Six months after its launch, the Odena Basin Agrarian Park Land Bank (PACO) is beginning to bear its first fruits. Driven by Barcelona Provincial Council and local authorities in the area, this project has already succeeded in making 150 hectares of currently unused agricultural land available to new farmers and livestock breeders, to revitalise local agriculture and prevent forest fires. Of these available lands, two farms are large and four are small, and six applicants from the region have already registered their interest in working them. Initial results include a grazing agreement with start-up support, as well as an agricultural succession farm intended for extensive livestock farming.

Among the services offered by the land bank are legal advice for drafting lease contracts, technical support throughout the land transfer process, a web platform with a catalogue of available plots, and assistance for recovering underutilised land. One of the applicants has already developed a business plan for exploiting the land, demonstrating the professionalisation potential that the project seeks.

The initiative acts as a bridge between landowners concerned about the state of their land and people interested in starting or expanding agricultural projects. The system offers advantages for all parties involved: owners prevent the abandonment of their land and enhance its value, whilst new farmers and livestock breeders find a pathway to land access, one of the main obstacles for agricultural entrepreneurs.

The PACO Land Bank addresses a dual need. On one hand, it economically stimulates the local agri-food sector, promoting local production and facilitating generational succession in farms. On the other hand, it contributes significantly to forest fire prevention, a growing risk in areas with currently unused land that active land management can minimise.

Information sessions across the territory

To facilitate access to the programme, the agricultural park has organised eight information sessions to be held during the coming month of June in different municipalities across the region. The sessions will begin on 9 June in Vilanova del Camí and conclude on 30 June in Òdena, offering personalised advice to all interested parties. A closing session will take place on 1 July at the Anoia County Council.

"This land bank is not only a tool for recovering agricultural activity, but also for preserving our characteristic agroforestry landscape," explains Xesco Gomar, Deputy President of the Natural Spaces and Green Infrastructure Area at Barcelona Provincial Council. "Each hectare recovered represents an economic opportunity, but also a guarantee for the conservation of our natural heritage and fire prevention," he adds.

Significant agricultural potential

According to the Barcelona Agrària programme of the Barcelona Provincial Council, there is a potential of nearly 3,000 recoverable hectares in the Odena Basin Agrarian Park. This territorial capital is distributed among 500 hectares of crops, 704 of forests and 1,756 of pastures, spread across the 16 municipalities of Anoia that make up the park. These lands represent a unique opportunity to revitalise the local agricultural sector, with municipalities such as Rubió, with 436 recoverable hectares, Argençola, with 347, and Òdena, with 316 hectares of agricultural and livestock potential, standing out particularly.

The project is part of the Barcelona Agrària programme of the Barcelona Provincial Council, which works to guarantee the economic viability of agricultural activity in the province and promote sustainable production models. Through initiatives like this, the corporation reaffirms its commitment to rural development and territorial protection, providing municipalities with the necessary tools to revitalise the primary sector and ensure its long-term continuity.

For more information about land banks, please contact Pere Navarro, land engineer at the Barcelona Provincial Council.