A new model of rice production
The industrial doctorate project Organic Delta Rice Project (ODR), is an initiative of the company Agroserveis.cat in collaboration with the University of Barcelona. At the head of this collaborative and innovative research is Alfred Palma, an industrial PhD student and also the technical director of this company, who lives with the considerable challenge of combining the two tasks.
Palma started this DI project in 2019 with the aim of transforming the rice production model in the Ebro Delta. This transformation aims to adapt to the new strategies of the European Union such as the green pact, biodiversity and from the farm to the table, in order to achieve an improvement in the agronomic, environmental, social and economic spheres. Specifically, the ODR project was born to offer alternatives to the management of rice farms, which nowadays base their sustainability on the economy of scale, trying to decrease the average cost of production as the quantity produced increases .
The value proposition of the project is based on the commitment to an ecological product with quality certification with the seal of the Catalan Council for Ecological Production ( CCPAE ) . This certificate is awarded to agricultural and food products that comply with the regulations established for organic production . At the same time, the certificate guarantees that the products have been grown or produced following the practices of organic agriculture that mark the European regulation, respecting the environment and promoting biodiversity, guaranteeing that synthetic chemical products have not been used as pesticides or fertilizers , critical objectives of the ODR Project. In fact, Palma affirms at the outset that the ecological production system "is already an agricultural practice that generates a completely different situation in the field that implies a paradigm shift in terms of biodiversity".
The proposal for this new strategy seeks to transform the current dynamic that is leading to a growing concentration of rice land in the Ebro Delta in the hands of fewer and fewer farmers . This trend is mainly explained by the difficulty of maintaining sufficient economic returns, a situation that hinders the generational transfer of land . Many young people, without future prospects, opt for other activities, thus leaving a gap in the continuity of traditional rice farming in this territory.
In addition, this change also aims to face the challenge of improving the biodiversity associated with the rice paddy ecosystem in such a special place as the Ebro Delta. Also trying to maintain a balance in the productivity of the rice fields. The challenge of preserving the agrarian nature of the Delta, with rice as the main crop, is closely linked to the protection of the natural and cultural values that make up this unique area of the Ebro Delta . This area, characterized by its rich biodiversity, largely depends on the health of the rice paddy ecosystem . For this reason, one of the keys to the project is precisely to improve the biodiversity associated with the rice fields, favoring the presence and development of various species of flora and fauna , some of which may be threatened.
This paradigm shift, if effectively implemented, can be a step towards the consolidation of a sustainable agriculture model that combines the production of food resources with the preservation of natural values. A vision that, in addition to protecting biodiversity, can promote social cohesion, the rooting of new generations in the territory and the enhancement of the landscape and natural heritage of the Ebro Delta.
What is the objective of the ODR Project?
The ODR Project puts on the table the knowledge and experience of how to make organic rice with the conditions and limitations of the Ebro Delta . The project is divided into three experimental parts, all aiming to answer key questions about how to better manage agricultural holdings: how can we control unwanted weeds (weeds) that grow spontaneously in rice fields?, which variety of rice should we choose and which product should we use to fight their diseases? What is the best organic fertilizer and when is the best time to apply it?
The ODR Project was presented to the rice sector of the Ebro Delta in April 2019, being recognized as a strategic project by the sector . The entities of the rice sector of the Ebro Delta and companies of rice products and seeds have collaborated together, contributing financial resources to the project, adding them to the support of the public administration , and also by the Plan of Industrial Doctorates. As Alfred Palma explains: " without this support, it would not have been possible to carry out a project of this magnitude within three years ". In fact, one of the great advances brought about by the project is precisely the joining of efforts of the entire rice sector to promote a common initiative for the territory of the Ebro Delta .
Thus, the project provides, as one of its main advances, the alliance of the entire rice sector to promote a joint initiative for the Ebro Delta region.
The progress and innovations of the project
Beyond the union of efforts of the entire rice sector, the project brings other progress such as the reduction of weed flora, the benefits for the production of conventional rice, or the discovery of an organic fertilizer and an ecological fungicidal product for the control of rice diseases.
In the search for strategies to manage unwanted vegetation that sprouts freely in rice fields, we must remember that it is a real headache for all rice farmers . Palma tells us how "this phenomenon is the main headache for rice growers, also with conventional rice production, as it causes competition for the crop and reduces production by up to 80-90%". For this reason, among others, the collaborative research of the project obtains results from which all rice producers, whether organic or not, can benefit.
One of the other outstanding innovations of the project is the finding of organic and ecological solutions to improve rice production . An organic fertilizer has been discovered that has been shown to be beneficial to rice cultivation and can be used with the existing equipment of farmers in the area. At the same time, an effective ecological fungicide has been identified for the control of fungal diseases in rice, which reduces its impact on the spike and is able to maintain the productive potential of the optimal varieties.
The Impact of the project
The ODR Project has demonstrated a great capacity for impact in various areas ranging from the agronomic and environmental, to a significant socio-economic impact.
In this regard, the project's potential to improve the optimization of resources needed to produce rice, diversify management strategies and reduce exposure to chemicals for farmers and tourists, while promoting biodiversity and reducing pollution, should be highlighted. environment of the sun and the waters.
In addition, the project provides socio-economic opportunities for young farmers , who want to dedicate themselves to rice, through a product with added value, more natural for health and respectful of the environment, demonstrating at the same time that ecological production of rice is profitable in the short and medium term.
"Currently, the area of certified organic rice production in the Ebro Delta is anecdotal and represents 0.7% of the total", Palma tells us. Consequently, the medium-term expectations of the project include the expansion of the area certified in organic rice production, the recovery of biodiversity, the increase of investment in research, and the dissemination of organic production techniques to other rice regions.
A good example of this is the organic rice trials carried out by Delta cooperatives in 2020 and 2021 before the project ended, or the trainings for farmers and technicians on these practices in 2022. In conclusion , an initiative that represents an important step towards the agricultural sustainability of this iconic territory of Catalonia.
Project expectations
Project expectations in the medium term are promising. It is expected to see a growth in the area of organic production of organic rice , as well as an increase in the number of rice farmers.
A project that opens up the hope of reversing the current loss of biodiversity in an ecosystem as fragile as the Ebro Delta . In addition, it is hoped that the project will inspire other rice-growing areas of the peninsula such as Valencia, Andalusia, Extremadura or Murcia, and that conventional rice production will take advantage of techniques and products for organic production.
Organic production is a clear opportunity to change the current model of rice production and promote biodiversity , although this will involve a considerable effort for all involved.
The drive for organic rice production in the Ebro Delta is becoming more and more consolidated thanks to the commitment to projects like this one, led by the company Agroserveis.cat in collaboration with the University of Barcelona.
But for these practices to become general, it is essential that society becomes aware of the importance of preserving and respecting biodiversity in rice production. Environmental education in schools, institutes, social networks, television programs and in large cities where citizens are more disconnected from the rural environment and nature, can be key in this regard.
Palma is convinced that, in the long run, the added value of organic rice, both in terms of the quality and profitability of the product and its contribution to the preservation of biodiversity, will make this investment worthwhile.
In short, the Ebro Delta is at a decisive moment, where the preservation of biodiversity and the economic viability of local agriculture can go hand in hand through the production of organic rice. The ODR Project represents a great opportunity to make this vision a reality.
