Luis Planas: The Government is committed to efficient irrigation to ensure stable food production.

▪ The minister indicates that the National Irrigation Board is established as a cooperation body to generate technological and legislative solutions in the area of sustainable irrigation.
▪ Planas emphasizes the need to update and modernize water management in agriculture to achieve a more appropriate and efficient use of every drop.

December 15, 2022. The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, Luis Planas, has emphasized that irrigation is the "crown jewel" of the Spanish agri-food system, due to its ability to generate added value and employment, its position at the forefront of innovation, and its ability to retain population in rural areas.
He also emphasized that efficient and sustainable irrigation is more necessary than ever, as it provides greater stability and security for food production.

The minister noted that the great challenge for irrigated agriculture is having water in the future, in a context of climate change that indicates a reduction in available water resources of between 12 and 40 percent by the end of this century, depending on the region. He asserted that these changes require us to update and modernize water management in agriculture to achieve more appropriate and efficient use of every drop of water.

Luis Planas chaired today the constitutive meeting of the National Irrigation Board and the Irrigation Sustainability Observatory, as a body for cooperation, communication and participation between the different administrations competent in matters of agriculture and application of water in irrigation, and
other stakeholders in the management of this matter, to facilitate its governance.

The table is part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, approved by the Government in April 2021, to develop reform 4 "Boosting governance and sustainability of investments in Spanish irrigation systems." To this end, it will promote and facilitate cooperation, consultation, analysis and
exchange of information among stakeholders on irrigation and water use in irrigated agriculture.

The Ministries of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, of Social Rights and the 2030 Agenda, of Science and Innovation, and of Universities participate in this body, as well as representatives of the autonomous communities, hydrographic confederations,
irrigation communities, professional agricultural organizations and agri-food cooperatives, the scientific and innovation community, environmental organizations, and other stakeholders interested in the development of irrigation in Spain.

Additionally, the Sustainability Observatory has also been created as an online platform for technological support and knowledge, through the collection, monitoring, and study of the main social, environmental, and economic indicators linked to the irrigated agriculture sector.

In his speech, the minister highlighted the great economic, territorial, social, and environmental importance of irrigated land, which, with more than 3.8 million hectares, accounts for nearly 23% of the cultivated land in Spain and generates two-thirds of the value of crop production. Planas emphasized that
More than half of the irrigated land in our country is irrigated locally, allowing for more efficient use of this resource. Furthermore, Spain is a leader in irrigation and water treatment technologies, even exporting them to other countries.

On the other hand, the minister noted that in the 2021-2027 period, government initiatives will promote a public-private investment of more than €2.1 billion, from both national and EU funds, to modernize approximately 200,000 hectares of irrigated land, benefiting more than 20,000 irrigators. Work will also be carried out on approximately 500,000 hectares already modernized to introduce the latest technologies that will make irrigation more efficient. The planned actions will guarantee water savings of approximately 10 % compared to the initial situation and a more efficient use of energy.

These investments include irrigation modernization projects commissioned by the State Agricultural Infrastructure Company (SEIASA) within the framework of the Recovery Plan, totaling €703 million; those included in the ordinary agreement between the ministry and this company, with €433 million; as well as those carried out through the capital increase of
SEIASA, funded by the General State Budget with €60 million. Also included is the modernization of irrigation systems with new funds from the Agri-Food PERTE (Agri-Food Development Program), with an investment of €512 million; and ordinary investments in irrigation modernization and transformation, financed by the ministry within the General State Budget.
with 419 million euros.

The minister pointed out that Spain has secured co-financing for investments in sustainable irrigation under the Strategic Plan for the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Thus, the ministry plans a supra-regional intervention to modernize irrigation systems with more than
More than 29 million euros allocated by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), which is in addition to the interventions that the autonomous communities have planned in this area.

Furthermore, the minister announced that the bill for the implementation of the new CAP in Spain starting January 1st, which the Congress of Deputies is expected to approve today, will include the possibility of contracting two different electrical capacities in the same year. This initiative gives
response to a demand from irrigation communities that will help alleviate the increase in energy costs.