Disentangling challenges and priorities for local small-scale artisanal agrifood transformation [Practice Abstract]
Agroecological food production in mountain regions, particularly within protected areas, offers specific values but also faces challenges such as production scale and the dispersed distribution. Mountain agroecological food products cannot compete in terms of quantity or price, but rather need to stand in terms of quality and social and ecological values.
To achieve this, local processing and commercialization strategies, adapted to small-scale farming, traditional cultures and limited financial resources, are required to ensure that such added value is retained within local economies. Small- and medium-scale public and community-based infrastructures for agri-food transformation (abattoirs, bakeries and other food processing plants) have been spreading in northern regions of Spain such as Catalonia and The Basque Country over the last decade, because they respond to these needs. However, there are few experiences in Andalusia and none in Huelva.
Within Inspira Territorio, a team of researchers from the University of Córdoba and CSIC, the livestock association ABLANSE, the regional agricultural agency (AGAPA) and the local agricultural offices from Cortegana and Aracena carried out a diagnosis of the actual needs and priorities for farmers to transform their products.
Eight sectors were studied: meat, dairy, olive oil, vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, drinks and honey. Interviews with farmers allowed the identification of needs (also for research and training) and barriers, as well as the social and environmental values associated with the products. The main conclusions are:
1. The need for government involvement in the creation of publicly owned and managed infrastructure, as well as in its management
2. The importance of considering issues of governance of the infrastructures
3. The training needs in business management administration and marketing, in order to make the most of the products' values.
Geographical location: Spain, Huelva, Sierra de Aracena
