Toledo, January 8, 2026—Castilla-La Mancha is bolstering its agricultural and forestry research capabilities with twelve new positions for doctorate-level scientists, a move aimed at driving innovation and sustainability in the region’s vital food and forestry sectors. These positions will focus on translating cutting-edge research into practical solutions for farmers and industry leaders.
Research Boost: New Roles Aim to Modernize Agri-Food Sector
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The Regional Institute of Agri-Food and Forestry Research and Development is expanding its team to address evolving challenges in agriculture, livestock, and forestry.
- The Regional Institute of Agri-Food and Forestry Research and Development (IRIAF) will add twelve research positions.
- Candidates must hold a doctoral degree in a related field, including biology, agricultural engineering, and veterinary medicine.
- The new roles are part of the public employment offer for 2026, approved late last year.
- The initiative seeks to improve efficiency, productivity, and sustainability within the agri-food sector.
The twelve positions, part of the Higher Research Corps, were included in the public employment offer for 2026 and subsequently published in the Official Gazette of Castilla-La Mancha at the end of last year. Qualified applicants will possess a doctorate degree in Biology, Agricultural Engineering, Biotechnology, Environmental Sciences, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Oenology, Food Technology, Veterinary Medicine, Biochemistry, or Agricultural and Agro-Environmental Sciences.
What kind of impact will these new positions have on the region’s agricultural output? José Luis Tenorio, the director of the IRIAF, explained that the positions are intended to “strengthen public services in the field of research with the aim of continuing to innovate and transfer that knowledge to the agricultural and livestock sector.”
Positions Distributed Across Research Centers
The new research positions will be distributed across several key research centers within the region. Three positions will be located at the CIAG Agro-Environmental Research Center ‘El Chaparrillo’ in Ciudad Real, while another three will be based at the Vine and Wine Institute in Tomelloso. The Regional Center for Animal Selection and Reproduction, CERSYRA, in Valdepeñas, will receive one position. Two positions will be assigned to the Albaladejito Agroforestry Research Center (CIAF) in Cuenca, and the remaining three will be at the Beekeeping and Agro-Environmental Research Center, CIAPA, in Marchamalo.
Tenorio emphasized the broader goals of the expansion, stating, “With these twelve positions we want to strengthen public services in the field of agricultural, livestock and forestry research…in order to achieve greater efficiency and productivity in the agri-food sector, making the production of safe and quality food compatible with adequate protection of the environment, the conservation of biodiversity and the fight against climate change, all of this generating employment and wealth.”
Looking Ahead
The IRIAF’s investment in research personnel signals a commitment to modernizing Castilla-La Mancha’s agri-food industries and ensuring a sustainable future for the region’s agricultural landscape. The new positions are expected to foster innovation and drive economic growth while prioritizing environmental stewardship.
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