Institutions

From 17 to 19 February 2025, the picturesque campus of the University of Almeria, offering a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean Sea, hosted the annual UNIgreen conference and summit—one of the most significant events bringing together the UNIgreen community from all eight partner universities. UNIgreen is an alliance of European universities established to create a shared space for research, knowledge exchange, and innovation—crucial in addressing the challenges posed by the climate crisis and the rapidly evolving labour market. Its mission is to integrate partners from different countries, facilitate the free movement of students and researchers, and support projects that translate research findings into strategic, practical solutions. This year’s edition in Almeria not only celebrated past achievements but also set new directions for the future.

The first day of the meeting commenced with a formal welcome by the Rector of the University of Almeria, José J. Céspedes Lorente, who introduced participants to the conference topics, emphasising the importance of the UNIgreen project in advancing innovative scientific research. Next, Ramón Herrera de Las Heras, Secretary General for Higher Education in the Andalusian Government, who was attending a UNIgreen event for the second time, took the floor. His speech focused on the growing significance of internationalisation in higher education. Following this, the main coordinator of the UNIgreen project, Prof. Tomás Lorenzana (UAL), reflected on the signing of the inter-university agreement on 17 February 2022 – a date symbolising the birth of the UNIgreen alliance, now commemorated annually as UNIgreen Day across partner universities. Lorenzana highlighted the importance of developing skills, values, and knowledge within the academic community to tackle the global climate crisis. He also underlined the role of associate partners, whose local initiatives provide invaluable contributions to the development and implementation of innovative solutions.

The next speaker was Prof. Mariusz Maciejczak (SGGW), who coordinates within the project the work package dedicated to research, development, and innovation. At the outset of his speech, he elaborated on the meaning of the alliance’s name, explaining that the prefix “UNI” does not solely refer to “university” but also to “union,” representing the close collaboration between scientific institutions. The core idea is to create a union of researchers and scientists who can share knowledge, experiences, and resources. In this context, Prof. Maciejczak presented the structure and operational principles of the Joint Research Centre, which enables cooperation among partner university scientists within eight thematic divisions. He also stressed the importance of collaboration, which fosters added value emerging at the intersection of various, often interdisciplinary, research areas.

Another part of the conference was dedicated to investments and research conducted by UNIgreen’s Associate Partners in the Almería region. José Antonio Aliaga Mateos, Secretary-General for Agriculture in the Province of Almeria, highlighted that the region’s greenhouses cover 32,200 hectares and are visible even from space. Aliaga emphasised the need to enhance technological efficiency and address the challenges of a shortage of technically skilled workers.

Participants also had the opportunity to explore the research achievements of local alliance partners. Presentations covered modern greenhouse cultivation technologies, water recovery methods, and the use of biotechnology in agriculture. Dr. Zouhayr Arbib, Director of Sustainability at the University of Almeria’s Department of Innovation and Technology delivered a particularly intriguing lecture. He discussed methods for increasing water circulation efficiency, developed in collaboration with Aqualia, a global leader company in water resource management. His presentation demonstrated how innovative technologies could significantly improve water management efficiency – an especially pressing issue in the Almeria region. Biotechnology was also a key topic. Dr. Joaquin Pozo, a UAL graduate and Director of Research and Development at the company Biorizon Biotech, presented innovative microalgae-based solutions used in biostimulant and biopesticide production. His presentation exemplified how close collaboration between academia and industry can lead to groundbreaking products with a real impact on agricultural efficiency and sustainable development.

As an accompanying event to the conference, a tour of the Finca Anecoop-UAL farm was organised. This farm is a joint initiative of Anecoop, one of the largest agri-food cooperatives in Spain, and the University of Almería. This large experimental farm conducts research on the cultivation of various plant species, including papaya and pitahaya. Research in this field is led by Prof. Julián Cuevas, who guided participants through the greenhouses.

The following days, 18-19 February, were dedicated to the UNIgreen Annual Summit, where Rectors and Presidents of partner universities (forming the General Assembly), members of the Board of Directors, the Pedagogical and Scientific Councils, and key project coordinators convened. Additionally, working meetings were held for two teams coordinated by the Spanish university: one responsible for alliance management and the other for digitalisation and the development of the Virtual Campus. The primary objective of the Summit was to review past activities within the alliance, discuss current challenges, and prepare for the next year of work.

A key highlight of the first day of the Summit was the personnel changes within the UNIgreen alliance. Of particular significance was the appointment of Prof. Michał Zasada, Rector of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), as Co-Chair of the General Assembly – the alliance’s highest decision-making body. Rector Zasada’s experience and vision for modern higher education are regarded as crucial assets that will contribute to the dynamic development of the Green European University in the coming years. As he emphasised: “This role involves actively monitoring the progress of the alliance’s initiatives, defining its future direction, strategy, and overall policy. A major challenge will also be determining the alliance’s operational framework for the project’s continuation from 2027-2030. For instance, we must decide in which direction – geographically as well – the UNIgreen alliance should expand.” The Chair of the General Assembly remains the Rector of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Unimore), Prof. Carlo Adolfo Porro.

During the Board of Directors meeting, appointments for the positions of Chair and Co-Chair were confirmed. The incumbents remained unchanged: Prof. Tomás Lorenzana from UAL was reappointed as Chair, while Prof. Marta Mendel from SGGW continued as Co-Chair. In addition to the changes in management structures, during the summit, decisions were also made regarding new nominations for two alliance commissions, whose tasks are primarily consultative and opinion-forming. The Scientific Council welcomed Dr Frank Yates from SupBiotech and Ana Cristina Araújo Veloso from PUC, both of whom bring fresh perspectives and expertise to support the implementation of the latest research solutions. Meanwhile, the Pedagogical Council welcomed Mathilde Tailler from HEPL and Jón Hjálti Eiríksson from AUI, whose presence aims to strengthen inter-university collaboration and better prepare students for future challenges.

The conference’s final day, 19 February, featured a series of technical meetings discussing topics such as researchers’ mobility within the Joint Research Centre, the alliance’s internal and external communication strategy, and methods to enhance the alliance’s visibility within the academic community. All discussions – both plenary and informal – confirmed that UNIgreen is not merely a research project but a dynamic, collaborative platform that unites universities in their shared goal: to build a modern, integrated, and innovative higher education system. Participants unanimously emphasised that regular in-person meetings, experience exchange, and close cooperation are essential for achieving the alliance’s ambitious objectives.