The UAL-ANECOOP Foundation was set up in 2004 to coordinate research and experimentation activities between the ANECOOP agricultural cooperative and the University of Almería (UAL). ANECOOP is a second-tier cooperative, or “cooperative of cooperatives”.

ANECOOP’s main interest in the joint project with UAL was to develop a series of horticultural plans and projects, undertaken in response to the needs of partners and associates, striving to improve agricultural production processes at economic, social and environmental level.

The University of Almería, the other partner in the project, undertook the project in response to the demand for a modern farm infrastructure to serve as a platform for research and education purposes for students and teachers involved in agricultural science studies.

The UAL-ANECOOP Research Farm covers an area of 11 hectares, of which 5 are occupied by greenhouses. There are also two water reservoirs and three buildings (400, 360 and 100 m2 respectively), used to house the pump station, laboratories, refrigeration chambers, growth chambers, workshops and offices.