The plenary session of Las Cortes will approve tomorrow the opinion of the Special Study Committee, chaired by the deputy of Unides Podem-Esquerra Unida, Beatriu Gasco Verdier, on the current situation of the citrus sector in the Valencian Community and its future viability.
This opinion, which was drawn up after 6 months of work on the basis of a work plan agreed upon by all the parliamentary groups, involved 53 experts in the citrus production sector and calls for a strong, operational inter-professional approach that improves promotion in order to ensure the survival of the citrus sector in the Valencian Community.
“The conclusions of some experts indicate that the sector needs to have a change of mentality if it wants to survive,” stated Gasco. The needs of the sector include a strengthening of Intercitrus, compliance with the food chain law, agroecology as a present and future model (both for its resilience to face droughts and to help in the fight against climate change), strengthening research, especially in the fight against pests and diseases, improving working conditions in the countryside and warehouses, respect for the principle of community preference, ending the cross-pollination decree, and promoting seedless varieties.
The committee, promoted by the Podem-United Left parliamentary group, met with a plethora of experts to better understand the reality of the citrus sector and have a better grasp of its real needs.
They met with experts from the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, Climate Emergency, and Ecological Transition; the Ministry of Sustainable Economy, Productive Sectors, Trade, and Labor; Intercitrus, Citrus and Ailimpo Management Committee; UPA, the Union of Labradors and Livestock, AVA and Asaja, the Independent Farmers Association of Vila Real; CSIC; Colegio Oficial de Ingenieros Agrónomos de Levante; Cooperativas Agroalimentarias de la Comunidad Valenciana, Anecoop, Cooperativa Rural San Vicente Ferrer de Benaguasil, Cooperativa Catolico Agraria de Vila-real y Copal; SATs Picamon Frutos and Spanish Oranges; Universitat Politècnica de València, Universidad Miguel Hernández; Protected Geographical Indication Citricos Valencians; CCOO and UGT; Labour Inspection; IVIA; Asucova, Mercadona, Consum, LIDL España and Carrefour; Instituto Agroforestal del Mediterráneo; Cañamás y Naranjas Ché; CAECV; AVASA; Innoland.
The commission also met with researchers, teachers, representatives of cooperatives, and producers.