JaĆ©n has become the focus of the European agricultural sector these days thanks to First International Congress on Biodiversity and Agriculture, a meeting that seeks to rethink how we produce food in the midst climate crisis and species lossIn the heart of the world's largest sea of āāolive trees, public officials, scientists, farmers and companies sit down together to discuss what kind of countryside we want for the coming decades.
The congress, promoted by SEO/BirdLife within the framework of the project LIFE Living Olive Groves+It is held between the Auditorium of the Iberian Museum and the former Teacher Training College of the University of JaƩn. Over four days, participants will analyze how integrating biodiversity into production systemsseeking a real balance between agricultural profitability, environmental sustainability and resilience facing climate change, with a special focus on Mediterranean olive groves in Spain and the rest of Europe.
JaƩn, international epicenter of the debate on agriculture and biodiversity
The choice of JaƩn as the venue is not accidental: the province is world leader in olive groves and a veritable open-air laboratory where the Living Olive Trees modelThis approach has shown in real farms that restoring flora and fauna on farms is not only compatible with production, but can improve the competitiveness and value of extra virgin olive oil in the market.
The University of JaƩn points out that the territory is home to some 66 million olive treesforming what many describe as the largest human-modified forest on the planet. This landscape is not only an economic engine, but also a cultural identity and a key element in the fight against climate change, acting as a carbon sink and refuge for Mediterranean biodiversity.
Various Andalusian and international institutions emphasize that the olive groves of JaƩn have gone from being seen as an intensive and simplified system to being understood as a possible biodiversity reservoir if managed with plant cover, wildlife islands and respectful agronomic practices that favor the pollinatorsIn this context, the congress aims to mark a turning point in the way agricultural production and conservation are linked.
The opening ceremony featured the screening of the video āWhat Remains,ā a tribute to the people who work the land and keep rural areas alive. This symbolic gesture aptly summarizes the spirit of the event: recognizing that without farmers there is no landscape, but also that without nature there is no future for the countryside or for the European agri-food system.
The Andalusian province has also been carrying out innovation projects linked to olive groves and olive oil for years, with the University of JaƩn and its University Institute for Research in Olive Groves and Olive Oils as key players; many of these innovation projects linked to olive groves They are exploring new technologies and sustainable practices. The congress reinforces this position, placing the city on the international map of sustainable agriculture.
An inaugural event with broad institutional representation
The congress kicked off in the Auditorium of the Iberian Museum of JaƩnIn an event hosted by journalist Olivia Aranda, representatives from all levels of government and the sector itself were present. SEO/BirdLife, the central government, the Andalusian Regional Government, the Provincial Council, the City Council, the University, and the International Olive Council shared the stage, reflecting the cross-cutting nature of the challenge.
Among the participants were AsunciĆ³n Ruiz, executive director of SEO/BirdLife; NicolĆ”s Ruiz Reyes, rector of the University of JaĆ©n; Jaime Lillo, executive director of the International Olive Council; representatives of the JaĆ©n City Council, such as the councilor for Economic Development and Commerce; the deputy for the Environment of the Provincial Council, Isabel Uceda; the sub-delegate of the Government in JaĆ©n, Manuel FernĆ”ndez; and the Andalusian councilor of Sustainability and EnvironmentCatalina GarcĆa.
Other institutional figures also joined the program throughout, such as the mayor of JaƩn at various events, and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. louis planesand those responsible for agricultural policies at the national and European levels. The presence of this range of officials reinforces the idea that the transition to agriculture compatible with biodiversity requires coordinated and coherent decisions at all levels.
During the opening session, it was emphasized that biodiversity should no longer be seen as a hindrance but rather as an asset. an ally of sustainability and productivityThe Andalusian Regional Government, for example, highlighted the role of olive groves as major COā absorbers and a refuge for emblematic Mediterranean species, while the Provincial Council recalled its early support for the Living Olive Groves project, when it was still a risky undertaking.
