Objetivos ...............................................................................................................
Establishment of an arboretum and a nursery to
recover traditional species and varieties of fruit trees
in the Baix Llobregat Agricultural Park
- Recovery of the genetic agricultural heritage
of the Agricultural Park.
- Creation of a new research methodology in the field
of clonal reproduction of agricultural species.
- Establishment of new commercial channels that enable
farmers to diversify economically.
- Consolidation of an agricultural zone within a densely
populated area.
The initiative aims to set up an arboretum and a nursery
that bring together a collection of traditional fruit
tree species and varieties grown in the region where the
Baix Llobregat Agricultural Park is located. A further
objective is to achieve clonal selection, reordering,
and multiplication of varieties presumed to be of most
interest, as well as to experiment with agronomic techniques
of agro-environmental cultivation, and promote them among
farmers.
In 1996, the European Union awarded a LIFE project
for recovery of agricultural land in the Baix Llobregat
valley, which led to setting up of the current Baix Llobregat
Agricultural Park. Today, this area is a point of reference
for agricultural and environmental management and an emblematic
part of the metropolitan area. The arboretum and nursery
project works in synergy with the initial LIFE project,
and thus strengthens agricultural enterprise in the area.
Together with the process of degradation of periurban
agricultural land, a loss of traditional varieties -
with lower but good-quality yields - also occurred.
The expected environmental outcome consists of maintaining
the genetic heritage - meaning existing traditional
species - and recovering the cultivation of fruit trees
with traditional varieties, which are better adapted
to the environment than new ones. This enables improved
application of agro-environmental cultivation techniques,
especially regarding the fight against pests and diseases
using ecological and integrated techniques.
To develop this project, a collaboration agreement
was entered into with IRTA (Institute of Food and Agriculture
Research and Technology) of the autonomous government
of Catalonia, which selected species and varieties and
carried out subsequent technical work regarding reordering
and multiplication of the chosen varieties.
Development ...............................................................................................................
Selection of varieties by IRTA.
Example of Prunera llevador (authentic)
1/04/02
