19.12.2017

The objective of this conference, held on December 13th in Villoria, Salamanca, was to provide guidance on the possibilities of agriculture in steppe areas and to transfer information to the agricultural sector through the exchange of experiences , in addition to offering sustainable alternatives to traditional farming. Experts in the agri-food, technology, and innovation sectors participated. The attendees were primarily farmers from the area.

The day was divided into two sections. The first presented examples of good practices that contribute to sustainable environmental and economic development in agriculture, and the second featured two panels of experiences. The first panel highlighted the value of legumes in the area, showcased an example of an operational group working on innovation and the bioeconomy , and finally, discussed the possibilities offered by truffle cultivation in steppes and meadows . The second panel presented research on the influence of willow cultivation on soil regeneration, addressed biological control of rodent pests and the conservation of steppe birds of prey , and addressed ecotones and biodiversity in the steppe landscape.

At the end of the day, it was concluded that 21st-century agriculture must change its methodology to adapt to environmental and demographic changes . Organic farming was proposed as a solution, as it is sustainable and has the potential to achieve greater competitiveness in the market.

The documents generated during this session can be found at the following link .