The 'Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimento' (IATA) is one of the top CSIC centres in the area of Food Science and Technology. Its staff is divided into the departments of Food Biotechnology, Food Safety and Preservation and Food Science. IATA facilities cover an area of 14,000 m2 including several pilot plants (meats, cereals, post-harvest, preservation technologies and emerging biotechnologies) and fully equipped laboratories including genomics, proteomics, cell culture, microscopy and isotopes laboratories. The 'Agencia estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas '(CSIC) is the largest public institution dedicated to research in Spain and the third largest in Europe. Its mission is to foster, coordinate, develop and promote scientific and technological research, of a multidisciplinary nature, in order to contribute to advancing knowledge and economic, social and cultural development, as well as to train staff and advise public and private entities on this matter. CSIC has 71 institutes or centres distributed throughout Spain. In addition, it has 54 Joint Research Units with universities or other research institutions.