The event, organised as part of the Agroclau project, brought together around thirty participants to share experiences, tools and solutions for improving the viability of small agricultural and livestock farms.

On Wednesday 14 October, L’Agròpolis at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)-BarcelonaTech hosted the event How to Make an Agricultural and Livestock Project Viable?, bringing together around thirty farmers, cooperatives, agricultural technicians and professionals from research and training centres to reflect on the challenges and opportunities facing the agri-food sector.

Economic viability is one of the main challenges facing farmers and a key factor in encouraging generational renewal, territorial regeneration and the continuity of farming operations. In this context, the event focused on supporting small-scale producers, financial management, marketing, regenerative agriculture and technological innovation as tools for moving towards more resilient and sustainable production models.

Real-life Experiences and Tools to Improve Viability

As part of the Agroclau project, participants shared experiences of supporting agricultural and livestock farms, as well as strategies for improving their management and strengthening their viability.

Ada Navarro Puche, co-founder of Àgora Regenerativa, presented real-life cases of agricultural and livestock projects and the factors that contribute to their viability. This was followed by Albert Mora Paretas, co-founder and partner of AmbTu, who discussed the key factors for improving their economic viability.

Agroclau offers a comprehensive model of consultancy, mentoring and technological support aimed at professionalising and consolidating small farms, facilitating their transition towards regenerative production models.

UPC Research in Support of Regenerative Agriculture

The event also showcased the work carried out by UPC, through Agrotech-UPC, to develop tools and methodologies that enable farms to be managed more efficiently and sustainably.

Marga López and Rafael Vidal, researchers from UPC’s PLAAnet and WNG groups, respectively, presented their work on environmental indicators and measurement systems for assessing the impact of agricultural practices. These tools support the monitoring of parameters related to soil quality and environmental sustainability, linking them to farm management practices.

As an example of accessible technological innovation serving farmers, the Agrixels | Meteo agroclimatic stations were also presented. This low-cost, open-source solution features a modular design that facilitates access to agroclimatic data. These stations help bring technology to small farms and support data-driven decision-making, promoting more efficient and sustainable resource management.

Along the same lines, Stefania Mattana, a soil expert and researcher in UPC’s PLAAnet group, presented the findings of a study conducted in the Girona region on how different agricultural management models affect soil quality, highlighting the importance of practices focused on regeneration and long-term sustainability.

Technology Tailored to the Needs of Small-Scale Producers

Another key focus of the event was the presentation of a management system (ERP) tailored to the needs of small agricultural and livestock projects. Juan López, an Agrotech-UPC researcher specialising in digital architectures for data integration and decision-making, presented this tool, designed to facilitate farm management and support economic and production planning.

Integrating economic and environmental data represents an opportunity to help producers better understand the results of their activities, anticipate needs and make informed decisions.

Co-creating Solutions with the Sector

The event concluded with Júlia Soler Grañen, partner at Àgora Regenerativa, after which attendees had the opportunity to share their views, needs and suggestions for improvement.

This participatory space reinforced the importance of developing solutions based on farmers’ direct experience and connecting scientific knowledge with the realities of farming operations.

The meeting highlighted that moving towards a viable agricultural and livestock sector requires combining specialist support, financial management, soil regeneration, technological innovation and cooperation.

Through initiatives such as Agroclau, UPC and its partner organisations are helping to develop tools and knowledge for small farms, with the aim of strengthening farming communities and promoting a more sustainable future for the agri-food sector.

About Agroclau

Agroclau is a project that combines personalised support and technological development to improve the viability of agricultural and livestock farms, with particular attention to small-scale producers, newcomers to the sector and regenerative farming models.

We look forward to seeing you at the next edition!