Meanwhile, the municipal authorities emphasized that events of this kind not only have an environmental impact, but also an economic and tourism impact, by showcasing JaƩn's cultural and gastronomic heritage and positioning the city as a destination linked to quality olive oil. innovation in rural areas.
Biodiversity as the foundation of food systems
The inaugural conference was given by Maria Helena SemedoFormer Assistant Director-General of the FAO and one of the most recognized international voices at the intersection of agriculture, sustainability, and development, her presentation, focused on biodiversity as the foundation of food systems and placed the debate in JaƩn within a global context.
Semedo argued that biological diversity is not a limit to production, but rather its structural supportHe noted that agri-food systems depend on healthy ecosystems, a wide variety of species, and robust genetic resources. Without these, he pointed out, it is impossible to truly guarantee food security in the medium and long term, especially in a climate change scenario.
The expert also referred to Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework as a guide for transforming agricultural systems across the globe. He stressed the urgency of strengthening the links between science and public policy, improving coherence between sectorsāagriculture, water, energy, conservationāand placing farmers at the heart of the ecological transition.
This approach aligns with the congress's philosophy: it's not just about diagnosing problems, but about building realistic solutions that can be implemented on the ground, with institutional support and social recognition. Semedo's presentation, in that sense, served as a framework for the rest of the technical program.
The idea of There can be no food security without biodiversity. It was a topic that came up in many of the subsequent discussions, both in the scientific sessions and in the roundtables with farmers, cooperatives, olive oil companies and those responsible for food distribution.
From science to the field: four major thematic areas
The technical program of the congress takes place mainly in the University of Jaen On April 15th and 16th, the event will be structured into several modules addressing agricultural biodiversity from the perspectives of research, farm management, social perception, and public policy. The objective is to cover the entire process: from scientific knowledge to the market and governance.
On the first axis, focused on the biodiversity in agroecosystemsResearchers such as Francisco Valera (CSIC) and Pedro J. Rey (UJA) analyze the importance of agricultural systems for Europe's natural heritage and the impacts of agricultural intensification. Issues such as the loss of ecosystem services and long-term restoration demonstration projects.
A second section is dedicated to the biodiversity management in the fieldThe event features presentations by experts from Greece, Italy, and Spain who explain demonstration models in olive groves and other Mediterranean crops. Experiences related to cover crops, management of ecological infrastructure, and the presence of pollinators are presented. auxiliary fauna, as well as the challenges that farms face on a daily basis.
The third axis focuses on the relationship between biodiversity, market and consumersResearchers such as Eva Murgado (UJA) and Caterina Contini (University of Florence) analyze how society perceives the added value of products from farms with high biodiversity and what barriers exist to transferring that value to the commercial chain and labeling.
Finally, a fourth section examines the agricultural biodiversity within the agri-food systemWith particular attention to public policies and the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the study examines the instruments, incentives, regulatory conditions, and economic tools necessary to scale these practices beyond isolated cases.
Roundtables, posters and knowledge transfer
In addition to the keynote addresses, the congress features an intensive program of 24 oral presentations and 63 postersSelected from over 120 international scientific contributions, this volume of work reflects the growing interest in agricultural biodiversity in Europe and the consolidation of a solid and applicable body of knowledge.
The roundtables are one of the most dynamic aspects of the event, bringing together researchers, government officials, consultants, cooperative leaders, agricultural organizations, and farm managers. Topics discussed include the barriers and opportunities for integrating biodiversity into agroecosystems, practical experience on olive groves and vineyards, and the everyday decisions farmers make regarding soil and landscape management.
In the market sphere, discussions focus on how to convert biodiversity into brand value and consumer trustThe study, which includes the participation of olive oil companies, distributors, and platforms specializing in extra virgin olive oils, analyzes the limits of willingness to pay, transparency in information, and the role of sustainability labels.
Another set of roundtables focuses on public policy, with the participation of officials from the national and regional governments, representatives from the EU, and agricultural organizations. Discussions include proposals for incorporating biodiversity into the CAP, the design of eco-schemes, the compatibility between agricultural income and environmental requirements, and tools for scaling up initiatives such as Living Olive Groves.
