With the participation of a distinguished roster of specialists, the Spanish Society for Ecological Agriculture (EEAS) I opened training seminars devoted to organic agriculture.

During the first training day attended by the Minister for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food Canary Islands Government, Pilar Merino, we have analyzed the issues of greatest concern to the sector and has placed special emphasis on preserving aquifers or avoid pesticides.

According to sources from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Agriculture of the Canary Islands, over 140 people have enrolled in these conferences organized by the Instituto Canario de Investigaciones Agrarias (ICIA). From there you have addressed topics such as different production methods that offer high quality food market, and the maximum guarantee of food security.

This seminar has been able to meet a number of professionals in different areas identified with the current problems working with the illusion of bringing the Canaries to a more sustainable agricultural model.

Enter the conference attendees are worth highlighting the agroecologist José Luis Porcuna Plant Protection Service of the Government of Valencia, Javier Tello doctors and Concha Jorda, pathologists class internationally, the rector of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and toxicology expert Luis Dominguez Boada, or investigator Antonio Bello engaged in matters of agroecology.

Moreover, attended by the Minister of the Economy and Environment Concell Insular de Menorca, Antonia Allés responsible for the implementation of agricultural contracts and Biosphere Reserve on the island, with great results on the ecology and landscape .
The president of ICIA, Milagros Perez Leon highlighted the success of a conference call that help both farmers and the new generation of producers to find new techniques for use in a future short and medium term, as methods of use of resources , water or waste.

As indicated, there have been very interesting works that delve into concepts such as sustainability and biodiversity protection, well in line with the strategic actions and projects of the Canarian Institute of Agrarian Research.

A necessary alternative

The seminar emphasizes that organic farming is presented as a necessary alternative to help preserve the productive resources from the effects of pesticides on health, conservation of soil and aquifers and the necessary reduction of environmentally harmful elements.
The scope of knowledge of soils and changes in their behavior towards new forms of management is one of the lines has been investigated over the Icia; this research range from the analysis of its composition and to study microbiology of composting and fertilizers are used.
The program ends with a roundtable on the prospects of organic farming in the Canary Islands through the voice of the foremost experts in these matters from different Island Councils, cooperatives and producer associations.

Furthermore, on 2 and 3 December have developed various parallel actions that complete the program of the seminar, through the screening of a series of documentaries and reports that illustrate the importance of encouraging this type of farming is considered vital to preserve the productive resources and diversity.

Organic farming in the Canaries

Islands In practice a model that combines intensive agriculture Atlantic subtropical and formulas they need to move toward sustainable, while preserving the uniqueness and richness of island soils. Researchers, managers, municipal, rural development promoters and operators of all types were able to reflect on how much, in this sense, the farmer brings to society.
It has paid particular attention to the influence of pesticides on health, the importance of preserving natural fertilizer aquifers, the relationship between agricultural activities in areas such as soil conservation or other cultural work, and the contribution of the models production with high input requirements on the emission of greenhouse gases to lower the impact on climate change.

Source: Ecoticias.com