Experimental farm of good agricultural practices (Fuenlabrada Agricultural Park)
The experimental vegetable garden of the Fuenlabrada Agricultural Park is a space dedicated to applied research where traditional varieties of the area are recovered and organic agriculture is promoted with compost from organic waste of urban origin. Alternatives to the use of pesticides are also investigated.
Fuenlabrada is a city committed to the 2030 sustainable development goals. Its city council is firmly committed to a sustainable, innovative city model focused on people, their health and well-being. In this context, the idea of the Fuenlabrada Agricultural Park originated and materialized as another tool to strengthen a local and sustainable food system, support and modernize the local agricultural sector, promote the consumption of local foods and preserve the peri-urban agricultural landscape.
In part, the experimental farm is also a demand from the farmers who are part of the Agricultural Park. Before its creation, these producers considered that they had little connection with new technologies and knowledge. Therefore, the experimental farm is intended to be a tool that allows for promoting innovation and good agricultural practices.
- Recover native varieties of legumes and vegetables and promote traditional agricultural practices and tasks.
- Evaluate various agroecological techniques and treatments for the management of the main pests and diseases that affect horticultural crops in the Agricultural Park.
- Evaluate soil fertilization techniques with the aim of reducing farm fertilization costs and the efficiency of various types of irrigation according to the traditional crops in the area.
- To be an effective tool in promoting generational renewal and the incorporation of young people into the agricultural sector.
The good performance of the experimental farm is largely the result of the close connection with the farmers who work in the Agricultural Park. Usually, from the farmers' perspective, there is little interest from the Administration in their activity. The experimental farm project and the Agricultural Park in general, therefore, is a sign that municipal efforts are being made to energize and support the agricultural sector, which means something new for many farmers, who are seeing it with positive eyes.
Producers show interest in the experimental farm because it allows them to learn about various forms of production and management, such as irrigation systems, mulching or fertilization, which were previously unknown to them, and to acquire new knowledge and learning.
In addition to this technical and productive training, support and advice actions are also carried out in marketing through short channels and the promotion of local consumption through tools such as the "Cómete Fuenlabrada" program. Therefore, producers have several reasons for wanting to create a community around the Agricultural Park. In addition, the experimental farm is also a space that allows them to share knowledge, which fosters a sense of community and self-perception of the value of their work.
There is a budget line of 200,000 euros dedicated to the management and revitalization project of the Fuenlabrada Agricultural Park, which includes the start-up and management of the experimental farm.
Funding comes from City Council of Fuenlabrada.
In this case, the budget of 200,000 euros is assigned to the complete management and revitalization project of the Agricultural Park for a duration of four years.
