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Times of climate change and persistent drought in Catalonia force us to sharpen our ingenuity, especially in the agri-food industry. To this end, the Institute of Agri-Food Research and Technology (IRTA) has carried out several investigations to alleviate the effects in the field.
In this series of photographs for La Vanguardia Readers’ Photos I have represented an apple with reflections of the Pedralbes monastery in Barcelona, ??because it is a fruit that, according to new research, resists climate change.
Or, at least, the new Tutti variety, whose resilience has been tested in the IRTA experimental fields in La Tallada d’Empordà (Girona) and Mollerussa (Lleida), where temperatures can reach more than 40º in summer.
The IRTA of Catalonia and the Plant
But it is not the only innovation promoted from Catalonia. It has also been confirmed that more efficient management of water discharge allows reducing water consumption in fruit plants. As has been seen in Lleida, implementing a continuous filtration system and using more environmentally responsible disinfectant techniques provides benefits.
Furthermore, sewage sludge proves to be a sustainable and viable alternative for fertilizing arable crops, as has been confirmed in Girona, according to IRTA.
In Catalonia, 120,000 tons of sludge are generated per year from urban treatment plants. Almost half of this matter is used for crop fertilization. This model is an efficient alternative compared to classic mineral fertilization.
