The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, today conveyed the commitment of his department and the Government of Spain to the transformation projects undertaken by the Autonomous Executive of La Rioja, such as the initiatives of Enorregion or the City of Packaging and Packaging, which aim to strengthen the competitiveness and capacity of the agri-food sector.
Planas considered that this is a set of actions that represent “an opportunity to strengthen the powerful Rioja agri-food sector as one of the most competitive in Spain and a reference among the most productive European regions”. In this regard, Luis Planas has expressed the firm support of the Government that, in close collaboration with the Autonomous Community, is firmly involved in the objectives of economic and social progress proposed by the Plan of Transformation of La Rioja.
The head of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, held a working meeting this morning with the president of La Rioja, Concha Andreu, and his government team for agri-food issues, in which some key issues for the interests of this community have been addressed. Among them, the Enorregion project, which seeks to promote a sustainable and digital transformation of the entire value chain of the wine sector, a flagship, referential and identity production of this autonomous community. The minister has pointed out that La Rioja must exercise its winemaking leadership in addition to production, oenological study, control laboratories, and R+D+I.
The Enorregion project consists of modernizing vineyards and industry, while promoting smart and sustainable wine tourism, and I-D+i actions. Among the support instruments promoted by the Government and financed by European Next Generation funds that are applicable to this important project, Minister Planas highlighted the aid for precision agriculture and 4.0 technologies that 144 producers in La Rioja have already requested for an amount of more than 1.8 million euros. He also referred to the aid available for the use of biomass and biogas, and the recent call for aid from the Strategic Project for Agri-Food Recovery and Economic Transformation (PERTE).
Another of the major projects they have tackled has been the City of Packaging, “due to the importance of its contribution to the transformation of the economy into a circular and sustainable economy.” It has lines of action from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, such as the development and creation of the National Center for Packaging Technologies (CNTE), the creation of the European Digital Innovation Center (EDIH) La Rioja 4.0 or the consolidation and growth of the industrial district of the packaging sector in the region.
The ministry has provided a direct grant of 500,000 euros for the implementation of the CNTE, which will complete in successive annuities up to 2.5 million euros. Three other ministries are involved in this project, For the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, Industry, Trade and Tourism, and Science and Innovation, with a financial commitment of 10 million euros, which can be expanded.
SUSTAINABLE IRRIGATION
One of the key items on the agenda was investment in the modernisation of irrigation. Currently, the State Society of Agrarian Infrastructures (SEIASA) has 7 actions in this area worth 48 million euros. All these interventions will benefit 5,900 irrigators who cultivate 17,400 hectares.
The minister has visited one of these works already completed, the first phase of the community of irrigators Acequia de Mabad, in Arnedo, which benefit more than 550 farmers in Arnedo, Quel and Autol.
Among the actions programmed are 4 projects included in the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), so they receive funding from European Next Generation funds, with a value of more than 35 million euros. These are modernization or energy optimization interventions, such as those of the first phase in the CR of Sector 3º, Stretch III Canal Margin Left Najerilla for photovoltaic generation and the regulation raft with 2.65 million investment; and in the CR of Uruñuela with 8.37 million budgeted. In the second phase, the CR of the Right Margin Channel of Najerilla, in the municipality of Cenicero, will be undertaken with 5.51 million investment for the integral modernization of the irrigated area, as well as the CR Stretch II of the Left Margin Channel of Najerilla with an investment of 19.2 million euros.
In addition, a new agreement has been initiated for the realization of the modernization and consolidation works of the Mid-Lower Valley Irrigation of the Iregua River, so that SEIASA can participate in the works promoted by the Government of La Rioja in this area.
ÁLAVA VINEYARDS
Minister Luis Planas, who on Tuesday afternoon held a meeting with the regulatory council of the Denomination of Origin Rioja, has advocated to maintain the unity of the latter. In this sense, he considered that the initiative of a minority sector to promote the creation of the new Denomination of Origin, Vineyards of Álava, “is not in the right direction”. “It is not good that initiatives are carried out that can separate what works well, is effective, and is for the benefit of producers and is a mark of reputation.”
Planas has reiterated that Rioja is a great brand and enjoys great international prestige, as evidenced by the fact that it sells 45% of the wines it produces abroad, and that it has successfully overcome moments of great difficulty such as Brexit, tariffs on imports in the United States and the Covid-19 pandemic. “Our task must be to protect it, strengthen it and continue to face the challenges of the future,” he said.
Planas has advocated for dialogue and because the problems that may exist within the Rioja Denomination of Origin are resolved within the sector.
The minister has also pointed out that there are smaller geographical units in the regulations that can be used to reference the differentiation that is considered necessary, such as singular vineyards, of which this denomination of origin already has 133 recognitions, or wines from municipalities or areas.
Luis Planas has completed his agenda for the day in La Rioja with a visit to Bodegas Beronia, in Ollauri.