Climate change and the environment

Event report

MAIN CONCLUSIONS AND PROPOSALS: FUNDS NEXT GENERATION: • In Almeria organic farming is nothing new, the concerns of the sector regarding sustainability, profitability and production of organic farming were expressed. There was a unanimous concern and was to be able to implement measures with the European funds Next Generation and to demand a correct distribution of them. • Request that in the large funds the EU prepares and include support for small SMEs that do a good job in sustainability, local product and that are aligned with the Green Deal. • In a province such as Almeria, to solve problems such as water scarcity, more funding is needed for research projects in line with the Green Deal: use of photovoltaic energy and desalinated water in irrigation systems. Within Next Generation funds, more funds should be allocated to irrigation. • Andalusia must lead the “Green Pact” to make the productive sector more sustainable, otherwise we will go to the tail. The strategy of “farm at table” is a clear business opportunity for Almería and Andalusia. European Legislation/Policy • The way natural products are legislated must be changed in order to meet the requirements of the Green Deal by 2030. • The arrival of the Green Deal has meant minimising the use of chemicals due to evidence of harmful effects on their prolonged use. It must also be understood that from Europe’s regional vision, we must be able to be an example for the other countries of the world. Despite the various agreements that can be reached, legislation needs to be formalised, as it needs to delimit what is or is not allowed. This legislation is commonly supported by the various evidences that depart in many cases from controls such as agri-food. • More needs to be invested in controls to see that the legislation is complied with. These checks should be carried out in EU countries and in third countries exporting to the EU. The EU does not consume everything it produces, it imports many products. It is also the case with other countries which export to Europe and which do not have the same control that we have here with regard to legislation. It is proposed that the audit centre of the European Union in Ireland help these countries improve controls and promote this innovation through training and financial support • From the ASAJA they perceive that this pact is not as beneficial as it appears to be as a result of the impact study that leaked shortly back, which predicted a fall in agricultural production by around 5-15 %, as in the livestock sector and a 10 % increase in production costs, thus leading to a relocation of agri-food production. Therefore, the demands on European policy would be a greater preservation of agri-food sovereignty, an equal demand for goods from other countries, and respectful treatment of the agricultural sector which has been a “currency of change” in politics. • European policies must be put in place and implemented to combat rural depopulation. • Demand from an interdisciplinary group when asking for water from Europe. We must have the capacity to show European politicians that Almeria is a successful benchmark in the agri-food sector before its closest competitor that is Turkey, but Turkey does not have the capacity for innovation, production and biological struggle PROPOSES: • Creation of a quality seal “PACTO VERDE” with institutional recognition. — Possibility to use the quality seal in the packaging of recognised products. — Creation of corporate promotional videos of recognised companies with the seal of quality. — Promotional campaign on the internet of the videos and the values of companies in relation to the green deal. — Creation of a website with all the companies adhered to the green pact. An active website to disseminate the values of companies and the objectives of the Pact. — Use of the products of the “Green Deal” quality seal in the events General Direction. Agriculture and other EU events (example: Institutional gifts, gift baskets, etc.). — Gourmet corner exhibition of products in strategic locations in the EU. — Incentives to encourage the consumption of such products. • We know that freight traffic is highly polluting and that the scope of more sustainable traffic is being pursued through the substitution of fossil fuels. One possible solution to this could be the relocation of factories by replicating the business model with local local products, or even trying to get the EU to encourage the consumption of those products that are in line with the Green Deal.