Andalucía made the first experimental planting of organic cotton in Spain
The Community of Andalusia has launched a pioneering project in Spain in experimental organic cotton, which will enhance product quality and diversify markets. The project is led by the Agriculture and Fisheries, in collaboration with the Andalusian Institute of Agrarian Research and Training, Fisheries, Food and Organic Agriculture (IFAP) and the agrarian COAG.
The project, supported by the Research and Training Center for Organic Agriculture and Rural Development of Santa Fe (Granada), the University of Seville and Cordoba University, aims to convert the organic cotton as an alternative to traditional systems of production to the new community aid scheme for crops. To assess the economic and environmental advantages of this experimental crop, tests will be performed in public and private properties.
Specifically, this first test is carried out on six farms contributed by COAG (El Villar Cordoba, Seville and The Marshes-Jerez, Cádiz), the IFAPA (Los and Las Torres-Palacios Tomejil) and the Ministry of Agriculture (La Cabaña, Sevilla).
During the presentation of this initiative, the director of Organic Agriculture, Manuel Gonzalez de Molina, has highlighted the benefits of organic cotton as in the European Union deficit. Also, it will help the sector to improve the "complicated situation" in which it is since the European Commission revised the scheme.
It is noteworthy that the current lines of agri-environment measures to support organic agriculture. Also recently approved cotton EUR 350 per hectare to improve environmental conditions through the introduction of integrated production systems. This assistance, the defendant at the time by the Ministry of Agriculture, industry and agricultural organizations, is conditional upon a number of commitments during 5 years, as the Code of Good Agricultural Practice.