Ordeig asks that agricultural policies "not be subordinated" to other paradigms

BarcelonaThe Catalan Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food, Òscar Ordeig, called on Thursday for innovative policies in the agri-food sector, both public and private, to ensure that food production, which has sometimes "been subordinated to other paradigms," becomes Catalonia's flagship project in the coming years. "Environmental policies have been implemented without considering agri-food policies; urban planning policies have been implemented without considering food production policies; and health policies have been implemented without considering that we have a Mediterranean diet, a UNESCO World Heritage Site," Ordeig explained on Thursday at the Pim headquarters. In addition to this need for a forward-looking vision in the sector, Ordeig also stated that it is necessary to make decisions to move forward and find a balance between "not forging ahead without thinking, and thinking without forging ahead." "We have met many times with the sector to be clear about where we needed to go, but above all we have had to make decisions, manage, manage, and manage," explained the regional minister, who cited the recent health crises that have affected the agri-food sector in Catalonia as an example.

Business fragmentation

The Minister of Agriculture participated in the presentation of the study The Catalan agri-food sector facing the global challenges of the 21st centuryat the employers' association headquarters. The document outlines the main weaknesses of the Catalan sector: low food self-sufficiency and dependence on some "strategic" imports, the fragmentation and small size of many farms, and difficulty accessing financing, especially for these small businesses. Aside from these weaknesses, the president of the SME Observatory, Oriol Amat, highlighted the "great opportunities" that exist, such as the green transition and the bioeconomy, as well as public policies favorable to both, innovation, and the organic or locally sourced products sector. In this regard, Amat presented a roadmap structured around integrated management of land, water, and energy; sustainable and digital transformation—and facilitating its implementation, he said—and, especially, ensuring the sector's economic and social viability. "Catalan companies earn four euros for every 100 they invoice. And we're wondering what happens if their revenue falls by 50%," Amat explained.