The program is complemented by practical workshops, cultural activities and informal spaces for exchange between participants, designed to foster collaborative networks and new innovation projects in different European agricultural regions.
LIFE Olivares Vivos+: a model that can be exported to European olive groves
The congress is part of the project LIFE Living Olive Groves+ (2021-2026), funded by the European Commission's LIFE program. This initiative builds upon and scales up the first Living Olive Groves project, accelerating its implementation in the main olive-growing regions of Spain and extending it to other Mediterranean countries such as Italy, Portugal, and Greece.
Coordinated by SEO/BirdLife, the project has partners such as the JaĆ©n Provincial Council, the University of JaĆ©n, the CSIC's Arid Zone Experimental Station, the University of Ćvora, the Italian organization DREAm, the Hellenic Agricultural Organization, and the strategic consultancy led by Juan Vilar, among others. This international alliance allows adapt the model to different contexts.
The Living Olive Groves approach is based on combining ecological restoration measures ārestoration of natural vegetation, creation of wildlife refuges, improvement of the agricultural landscapeā with market tools such as certification and specific labeling. The underlying idea is simple: if olive groves contribute to biodiversity, that effort should be recognized and compensated in the price of the oil.
Research conducted to date has demonstrated significant increases in bird, insect, and plant species on participating farms, without diminishing agricultural productivity. On the contrary, in many cases, the improvement of ecosystem servicesāsuch as pollination or biological pest controlācontributes to stabilize harvests and reduce certain inputs.
The congress therefore serves as a showcase and meeting point for those who are already applying this model and for those who value joining, both in Spain and in the rest of Mediterranean Europe, where the olive grove constitutes a strategic crop and a cultural landscape of the first order.
The role of the CAP and sustainable food systems
One of the recurring messages during the congress is that the transformation of the European countryside necessarily involves the Common Agricultural PolicyMinister Luis Planas emphasized in JaƩn that sustainable food systems are the foundation of the present and the future, and defended the need to produce more with fewer resources, working "in favor of nature and the market at the same time."
Planas noted that over 40% of Spain's CAP budget is linked to environmental and climate objectives, either directly or indirectly, and emphasized the importance of eco-schemes, which have an annual budget of ā¬1.100 billion. According to his data, three out of four farmers and ranchers They benefit from this aid by applying practices linked to sustainability.
In his speech, the minister placed special emphasis on supporting the traditional olive groves and extensive livestock farmingThese practices are considered fundamental for maintaining the landscape, retaining the population, and preserving the rural environment. At the same time, he emphasized that without economic profitability, farms end up being abandoned, so the environmental dimension must go hand in hand with a decent agricultural income.
The debate on the CAP was complemented by contributions from European policy experts, who analyzed the opportunities and challenges for promoting more biodiversity-friendly agriculture within the EU framework. Topics discussed included enhanced conditionality, coupled payments, financial instruments, and the need to simplify bureaucracy to facilitate the adoption of greener practices.
In parallel, the situation of the olive oil campaign was addressed, with production forecasts and price analysis, to illustrate how the stability of income of olive growers is a key element when considering management changes that, although beneficial in the medium term, require initial investment and a certain economic security.
Andalusia, biodiversity and ecosystem services of the olive grove
The Andalusian Regional Government took advantage of its participation to highlight the role of the region as a territory especially linked to the relationship between agricultural activity and conservation of natural heritageCouncilor Catalina GarcĆa emphasized that for years it was thought that biodiversity competed with cultivation, an idea that is now clearly superseded by scientific evidence.
GarcĆa cited data from the International Olive Council estimating that JaĆ©n's olive groves can absorb between 2,2 and 3,7 million tons of COā per year, equivalent to between 0,95% and 1,6% of all the country's emissions. Across Andalusia as a whole, the approximately 180 million olive trees could sequester up to 9,5 million tons of COā annuallymaking the olive grove a relevant part of the climate strategy.
