Catalonia, involved in the agri-food future of Europe
The agri-food sector is facing a decisive moment. The effects of climate change, the tension in international markets, and the need to guarantee food security place us before a demanding scenario that requires shared and forward-looking responses. Catalonia wants to be an active part of this response. Our agri-food system is a strategic asset for the country: it integrates the entire value chain, from the primary sector to industry, distribution, and restaurants, generating wealth, employment, and territorial cohesion. But leadership is not a destination, but a constant exercise in commitment, innovation, and collaboration.
It is with this aim that Barcelona is hosting the 2nd Agri-food Summit this Monday and Tuesday, within the framework of the Alimentaria trade fair. This meeting space should place Catalonia at the center of the European debate on the future of the sector. The summit will bring together institutions, companies, producers, and experts with a clear objective: to share analyses, strengthen alliances, and move towards a more sustainable, resilient, and competitive model. In this context, the Catalan Government has launched one of the most significant initiatives of recent years: IMPLICADO, the new brand for Catalan agri-food. This brand was created with the aim of strengthening and enhancing the promotion of the sector, uniting all stakeholders in the value chain—government, primary production, industry, distribution and restaurants, as well as consumers—under a shared purpose: to have a key tool to reinforce the promotion, recognition, and value of food produced in Catalonia, as well as to foster engagement. IMPLICADO is one of the transformative measures of the Catalan Food Strategy 2025-2028, which aims to build a sustainable, safe, and resilient food system and position Catalonia as an international benchmark. But above all, it is a national tool that seeks to promote food excellence from a comprehensive perspective, based on economic, social, and environmental sustainability.
The brand has been built through consensus, with the involvement of the entire sector and placing the consumer at its core. The data supports this: the sector rates it 8.1 out of 10, and consumers rate it 8.4, with 77% willing to buy products identified with this seal. This demonstrates a solid foundation for moving towards a shared model that strengthens trust and competitiveness.
IMPLICADO is not just a promotional brand. It is also a strategic commitment to strengthening the positioning of Catalan products. It is already registered with the European Union Intellectual Property Office and is working to become a food quality and guarantee mark with European recognition. It will be a voluntary, inclusive, and complementary label, coexisting with designations such as PDO and PGI, reinforcing the distinctive value of our food. In a complex geopolitical context, investing in our own brand makes us stronger and more resilient. Catalonia is today the first region to implement a strategy of this magnitude, demonstrating its pioneering spirit and leadership.
The 2nd Barcelona Agri-Food Summit is the ideal platform to share this vision and project it globally. It's a space to combine efforts across the entire value chain and move forward together towards a model that addresses global challenges without compromising on quality, local produce, or the identity that defines our sector. Because the future of the Catalan food system can only be built through the involvement of everyone. From farm to fork. Catalonia is committed. And it is from this commitment that we want to contribute to leading the future of agri-food in Europe.
