The Odena Basin Agrarian Park, with support from the Barcelona Provincial Council and local town councils, has inaugurated an innovative land bank. This project's primary objectives are to reclaim abandoned agricultural land, boost crop and livestock production, facilitate generational handover in farms, and contribute to forest fire prevention.

The initiative acts as a bridge between owners of unused land and individuals interested in starting agricultural or livestock projects. It offers landowners the opportunity to increase the value of their properties and prevent abandonment, while simultaneously providing access to land for new farmers, ensuring that the plots remain productive and well-managed.

Key services offered by the land bank include legal advice for drafting and approving lease agreements; technical support throughout the land transfer process, a website with a catalogue of available plots (accessible only to registered users), and technical assistance for reclaiming abandoned land.

To promote this initiative, three public presentation sessions have been scheduled:

• La Pobla de Claramunt: 3 October, 7:00 pm, Council Chamber
• Jorba: 10 October, 7:00 pm, Council Chamber
• Òdena: 19 October, 11:00 am, Council Chamber

Interested parties unable to attend can directly contact the town councils of the Òdena Basin or request information at bancdeterres@diba.cat.

It is worth noting that the 2019 Agricultural Spaces Act established a registry of disused agricultural plots and urges owners to put abandoned land back into use, which could otherwise be subject to intervention by the Generalitat of Catalonia.

About the Òdena Basin Agrarian Park

The Òdena Basin Agrarian Park, promoted by the Barcelona Provincial Council, is a crucial space for agricultural and livestock activities in the Anoia county. Comprising 16 municipalities with a total population of 80,970 inhabitants, the park encompasses 34,868 hectares dedicated to crops and pastures.

Its main objective is to economically and socially invigorate the region in the agri-food sector, encouraging local and sustainable food production. This enables citizens to access healthy, locally-sourced products while contributing to the maintenance of a vibrant and well-cared-for territory.

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