On 9th November, the Manresa Exhibition Center  hosted the launch of the Central Catalonia Land Bank, a crucial tool for recovering abandoned farmland and providing land access to young entrepreneurs. This new initiative, promoted by the Barcelona Provincial Council, has the backing of the Network for Food Sovereignty of Central Catalonia (XaSACC) and the municipalities of Artés, Navàs, and Manresa.

During the presentation, it was highlighted that currently, 44% of the agricultural land in Manresa, Artés, and Navàs is unused or abandoned but has significant potential for cultivation. This amounts to a total of 4,682 hectares spread across 3,363 plots, with 2,460 of these plots having been inactive for over 65 years. These figures underline the urgent need for a land bank in the region to promote generational change, recover agricultural land, and provide young entrepreneurs with the opportunity to work the land, among other benefits. It is worth noting that, according to data from the Generalitat of Catalonia, 65% of farm owners in the Bages region are over 56 years old.

The presentation session was practical and informal, designed to address specific questions and share information about this key tool for revitalising agriculture in the area.

About the Central Catalonia Land Bank

The Central Catalonia Land Bank is part of BCN Smart Rural, the Barcelona Provincial Council's strategy to transform the agro-food sector in the province. Its goal is to connect owners of abandoned or unused land with those looking to cultivate it, providing technical and legal support tailored to the needs of both parties.

The land bank collaborates with local councils and organisations committed to preserving the rural landscape and boosting agricultural activity in the region. The services it offers are free of charge and include facilitating contact between parties, technical assistance, legal advice, contract formalisation, ongoing training, and other measures that directly benefit both landowners and tenants.

Additionally, this tool has a positive social and environmental impact, helping to reduce the risk of wildfires, preserve landscapes, revitalise rural areas, and promote the consumption of local products, thereby contributing to the fight against climate change.

For more information about the Central Catalonia Land Bank, please contact Pere Navarro, territorial engineer for the BCN Smart Rural strategy, and Rosa Binimelis,agroecology expert and member of XASACC.

— BCN Smart Rural Editorial —