The project was kicked off in Badajoz, Spain, where project partners, regional stakeholders and authorities discussed the challenges and possibilities of using renewable energy in agriculture.
In this event Samuel Ruiz, General Director of the Energy, Mining and Industry of the regional Government stated that “A new model of rural development is necessary and the agricultural sector has a very important role due to its great potential to produce from renewable energy sources”. He also stressed that the participation of farmers is essential in the fight against climate change because of the possibilities on issues such as “saving and efficiency in water consumption”. For this reason, Ruiz invited the agricultural business sector to “join this fight” with actions that, in addition to curbing pollutant emissions, mean an improvement in the competitiveness of agricultural and livestock farms.
Cosme Segador, Director of Extremadura Energy Agency (AGENEX) remarked that AgroRES is going to develop different actions such as the creation of a Guide of Good Practices or dissemination events so the producers will be able to know on first hand the project progress: "These measures will contribute to the fight against climate change, but will also make their products more feasible". In this regard, Segador has emphasized that "the carbon footprint is increasingly valued in international markets, which can be a competitive advantage for Extremadura products".
In addition to lively discussions, the kick-off event included two technical visits: one to a floating solar power plant and one focused on showcasing renewable energy projects.