The councilor also mentioned the existence of recovery plans for threatened fauna such as the Iberian lynx, the Spanish imperial eagle, and the bearded vulture, as well as the importance of steppe birdsāgreat bustard, little bustard, Montagu's harrierālinked to agricultural environments. Many of the ongoing initiatives, such as land stewardship and compensatory measures related to renewable energy, are being carried out in collaboration with farmers.
In provinces such as Seville, Cordoba, and Jaen, work is underway to protect nests, delay harvests in sensitive areas, and create biodiversity patches in cereal crops and olive groves, demonstrating that certain agricultural practices can be compatible with the conservation of species that are highly vulnerable to changes in land use.
This vision aligns with the congress's focus: the Andalusian countryside, and in particular the olive grove, is not only a productive space, but an ecosystem where essential ecological processes take place and where management decisions can tip the balance towards degradation or recovery of biodiversity.
Field visits and demonstrations on real farms
Beyond the lectures in the auditorium, the program reserves a key space for the visit to demonstration farms and an olive oil mill associated with the Living Olive Groves model. On April 17, attendees tour farms where habitat restoration measures have already been implemented, to observe firsthand what changes have occurred in the flora, fauna and agricultural landscape.
During the visit, practical aspects are explained, such as the design of ground cover, soil management to prevent erosion, the installation of shelters for birds and bats, and the creation of small enclaves of natural vegetation within the farm. These elements allow visitors to see, in a real-world setting, how biodiversity is incorporated into the daily management of an olive grove.
The tour is completed with an explanation of the olive oil production process at the olive mill and with a tasting of different oils produced within the framework of the project. This addresses the connection between the field and the end consumer, showing how agricultural practices translate into products with differentiated quality and sustainability attributes.
For many participants, especially those from other European countries, these visits offer an opportunity to compare what they've seen in the conferences with the daily realities of olive groves in JaƩn. They also serve as an informal forum for farmers, cooperative technicians, and scientists to exchange experiences.
This practical dimension reinforces the congress's vocation to be more than just a theoretical forum, promoting the knowledge transfer and the replicability of the tested models in other Mediterranean territories with similar climate, soil and property structure conditions.
Support, co-financing and collaborative network
The organization of the 1st International Congress on Biodiversity and Agriculture has been made possible thanks to a combination of European co-financing and local supportIn addition to the support of the European Commission's LIFE program through Olivares Vivos+, the event is sponsored by entities such as Caja Rural de JaƩn, the University of JaƩn and its olive research institute, the Andalusian Regional Government and companies from the rural area.
Also collaborating are companies in the olive oil sector such as Castillo de Canena and Omed, the Social Council of the University of JaƩn (UJA), the Olive Grove Foundation, organizations specializing in agri-food information such as Mercacei, and technical and graphic services companies linked to the region. This network of stakeholders reflects the commitment to uniting field, science and biodiversity It is no longer limited to a few pilot projects.
SEO/BirdLife emphasizes that the key to success lies in collaborative work between farmers, government agencies, the scientific community, and businesses, each fulfilling their respective responsibilities. The congress aims to strengthen these partnerships and generate new synergies that will consolidate a network of farms and territories committed to biodiversity throughout the Mediterranean basin.
Meanwhile, the University of JaƩn emphasizes the role of its more than one hundred research groups, most of which maintain some connection with the olive oil sector and rural areas. This scientific base, combined with the traditional knowledge of farming communities, is presented as a crucial asset for supporting the transition towards more complex and resilient production models.
Overall, the First International Congress on Biodiversity and Agriculture places JaƩn and European olive groves at the heart of a global conversation about how to produce food without depleting natural resources. The message emerging from the various sessions is clear: biodiversity is no longer merely decorative but has become a strategic component of the agri-food system, capable of providing climate stability, market value, and future opportunities for rural areas, provided there is political will, economic support, and commitment from the agricultural sector itself.
