Senior officials this week signalled Spain’s bold ambitions for organic at a special reception in Seville to mark the opening of the new head offices of the country’s national organic body, Ecovalia.
Dignitaries at the event included Antonio Ramírez de Arellano, Counsellor of Economy, Finance and Public Administration of the Government of Andalusia; D. Juan Espadas, Mayor of Seville; Ricardo Domínguez García-Baquero, Deputy Counsellor of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development; Jose Luis Hernández Garijo, Deputy Counsellor of Environment and Territorial Planning; and Francisco Javier Mate Caballero, Deputy Director General of Agrifood Quality and Organic Farming.
During his speech, Javier Mate Caballero told the audience that “the time has come for organic”. He also welcomed the launch of Organic Food Iberia, which he said has the full support of the Ministry of Agriculture.
President of Ecovalia, Alvaro Barrera, told the audience of Spain’s ambitious goal to grow organic’s share of the country’s food and drink market to 20% by 2030, and production to 30% of agricultural land. Spain already has more land under organic agriculture than any other country in Europe, at over 2.000.000 hectares, and is firmly established as a global player in organic.
The event was attended by Carsten Holm, managing director of Diversified, Adriana Kempt and Susana Andres, project director, who are launching the new international trade fair, Organic Food Iberia, with the support of Ecovalia and the Ministry of Agriculture. The event will be taking place at IFEMA, Madrid, on the 6-7 June 2019.
Organic Food Iberia will take place at IFEMA, Madrid, on 6-7 June 2019.