Juan Carlos Cirera: "The implementation of organic farming in rice fields should be a fundamental objective"

In the Ebro Delta, Riet Vell produces and markets organic rice, pasta and legumes, guaranteeing sustainability in production and fair prices throughout the production chain. These values have made them winners of the Best Sustainable Producers Awards granted by BBVA in 2022.

How does organic farming contribute to nature conservation?

— Organic farming does not use products derived from chemical synthesis in any of the phases of its cycle, while many of the products prohibited for organic farming generate a certain toxicity on the ecosystem and not using them forces us to carry out agricultural practices that are more adapted to the environment.

In your case, it is especially important, given the fragility of the Ebro Delta ecosystem...

— Rice is a crop grown on flooded land and occupies more than 90% of the agricultural surface of the Ebro Delta. At the same time, it is one of the crops that requires a greater load of agrochemicals to obtain high levels of productivity. Therefore, the implementation of organic farming in rice fields should be a fundamental objective, especially when they are located around very environmentally sensitive areas, such as the Ebro Delta. At Riet Vell we have been working in this line for 25 years, convinced that, despite its complexity and the little support it receives, it is an element of great importance for the future of the Ebro Delta.

What complexity does this fact add to the organic cultivation of your rice?

— Rice cultivation requires high temperatures and water, which combined with heat and humidity also favour the growth of weeds. Controlling these competing plants is the great challenge for organic rice farming. In the Ebro Delta, this difficulty is compounded by the increase in salinity, especially in the areas closest to the coast, although attempts are made to combat this with the fresh water that comes from the Ebro and with the new sediments that the river should bring. Despite these difficulties, rice cultivation is a key element of the socio-economic and environmental fabric of the Ebro Delta, where organic farming is viable and provides a high-quality product.

What are your main lines of work?

— We have been producing organic rice in the Ebro Delta since 2001. We also work with rice from other producers in the Delta and other areas of the peninsula, as well as marketing rice and other products, such as pasta made from organic durum wheat from steppe areas of the Ebro Valley and legumes from the Castilian plains. In collaboration with SEO/BirdLife, we carry out environmental management tasks on our farm and volunteer and environmental awareness programs. After purchasing the farm where we grow rice, we allocate 20% of the surface to the restoration and conservation of the Delta, which over time has become one of the most highly valued sites for bird watching.

What characteristics does the Guara rice variety have that earned you one of BBVA's awards?

— It is a variety created in the Ebro Delta itself and, therefore, well adapted to the environment, but it is also tall and has a short cycle, which means it has a good capacity to compete with weeds. It is a round rice, of the Japonica type, which takes aromas and flavour very well. It is very suitable for cooking in Mediterranean pans and rice dishes.

What has BBVA’s recognition meant to you?

— Given the difficulties inherent to small and ambitious initiatives such as ours, and even more so when they are carried out in such complex and competitive sectors as the agri-food sector, these awards represent an important source of support and motivation. Being able to reach consumers so that they have the information they need to make their choice is a complicated challenge, but it is of enormous importance, and awards such as this one make the task easier.