In recent years, the citrus sector in the Guadalquivir Valley, particularly in the provinces of Seville and Cordoba, has faced increasingly pressing climate challenges. Drought and weather adversities have tested the tenacity of local farmers. Within this context and in the midst of these challenges, the Citran SAT 3719 company, located in Brenes (Seville) and with almost 50 years of history, has demonstrated its ability to adapt, innovate, and maintain high-quality standards in the production and marketing of citrus fruits.
Citran, a farmers' family business, is above all a producer. One of its main strengths is its commitment to sustainability and strict compliance with phytosanitary standards. "We have adopted sustainable agricultural practices that reduce the environmental impact and ensure the health of our soils, and thus our trees' health. It's a mix of organic agriculture and adapted conventional agriculture that some have come to call regenerative agriculture.
"We started practicing with organic plantations many years ago and we noticed that the health of our soils improved considerably. We the applied what we learned to conventional plantations. This is essential to preserve the local ecosystem in the long term and to ensure the quality and safety of the citrus fruits produced. As a result of this commitment, 10% of the more than 1,300 hectares that we exploit and that cover the varietal cycle of oranges from October to June -which include mandarins, grapefruits and a range of reds, either by anthocyanins or lycopene- has already been converted into organic agriculture, both organic and Demeter, and our challenge is to reach 60% in 10 years," stated Juan Francisco Ruiz, the CEO of Citran.
According to Juan Francisco Ruiz, the EU's current regulatory framework on the use of phytosanitary products in the agricultural sector is an opportunity. "We see it as an opportunity and not as a threat. The entire Organization is clear that this condition is necessary and not sufficient to be able to position ourselves in international markets.
The consumer of the 21st century wants to eat healthy and environmentally friendly foods. Managing our own production has facilitated this adaptation."
In his opinion, the great effort that farmers are making to comply with these environmental regulations is not being compensated with the entry into the EU market of fruit from third countries that have fewer environmental restrictions and labor policies, which in many cases are very precarious.
According to Juan Francisco, one of the keys to ensuring a prosperous future for citrus fruits in Andalusia is the continuous investment in research and development of new varieties, and the selection of those new varieties with the greatest potential and innovation. According to Juan Francisco, 50% of the 1,300 hectares in Citran will produce new orange, mandarin, and grapefruit varieties in the next 5 years. These new varieties will boost citrus consumption and meet consumers' changing expectations. Not only do these varieties offer exceptional flavor, but they are also produced with all the guarantees offered by an EU product.
In short, "despite the challenging context, the future of citrus fruits in Andalusia in general, and particularly in Citran, is promising. The combination of a commitment to sustainability, rigorous phytosanitary standards, social responsibility, and a strong tradition of innovation in varietal renewal puts the region's producers in a unique position to excel in the global citrus market. The Guadalquivir Valley not only offers high-quality fruits, but it also represents the values and ethics that consumers seek in their food. This passion and determination can overcome any obstacle, transforming any problem into an opportunity, thus ensuring that citrus farming continues to have a bright future."
Citran SAT will be at Fruit Attraction 2023, at stand 9E15.
For more information:
Citran SAT
Ctra. Camino del Bodegón de las Cañas, KM.1
41310 Brenes, Sevilla (España)
Tlf. +34 955 031 250
[email protected]
https://citransat.com
