The Department of Agronomy from the University of Córdoba (DAUCO) was formed in1986. The idea arose as a result of the union between professors from two areas of knowledge: Plant Production and Hydraulic Engineering to deal with the teaching and research in Agronómica Engineering in an integral and holistic way. This improved the quality of its teaching and the excellence of its research, development and innovation. The model was constructed with three principal considerations: plant breeding, plant production and protection and the use of water and soil resources. Today, DAUCO is the first department of the University of Córdoba in the field of research with a research staff of 21 Principal Investigators, 23 Senior Researchers and 17 Postdoctoral Researchers, and a total staff of 150 people. DAUCO stands out for its efficiency and high research quality with highly experienced professors. A recent ranking by the University of Stanford on the most influential research personnel included DAUCO researchers José Torrent, Elias Fereres, Francisco J. Villalobos and Vidal Barrón in Agronomy&Agriculture, Enrique Quesada in Entomology and Ricardo Fernández Escobar in Horticulture.
DAUCO is composed of eleven research groups whose research activities cover almost all of the disciplines that make up the modern Agronomy, sharing a common goal that is a sustainable plant production committed to the environment and, obviously, in a context of climate change
In recognition of the results of its research, it has received the Accreditation as a Unit of Excellence “María de Maeztu” (2020-2024), awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitivity within the National Programme for Fostering Excellence in Scientific and Technical Research.
As a result of this accreditation, DAUCO is member of the SOMM Exellence Alliance, which is the alliance of Severo Ochoa Centres and María de Maeztu Units to promote Spanish Excellence in research and to enhance its social impact at national and international levels.