The IPNA-CSIC releases the 2021 annual report

This week the Institute of Natural Products and Agrobiology of the CSIC published its annual report for 2021. This document includes the main milestones in research, knowledge transfer and dissemination reached during the year. Eight researchers were deployed to study the Cumbre Vieja volcano (La Palma) throughout the eruptive process and afterwards, through evaluating its consequences for the island's ecology, ecosystems and agriculture. This stands out as an event of special historical and social impact, as well as for its interest for science. At the beginning of the year, the awareness campaign "Sustainable Development Goals: from research to action" was launched by the IPNA-CSIC in collaboration with FECYT-MICINN. Co-funded by the MEDI-FDAN programme of the Cabildo Insular de Tenerife, it has succeeded in involving Canarian society in research lines that aim to contribute to environmental sustainability on a global scale by 2030. A new alliance, the International Barcode of Life Consortium (iBOL) came into action in April under the initiative of the IPNA Research Scientist Brent Emerson, with the aim of creating a genetic database of biodiversity in the Canary Islands, through sequencing DNA regions. It is also worth highlighting the launching of an interdisciplinary approach to the research centre's agrobiological practices and processes with the launch of the new research group "Social Sciences, Heritage and Food". This initiative aims to establish a connection between the social and natural sciences in this field.

In addition, 2021 also brought with it the constitution of the IPNA-CSIC Equality Commission, which took place on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Among its missions are identifying and assessing possible cases of inequality and discrimination, and reducing the under-representation of women in leadership positions. In this line, the honorary prize "To the woman scientist" awarded by the radio station Cadena Dial to the IPNA-CSIC as part of its initiative "Mx=C Women for Equality in Science" should also be mentioned. The Tenerife research institute was likewise recognised by the national CSIC with the distinction of "Best Quality Project CSIC 2020", for the improvements implemented in its Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition Service.

Researchers from the different scientific areas of the IPNA-CSIC participated during 2021 in a number of outreach activities. Outstanding events were Macaronight 2021, the 8th Science Vocations Fair, or the Science and Innovation Weeks, and they also took part in a new edition of the IPNA-CSIC Science Week. This included guided visits by schools and informative talks held in November. Scientific activity by researchers at the Institute of Natural Products and Agrobiology resulted in a high number of publications, with 88 articles appearing in prestigious international scientific journals and 27 communications at congresses. These figures attest to the intense research capacity of the different research groups during 2021. They were involved in a total of 29 research projects with a cumulative budget of more than 5 million euros, 17 research and training programmes, and also hosted 53 temporary research placements.