Ribera del Duero promotes a common front to protect vineyards against biogas and mega-farms

  • The Ribera del Duero Designation of Origin requires a new land use plan to regulate the establishment of biogas plants and intensive livestock farming.
  • The manifesto denounces a regulatory gap stemming from current legislation that facilitates high-impact projects without sufficient prior assessments.
  • Five urgent measures are proposed, including minimum protection distances and the reinstatement of ordinary environmental licenses.
  • The initiative has the support of other designations of origin such as Rioja and Jerez, highlighting the economic importance of the sector.
Isaac

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Manifesto for a protected wine-growing territory in Ribera del Duero

The Ribera del Duero Designation of Origin Regulatory Board has taken a step forward with the presentation of the 'Manifesto for a Protected Wine Region'. This initiative, unveiled at its headquarters in Roa, seeks nothing less than to ensure a territorial planning that allows for coexistence There is a real link between the wine sector and other major industrial activities, such as biogas plants and intensive livestock farming. Those responsible for the designation of origin are clear that the value of the land is not just a matter of romanticism, but an economic pillar that cannot be jeopardized by hasty decisions.

The proposal is born with an inclusive objective, moving away from any intention of closing existing farms or hindering rural development. The aim is for the region's growth to be well-planned, establishing clear and fair rules of the game for all stakeholders. In fact, the manifesto emphasizes that the problem lies not in livestock farming itself, but in regulations that currently fall short and could allow projects with significant environmental and landscape impacts to be established right next to iconic vineyards or historic wineries.

Rejection of large-scale biogas plants
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Growing social opposition to the proliferation of large-scale biogas plants

The regulatory gap of Decree-Law 4/2020

One of the points most emphasized by representatives of the Ribera del Duero region is the need to review the current legal framework. They explain that there is a regulatory gap arising from Decree-Law 4/2020 of the Castile and León Regional Government. This regulation, which was approved at the time to streamline the economy, allows facilities with up to 2.000 pig places to be set up through a simple environmental notification, thus bypassing a thorough technical assessment of whether the project is compatible with what already exists on the land.

This lack of prior control is a serious concern for the sector, as the cumulative impact of several such facilities can disrupt the local ecosystem. To provide a scientific basis for these complaints, the Council relies on technical reports that identify the compounds generated by these plants and the critical distances that could affect This applies to both grape cultivation and the daily work within the wineries. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that the air, water, and landscape—the very essence of wine—are not compromised by unplanned industrial development.

Wine-growing environment of the Ribera del Duero under protection

Five key areas to protect wine heritage

The manifesto doesn't just stop at complaining; it puts forward five concrete measures for the regional government to take action. The first of these is to recover the ordinary environmental license for all Intensive livestock farms located within the boundaries of the designation, regardless of their size, would be subject to a much more detailed analysis of each application before granting any permit.

Furthermore, the establishment of minimum buffer zones, based on technical criteria, is required with respect to vineyards, wineries, and areas dedicated to wine tourism. Other demands include:

  • Thoroughly review the 2020 regulations to avoid authorizations without prior evaluation.
  • To provide municipalities legal tools that give them security when deciding on the planning of their land.
  • Create a permanent coordinating body where the Board, the municipalities, the Regulatory Council and the agricultural organizations sit down together.

A significant national economic engine

The importance of protecting this territory is best understood when looking at the figures, which are no small matter. The Ribera del Duero generates an economic impact that exceeds 1.300 million euros in GDP It supports more than 20.000 jobs, the vast majority of which remain in Castile and León. It is, therefore, a strategic driver that helps retain population in rural areas and attracts more than 600.000 visitors annually interested in wine culture and the landscape.

This united front is not a solitary struggle for the Ribera region. The document already has the support of wineries, winegrowers, and, most significantly, of the regulatory boards of other denominations of great prestige as the Rioja regionJerez, Bierzo, or Arlanza. They all agree that protecting the rural development model built over decades is fundamental for the future of inland Spain, preventing poorly located biogas industrial projects from destroying a heritage that has taken so much effort to build.

The viability of this economic and social ecosystem now depends on achieving the necessary consensus to forcefully present the proposals to the Regional Government of Castile and León. The manifesto remains open to more institutions and citizens joining this cause, which seeks balancing industrial progress with sustainability of a landscape that is a hallmark and source of pride for the entire region, ensuring that wine remains the great ambassador of these lands without giving up an orderly coexistence with other sectors.


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