Land banks managed by Barcelona Provincial Council have grown by 30% over the past two years and now have 648 hectares available for agricultural and livestock activities. This pioneering initiative promotes the recovery of unused land and fosters new opportunities for the primary sector.

Of the total land area, more than half (63%) consists of pastures, with 408 hectares. Forest estates account for nearly 23% (149 hectares), whilst crops (including arable land, olive groves, fruit trees, vineyards, vegetable gardens and nuts) total 91 hectares, 14% of the available area.

Interest in joining the agricultural sector through the land banks has also increased significantly. This year, there are 89 registered applicants. Of these, 18 have shown interest following the publication of the new Land Bank website and the information sessions held at the Òdena Basin Agrarian Park.

 

A pioneering initiative in Europe

The Land Banks, a pioneering initiative in Europe that Barcelona Provincial Council has supported technically and financially since 2018, aim to recover unused estates, promote generational renewal and stimulate agricultural entrepreneurship. The available plots are mainly concentrated within the province's agricultural spaces and parks, where 12,147 hectares of abandoned or unproductive land have been identified.

The initiative features a digital platform that facilitates connection between landowners and interested parties, a mechanism that streamlines access to information and plot transfer procedures.

Xesco Gomar, delegated president of the Natural Spaces and Green Infrastructure Area of Barcelona Provincial Council, emphasises: "The project goes beyond protecting agricultural and livestock activities: it contributes to preserving the landscape and environmental sustainability, regenerating ecosystems, reducing fire risk and enhancing biodiversity".

For more information about the land banks promoted by Barcelona Provincial Council,  please contact Pere Navarro, engineer at the corporation's Agrarian Territorial Directorate.