Por Ismael Buendia 
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development organized in Córdoba a day of work focused on the Andalusian strategy of extensive animals, The initiative in which the Ministry of Presidency, Interior, Social Dialogue, and Administrative Simplification; and sustainability and the environment are also involved. The Secretary General of Agriculture, Animals, and Food, Manuel Gómez, inaugurated this meeting aimed at promoting the participation of farmers, agribusiness entrepreneurs, veterinarians, and researchers in the process of preparing this strategy. «We want to know your opinion on the characterization of the sector and start designing the specific measures we need to identify to improve the situation of extensive animals in Andalusia,» he said.
In his speech, Gómez highlighted the activity carried out by the Andalusian government to ensure the future of this activity, «a future that involves improving its competitiveness, ensuring its profitability, and environmental sustainability.» The Secretary General appreciated that «the special sensitivity shown by the council in 2019 with extensive animals is reflected, among other measures, by granting aid from the previous rural development program (PDR) worth 212 million euros.
During this period, for example, in Andalusia, for the first time, agro-environmental aid specially designed for this sector with an investment of almost 39 million euros and another that promotes the use of limestone amendments to combat drying in pastures were activated. In the latter case, this aid, called for the second time in the region this year, has a budget of 20 million euros in 2025.
From left to right, Ifapa president, Marta Bosquet; The Secretary General of Agriculture, Animals, and Food, Manuel Gómez, and the territorial delegate of agriculture in Córdoba, Francisco Acosta, during the inauguration of the day.
The Ministry of Agriculture is also responsible for managing in Andalusia with the help of the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan (CAP), including actions amounting to 473 million euros that directly affect extensive animals. Regarding these subsidies, the Secretary General highlighted the support for maintaining apiculture and organic animals, support for animal health defense groups (ADSG), and support for generational farm exemption. «The latest call for young people opened in Andalusia and endowed with 130 million euros is pioneering in its boost of animals because it reserves a specific budget for this sector,» said Gómez. Specifically, 15 million euros are allocated to support commercial projects of new farmers up to 40 years old, who commit to starting their activity in the Andalusian autonomous community.
Common work
For the Secretary General, the works initiated by the Ministry for the implementation of this strategy «allow the detection of the sector’s weaknesses but also identify opportunities and possible solutions, prioritizing those considered the most interesting.» «This is a strategy in which we all want links with a chain that produces quality food, highly valued, and associated with an ancestral activity that has proven to be compatible with caring for the natural environment,» he emphasized.
To achieve this goal, the day includes four working tables focused on different fields relevant to the profitability of extensive animals. On one hand, «Competitiveness and new terminations in the sector» analyze issues such as farm modernization or the incorporation of new research and development technologies. It also studies the binomial and «Animals and environment» in response, for example, to the role of this activity in sustainable forest management, the benefits of its ecosystems, or fire prevention.
Meanwhile, the third table focuses on «Marketing, markets, and quality» addressing issues such as market situation and opportunities or quality standards; And the last working group analyzes issues such as animal health, breeds, or management models under the title «Zootechnics and Health.»
Among others, the Ifapa president, Marta Bosquet; and the territorial delegate of agriculture in Córdoba, Francisco Acosta.