La Rioja proposes 2 million in aid for nine innovative operational groups

The Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural World and Environment of the Government of La Rioja has formulated the provisional proposal for the granting of aid for the execution by Operational Groups (OG) of the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) of innovative projects regarding productivity and sustainability, endowed with 2,000,000 euros. The proposal grants nine of the thirteen evaluated projects and denies four, and is published in the Official Gazette of La Rioja no. 200, of October 16, 2026, in section III of other provisions and acts (reference BOR-A-20261016-III–3934).

The call stems from Resolution 2144/2025, of December 30, of the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural World and Environment, and is governed by Order AGM/83/2024, of November 12, which approves the regulatory bases for innovative cooperation grants within the scope of the CAP Strategic Plan (PEPAC) 2023-2027. The aid is co-financed with 45% from the EAFRD, 46% from the Department, and 9% from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

15 applications were received. One was withdrawn —file GO26_08 SMART BEE RIOJA, from VIDAR Soluciones Agroambientales S.L.U., via letter dated July 8, 2026— and another was declared abandoned by Resolution 2047/2026, of September 29, 2026, of the Director General of Agriculture and Livestock: file GO26_03 FUNGIBAKE, from ASOCHAMP, for failing to complete the documentation required in the correction request published on August 19, 2026. 13 applications remained for evaluation by the Selection and Evaluation Committee.

Nine grants and four denials

The projects proposed for granting are:

• GO26_01 SMART PERA — Soto del Ebro S.L.
• GO26_02 SMART MILDIU — Servicios Agrarios Riojanos S.L.
• GO26_04 ORIGEN — National Center for Food Technology and Safety (CNTA)
• GO26_09 T BLANCO — Bodegas de Mateos S.L.
• GO26_10 ECOMVER — Sustratos de La Rioja S.L.
• GO26_11 VIDDA — Dronica Solutions S.L.
• GO26_12 ESPORIA — Grupo de Empresas Vinícolas de Rioja
• GO26_13 FIRENZE and GO26_14 PERA360 — Association for the Promotion of the Pear of Rincón de Soto

Four files are denied:

• GO26_05 RECuRIOJA, from the Council of Organic Agricultural Production of La Rioja (CPAER), for non-compliance with article 12.3 of Order AGM/83/2024, as the admissible amount of one of the partners was less than 10%.
• GO26_06 PLEUNOR (ASOCHAMP), GO26_07 AGROGEST (S.A.T. Frutas y Verduras Valle de Rincón) and GO26_15 TRIVIUM CUE (FADEMUR-Rioja), for not reaching the minimum required score according to article 15.7 of Order AGM/83/2024.

Cuts in the requested amounts

Annex IV details the reductions applied to the requested grant, motivated by duplication of functions between partners, non-admissible personnel hours, lack of cost moderation, and adjustments to a maximum of 10% for the innovation agent and transfer activities. Among the most relevant adjustments are:

• GO26_07 (S.A.T. Frutas y Verduras Valle de Rincón): from 250,221.11 to 107,148.50 euros.
• GO26_05 (CPAER): from 249,942.19 to 177,430.60 euros.
• GO26_13 (DOP Peras Rincón de Soto): from 249,998.99 to 226,954.04 euros.
• GO26_14 (PERA360): from 249,998.99 to 235,261.89 euros.
• GO26_01 (Soto del Ebro S.L.): from 248,209.30 to 211,776.75 euros.
• GO26_10 (Sustratos de La Rioja S.L.): from 165,656.98 to 154,097.69 euros.

Furthermore, as the available budget is insufficient, an adjustment is made to the amount called for in file GO26_10, as it had the lowest score among those that exceeded the minimum.

Deadlines and Budget Distribution

The expenditure is divided into three annual installments: 498,551.16 euros in 2027, 789,163.40 euros in 2028, and 712,285.45 euros in 2029, charged to applications 05.02.02.4612.476 (1,249,756.51 euros), 05.02.02.4612.486 (698,017.56 euros), 05.02.02.4612.776 (38,029.13 euros), and 05.02.02.4612.786 (14,196.80 euros).

Interested parties have a period of ten days to submit allegations; if none are formulated, the proposal will be considered accepted and will become final. Eligible activities and the justification of expenditure must be carried out by April 30 of the 2027, 2028, and 2029 fiscal years. The proposal was signed in Logroño on October 8, 2026, by the Head of the Agricultural Production Service, Daniel del Río de Pablo.

The resolution directly affects the Riojan agri-food sector —wineries, cooperatives, producer associations, and technology centers— which will see its capacity to finance innovation projects in viticulture, fruit growing, and sustainability conditioned during the 2027-2029 triennium. The cut of more than 140,000 euros in the S.A.T. Valle de Rincón file and the adjustments to the DOP Peras de Rincón de Soto anticipate the impact of cost moderation criteria on the budgets finally executable.

Source: Official Gazette of La Rioja, no. 200, October 16, 2026, III. Other Provisions and Acts, page 17487 (official reference: BOR-A-20261016-III–3934).