The next Agroecological Meeting 2025 will be held in Almansa, an event that will bring together institutional representatives, experts, and professionals from the sector to address the challenges and opportunities of organic farming. The event has been attended by the mayor of Almansa, Pilar Callado García; the provincial delegate for Agriculture, Livestock, and Rural Development in Albacete, Ramón Sáez Gómez; the Director of Territorial Agents Castilla-La Mancha at Banco Santander, Roberto Martínez Olivares; and the Director of the Agroecosystem Foundation, Jerónimo Sánchez Bendala.
Jerónimo Sánchez emphasized the importance of investing in sustainable agriculture. «The agriculture of the future will be sustainable or it will not be. We have to stop the deterioration of the environment and achieve agriculture that is profitable, prosperous, and respectful of the environment,» said the Director of the Agroecosystem Foundation.
For her part, the mayor of Almansa, Pilar Callado, thanked the Foundation for choosing the city as the venue for this important event. «It is an honor to host this ninth meeting on organic and sustainable agriculture. Almansa is not predominantly rural, but in recent years, the agri-food sector, especially wine production, has grown and evolved towards more sustainable models,» she highlighted.
The provincial delegate for Agriculture, Ramón Sáez, highlighted the commitment of the Government of Castilla-La Mancha to organic farming. «Almansa is the second municipality in the province of Albacete in organic certification, with over 6,000 certified hectares,» he reported. He also explained that the European Union aims to achieve 25% of organic agricultural land by 2030, and Spain is already leading this transition with over three million certified hectares.
From the financial sector, Roberto Martínez Olivares, representative of Banco Santander, emphasized the institution’s commitment to sustainability in the agri-food sector. «In 2024, we financed 5.3 billion euros in the sector, 23% more than the previous year, with investments in R&D, new machinery, and precision technologies,» he pointed out.
The meeting already has 80% of registrations completed, exceeding 100 participants. Additionally, the event is free and includes an organic and traditional meal from Almansa.
The conference will address topics such as agroecological production, food sovereignty, and the importance of regenerative agricultural models in the face of current environmental challenges. Through presentations, roundtable discussions, and practical workshops, attendees will learn new strategies for a more resilient and efficient agriculture.