The participants in the “European Agricultural Experiences” programme give a positive assessment of their stay and their technical visits to agricultural and livestock projects in the region of Umbria, Italy. The programme held its first edition between 15 and 21 May, within the framework of the Community of Madrid’s Plan Terra.
A total of 5 professionals from the agricultural sector of the Community of Madrid participated during the week of 15 to 21 May in a programme of technical visits to biodynamic agriculture projects, organic livestock farming, agro-tourism and the production of products with designation of origin such as wines and cheeses, in rural environments in the Italian region of Umbria.
Ana Rengifo Abbad and her project “Islas de Corcho Natural” (spin-off of the European project LIFE Montado-Adapt), Pablo Robles, cereal farmer in the community of Madrid, Raúl Cobo, as a beekeeper with his project “Las hijas del Sol”, Javier de los Nietos and Victor Parra, who work in the extensive livestock sector from their fields, public and private respectively, are the participants in this European exchange programme.
In addition to the technical visits, these Madrid-based agricultural professionals have been able to taste regional products and guided visits to the cities of Assisi and Perugia, where they were invited to participate in the international event of the Erasmus project on Sustainable Wellbeing Entrepreneurship for Diversification and Agriculture (SWEDA), where they presented their own projects.
Innogestiona Ambiental has been in charge of the technical assistance, management and execution of the programme in collaboration with EGINA srl, which has acted as host entity in Italy, with which we work on different European innovation and research projects not only in the agri-food sector but also in the cultural and educational fields.
This European exchange programme is part of the Community of Madrid’s Terra Plan, aimed at promoting rural and social development, generational renewal in the countryside, as well as improving the marketing of local products, which are increasingly in demand both in the national and international markets, with pioneering measures such as the Erasmus Agrarian, which in addition to the European Agricultural Experiences programme, includes another series of activities aimed at promoting exchange and learning between people and students in the agricultural sector of the European Union. The programme has been funded through the Madrid Institute for Rural, Agricultural and Food Development (IMIDRA) in collaboration with the Madrid Association of Young Farmers (ASAJA Madrid).