Escudo de la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería
Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas

About the ETSIAAB





The ‘Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas (ETSIAAB)’ at the ‘Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)’ was born ‘Escuela Central de Agricultura’ in 1855, being the only higher education centre of agricultural engineering in Spain for more than a century. Nowadays, the ETSIAAB is indeed considered to be an international reference centre in its areas and continues its work in favour of agricultural and food activities development and technification. The buildings comprising it and its more than 16 hectares of the experimental field are located at the ‘Campus de Excelencia Internacional Moncloa’ in the ‘Ciudad Universitaria’, Madrid.
Our main focus lies on: Progress through agricultural and food activity, production of food and other raw materials of animal and plant origin, intended for direct consumption or transformed through physical, chemical or biological processes. The ETSIAAB is closely tied to the earth, natural resources, and ecosystems. It is driven and conditioned by the forces of nature, whose risks we try to attenuate.

Agro-food activity is a key sector in the economy that, in essence, provides access to safe and healthful foods, large enough to meet the human needs and preferences for an active and healthy life. Besides, this sector is actively involved in the creation of employment and encourages land development, producing a positive social impact, due to the competitiveness of its companies.
ETSIAAB’s knowledge areas are varied: infrastructures, mechanization, energy, and nutritional value of production, marketing, profitability, and sustainability of the activity, control of natural and biological risks.

 

Farm activity needs less and less cultivated land to promote the creation of food and other products for a growing population thanks to technology and development application, agrochemicals and current breeds and varieties. This high productivity leads to marked energy consumption, still mostly from fossil fuels, but which will necessarily come from renewable sources in the future, where agriculture and farm infrastructure have an essential role to play.

In addition to the physical, chemical and biological sciences, modern farming integrate the cutting edge of technology, bearing in mind that the use and distribution of production depend on markets, regulations, and agreements on the international stage.

Among others, irrigation, drainage, proper use of mechanization, yield management of the different soil types, understanding of the complex dynamics of biological cycles and systems, varietal selection, transgenesis, crop conservation and transformation and crop health are major activities for a precise, prosperous and sustainable agriculture. They require a specialized knowledge of the areas that make up the agricultural, food, and biosystems engineering.  

 
The greatest challenge for the ETSIAAB is training professionals and producing knowledge to feed the worldwide population, preserving the environmental assets: soil, water, and biodiversity.


OUR VALUES

  • Contribution to society through production and transfer of knowledge.
  • Innovation in the learning process.
  • Integration of Engineering, Science, and Technology.
  • Promoting teamwork and participation.
  • Honesty, impartiality, and respect for people and equal opportunity.
  • Contribution to environmental, social and economic development.
  • Responsibility for food security and sustainable production.
  • Development cooperation and internationalization.

 


Letter from the Director of the ETSIAAB