMART SOLUTIONS participates, responsible for management support, project promotion and transfer of results.

The collaboration between these entities allows the project to be approached comprehensively, combining scientific knowledge, technological development and practical application in the sector, thus guaranteeing the utility and scalability of the results.

more about its sector representatives

• AGACA (Galician Association of Agricultural Cooperatives)

The Galician Association of Agricultural Cooperatives (AGACA) is a non-profit organisation that groups and represents the agricultural cooperatives of Galicia, acting as a key entity in the structuring of the agri-livestock sector in the community. Its work focuses on defending the interests of cooperatives, the provision of technical services and the promotion of innovation and competitiveness in rural areas.

AGACA plays a fundamental role in knowledge transfer, sector promotion and the promotion of initiatives aimed at sustainability and the modernisation of agricultural farms, with particular relevance in the dairy sector.

In the ANCARES project, AGACA actively participates in field implementation, connection with livestock farms and dissemination and transfer activities, facilitating the delivery of results to the sector as a whole.

• CAPSA FOOD

CAPSA FOOD is a leading company in the dairy sector, with a strong link with farmers and the territory. In ANCARES, it participates in the validation of solutions in real conditions and in the evaluation of sustainable management practices.

CAPSA FOOD is a leading company in the dairy sector in Spain, integrating the entire value chain, from milk collection to the processing and marketing of dairy products. Through its widely recognised brands, the company maintains a strong commitment to quality, innovation and sustainability.

The company works closely with thousands of farmers, promoting more efficient and environmentally friendly production models, as well as initiatives aimed at the continuous improvement of the dairy sector.

In the ANCARES project, CAPSA FOOD contributes its sector knowledge and its network of farms, participating in the definition of production models, the validation of solutions in real conditions and the evaluation of management practices aimed at improving sustainability.

• CENTRAL LECHERA ASTURIANA (CLAS)

Asturian Dairy Central (CLAS) is a leading cooperative in the Spanish dairy sector, made up of farmers and oriented towards the production, processing and marketing of milk and dairy products. Its cooperative model strengthens the bond with the territory and contributes to the economic and social development of rural areas.

CLAS stands out for its commitment to quality, innovation and sustainability, promoting initiatives that improve productive efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of livestock farms.

In ANCARES, CLAS participates in the implementation of field activities, the definition of management practices and the validation of innovative solutions, ensuring their applicability in the real context of the farms.

more about its researchers and scientific knowledge

• USC (University of Santiago de Compostela)

The University of Santiago de Compostela (USC) is a leading academic institution in scientific research, with extensive experience in the agricultural, environmental and soil analysis fields.

Its research groups work on the characterisation and evaluation of agricultural systems, providing key scientific knowledge for improving sustainability and the management of natural resources.

In ANCARES, USC is responsible for the physical, chemical and biological characterisation of soils, as well as the analysis of the data obtained, contributing to the generation of knowledge on soil health and carbon sequestration.

• UNIOVI (University of Oviedo)

The University of Oviedo (UNIOVI) is a public institution with a solid track record in research and knowledge transfer in the agri-food and environmental fields.

It participates in projects aimed at sustainability, the analysis of production systems and the assessment of the environmental impact of agricultural activities.

In the ANCARES project, UNIOVI collaborates in the characterisation of soils and in the analysis and interpretation of the data, contributing to the study of carbon and the evaluation of sustainable management practices.

more about its technology developer

• CETEMAS (Forest and Wood Technology Centre)

CETEMAS is a technology centre specialised in the development of innovative solutions based on the sustainable use of natural resources, with experience in digital technologies, territorial analysis and remote sensors.

It has advanced capabilities in geospatial data processing, modelling and development of technological tools applied to territory management and sustainability.

In the ANCARES project, CETEMAS leads the technological development, including the generation of mapping, the integration of spatial data and the development of predictive algorithms from remote sensors and sustainable satellite data.

more about its coordinator and facilitator

• MEDRAR SMART SOLUTIONS

MEDRAR is a company specialised in strategic consulting, innovation and project management in the agri-food and rural field. It has extensive experience in promoting operational groups, designing innovation strategies and project communication. In ANCARES its activity focuses on facilitating the connection between the different sector actors, promoting knowledge transfer and the development of innovative solutions with real impact.