The Chartered Community of Navarre is preparing to become, for four days, the meeting point for those who promote a a more sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural modelThe 16th International Congress of Agroecology will bring together professionals from very diverse backgrounds in Pamplona, but with a shared concern: how to produce food in a viable, fair way and in line with current environmental challenges.
This congress comes at a time when the organic production in Navarre It is experiencing a phase of expansion. In recent years, the certified area and the number of operators have grown significantly, consolidating the region as one of the areas with the greatest implementation of agroecology in the entire country.
Navarre, host of the XVI International Congress of Agroecology
From 22 al 25 April, the Arrosadia campus of the Public University of Navarra (UPNA) will host the XVI International Congress of the Spanish Society of Organic Agriculture and Agroecology (SEAE). Under the motto “Agroecology: roots and future / Etorkizuna ekologikoa izanen da”The event is shaping up to be a key space for updating knowledge, sharing experiences, and forging new alliances.
The meeting is jointly organized by SEAE itself and various Navarrese entities: the Government of Navarre, The UPNA, the Council for Organic Agricultural Production of Navarre (CPAEN/NNPEK) and public society INTIAThis institutional and academic collaboration reinforces the idea of a congress that combines the scientific-technical approach with the reality of the field and public policies.
They are expected to attend researchers, farmers and ranchersTechnical staff, agroecology groups, environmental organizations, activists linked to Ecological cultivation and other agents integrated into the agri-food value chainThe diversity of profiles aims to guarantee a broad debate on the present and future of the organic sector.
The organizing entities have emphasized that the celebration of this congress comes at a a particularly sensitive time for the primary sectorThis is due both to market pressures and the climate crisis, as well as the need for generational renewal in rural areas. In this context, Navarre stands out as a leading region at the national level for the degree of implementation of agroecology.
Growth of organic farming in Navarre
In the last five years, the Organic farming in Navarre has increased by around 20%., going from about 60.000 hectares to approximately 73.000 certified hectaresThis surface represents approximately 8% of the usable agricultural land of the Chartered Community, a figure that places Navarra in a prominent position within Spain.
The advance is not limited to the field: around 170 agri-food processing and manufacturing activities They already work with certified organic raw materials. In this way, a agri-food industry linked to organic production which provides added value, employment and a differentiated offer for the consumer.
From an institutional point of view, the Director General of Rural Development of the Government of Navarre, Rubén Goñi, has highlighted that organic production constitutes a “a real alternative” to keep the rural world alive and, at the same time, offer answers to the environmental, economic and social challenges facing the primary sector.
Goñi recalled that, through the generational handover program Lurberri, have been introduced Specific bonuses for those starting out in organic farming or livestock breeding. Among them, the following stand out: 10.000 additional euros For young people who choose organic certification for their first installation, this measure aims to encourage new generations to opt for this production model.
Along with these grants for new hires, the regional government is allocating more than half a million euros annually to support the certification and promotion of organic food, in addition to supporting the short marketing channels and the actions linked to the quality brand Gourmet KingdomIn this way, the aim is to strengthen both the productive base and access to the market.
The role of CPAEN/NNPEK and the agroecological community
The president of CPAEN/NNPEK, Mari Jose Arrondo, has highlighted the role that this organization plays as authority for the control and certification of organic production in NavarreThe council has an ISO certificate that supports its accreditation system and currently comprises some 768 certified operators, among producers, processors, processing entities and marketing companies.
This broad base of operators reflects that Navarre has been consolidating itself as one of the territories with the greatest presence of the ecological sector within the StateAccording to Arrondo, the existence of an organized and recognized structure makes it easier for the congress to be held in the Foral Community and for the professional sector to be represented.
On behalf of SEAE, its coordinator Helena Cifre has had an impact on the relevance that this congress has for the agroecological scientific and technical communityNot only through the exchange of research results, but also through dialogue with the other actors involved in building a fairer, more resilient and locally rooted agri-food system.
Cifre highlighted that one of the distinctive features of this meeting is the broad participation of entities and professionals who work daily on agroecological projects, both in rural and urban areas, which allows connecting academic debate with concrete experiences on the ground.
The official presentation of the congress also included Alberto Enrique, an expert in agroecology from the UPNA, and Natalia Bellostas, manager of INTIA, who emphasized the interest of the university and public society in supporting an ecological transition of the agricultural system based on technical knowledge and support for the sector.
Program, speakers and focus of the congress
The XVI International Congress of Agroecology is structured as follows: Four days with conferences, round tables and presentation of experiencesThe opening session will be led by Aitor Azkarate, cattle farmer of Jauregia Esnekiak, and Esther Sotil, technique of INTIA, who will address the topic of “Navarre as an agroecological territory”This first presentation will be followed by a panel discussion with people currently involved in organic production.
Within the program, one stands out. round table focused on Navarrese projects , the Ekoalde, Hazialdeko, Zunbeltz and KalaskaThese initiatives illustrate the diversity and the degree of dynamism of the ecological sector in the Foral Community, from cooperative experiences between producers to seed banks or proposals linked to extensive livestock farming.
The congress also incorporates a ecofeminist panel in which you will participate Gotzone Sestorain-Leitza, from the organization of peasant women Etxalde Emakumeakwith a presence in the Basque Country. In this space, she will engage in dialogue with international figures of the movement, such as the researcher and activist Emma Siliprandi, putting the focus on the gender perspective in agroecology and in the role that women play in the defense of rural territories.
Among the invited guests of state and international renown are Celsa Peiteado, In representation of WWFthe researcher Agustín del Prado, from the Basque Center for Climate Change (BC3), and Koldo Hernández, from the collective Ecologists in ActionTheir presentations will address issues such as the relationship between Climate change, biodiversity and agricultural production models.
The program is rounded out with presentations by the writer and activist Vanesa Freixa and of the teachers Carlos Taibo (Autonomous University of Madrid), Nicolas Olea (University of Granada) and Angel Street (University of Extremadura), among others. Their contributions will offer a A critical look at the ecological crisis, the impacts of certain agro-industrial models, and the alternatives proposed by agroecology. in social, economic and health terms.
Throughout the four days, the following will also be presented scientific communications, case studies and innovative experiences in areas such as soil management, efficient water use, conservation of local seeds, short supply chains, and the integration of young people into agriculture. The intention is for the congress to combine Academic analysis and practical learning that can be transferred to different territories.
The set of planned initiatives and debates places Navarre, during those days, as laboratory and showcase of agroecology, in a European context where organic production is gaining prominence within sustainability strategies and agricultural policies.
With this 16th International Congress, institutions, the scientific community and the primary sector reinforce a common commitment to a an agri-food model that focuses on sustainability, territorial roots and the viability of the rural worldNavarra thus uses its weight in organic agriculture, its network of certified operators and its network of local projects to position itself on the European map of agroecology as a hub where research, action in the field and social participation intersect.
