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DIFFICULTIES FOR ECOLOGICAL AGRICULTURE IN THE COUNTIES OF GIRONA

The farmers who are committed to organic farming guarantee us products grown with the utmost respect for nature and proximity. Some even work using local varieties of the territory and High Natural Value Agriculture; one capable of sustaining high levels of biodiversity. Despite the efforts made by some producers to give us the opportunity to consume in another way, mechanisms are still lacking to protect and promote organic farming in the Girona region. The small peasantry that is committed to organic farming in the Girona region faces significant difficulties:

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NO TOOLS AVAILABLE TO MANAGE YOUR SURPLUS AND AVOID REDUCTION

NO TOOLS AVAILABLE TO MANAGE YOUR SURPLUS AND AVOID REDUCTION

NO RESOURCES TO CREATE VALUABLE PRODUCTS

NO RESOURCES TO CREATE VALUABLE PRODUCTS

NOT HAVE SPACES FOR THE CONSERVATION OF TRADITIONAL SEEDS

NOT HAVE SPACES FOR THE CONSERVATION OF TRADITIONAL SEEDS

NOT SOVEREIGN TO DECIDE WHICH VARIETIES IT WANTS TO GROW

NOT SOVEREIGN TO DECIDE WHICH VARIETIES IT WANTS TO GROW

NOT HAVE ACCOMPANYING SPACES IN CASE OF NEED

NOT HAVE ACCOMPANYING SPACES IN CASE OF NEED

NOT HAVE HIGH NATURAL AGRICULTURE IMPULSE PROGRAMS

NOT HAVE HIGH NATURAL AGRICULTURE IMPULSE PROGRAMS

PECT PROJECT LINES OF ACTION

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SELVA COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOP

It is a key piece for the viability of many small farms and agri-food initiatives in the territory that can not afford to have a private workshop. The function of the workshop will be to give way to the losses and surpluses and to give added value to the agricultural products through their transformation (a jam or a stir-fry has a margin of profit superior to a fresh vegetable, and in addition it is conserved much more over time and makes sure that product is not lost).

In addition, the workshops have the function of a meeting point for the peasantry, which creates a very useful and necessary network of mutual support, and the creation of synergies and common projects to promote organic farming in the Girona region together.

SEED BANK

Traditional varieties, in addition to having a cultural and historical value, also contribute to the improvement of biodiversity and are more suitable for environmentally friendly production systems or adaptation to climate change. In 2017, Fundació Emys carried out a survey of seeds from the La Selva region and since then it has been conserving seeds in its demonstration organic garden, such as the black chickpea, without any support.

But this was not enough, and now, with the PECT project, we will start a seed bank with the farmers of the area, where we will not only store and reproduce old varieties of La Selva, but we will also prospect other Girona counties that are not has studied its agrobiodiversity.

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People talking

ADVICE ON ECOLOGICAL AGRICULTURE

Organic farming has many benefits, but it is also difficult to manage. A great deal of knowledge of natural processes is needed in order to find a good balance between good productivity and respect for the environment. Mastering crop rotation and fertilization to maintain a healthy and productive soil, or managing the farm environment to house pest controllers and pollinators working in our favor is no easy task.

For this reason, Fundació Emys, together with L’Espigall, will regularly advise a dozen farmers in the area, helping them to find synergies between production and conservation of the environment.

A PROJECT WITH FINANCING THAT WILL ARRIVE LATE

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The main challenge for the project is that, although we have been awarded this grant, half of the amount will not be paid to us until 2026, three years after the project is completed, at the end of 2023. Therefore , in order to carry out the project we need credits, but the forms of financing offered by the traditional systems have a very high cost for the entity, putting at risk the realization of other projects that are also very important for the conservation of nature, such as annual monitoring of turtles and amphibians or environmental education activities.

That’s why at the Emys Foundation we need your help to be able to combine the operation of other projects and the consolidation of organic farming in the Girona region through the project we are starting. Together with the Emys Foundation, the organically produced farmers and YOU, we need to make it possible for organic farming to thrive and for our new model to become a benchmark. In order to achieve this goal, the Emys Foundation asks for your collaboration through participatory loans, which can be repaid over a period of five years.