The Land Banks Network of Catalonia has begun a new phase in the recovery of abandoned farmland in the Barcelona region. This effort builds on previous work in forest management and the restoration of old pastures carried out last year across fourteen farms in Berguedà, Moianès, and Osona. While those interventions focused on Priority Management Areas (AGP) for wildfire prevention, the current focus is on reactivating agricultural activity. Specifically, the plan is to recover 22 hectares spread across five farms in the Anoia, Bages, Baix Llobregat, and Osona regions. The initiative is part of the BCN Smart Rural strategy and has an investment of €34,500.

The main goal of the ongoing work is to improve the viability of some of the farms available through the Land Bank Network and prepare them for production. To this end, five distinct interventions are being carried out:

• In Anoia, an overgrown former meadow in the municipality of El Bruc will be cleared to increase the available pasture area and feed a small herd of Bruna cows managed by an extensive livestock farmer.
• In Bages, support will be provided to a young couple who wish to start an organic vegetable garden project in Castellbell i el Vilar.
• In Baix Llobregat, another young couple will be assisted in starting their community agriculture project on unused fields in Esparreguera. This initiative will feature both dryland and irrigated crops, based on the principles of the circular economy.
• In Osona, efforts will be made to support two livestock projects on different farms in Sora. One project involves restoring old pastures for a flock of sheep in extensive grazing, while the other is led by the owner of a family business focused on regenerative agriculture and livestock farming.

For more information about the abandoned farmland recovery projects under the BCN Smart Rural strategy, please contact Pere Navarro, Territorial Engineer at the TAgricultural Territorial Directorate of the Barcelona Provincial Council. 

— BCN Smart Rural Editorial —