Tag Archives: Land stewardship

Mulching the soil: less evaporation, more fertility

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Mulching the soil: less evaporation, more fertility

Next Friday, April 11, GOB Menorca is organizing a training session entitled “Saving water with soil mulching”, which will take place at the Binitord vineyards (Ciutadella). The course is aimed at farmers, horticulturists, and people interested in sustainable soil management. It will include both theoretical and practical components.

The session will be led by Raoul Ferrer, an agricultural engineer with expertise in regenerative agriculture and holistic management. We spoke with him to learn more about mulching and its applications.

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Join the biodiversity monitoring

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Do you love nature and want to spend time outdoors while contributing to an important cause? Every spring, a group of passionate volunteers interested in agriculture and biodiversity heads out into the Menorcan countryside to monitor bioindicators on farms participating in the Custòdia Agrària (Agri-environmental Stewardship) program.

The goal? To show how sustainable farming practices benefit biodiversity—while enjoying a unique experience in nature.

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Towards an agroecological transition: a new alliance in Menorca

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During February, GOB Menorca’s Land Stewardship team, the San Crispín Cooperative, and Rayën Agronomic Solutions organized several meetings aimed at promoting an alliance for the agroecological transition of Menorca’s agricultural sector. These discussions culminated in an early March co-creation workshop, where the foundations for an agroecological transition alliance were established.

The process involved representatives from public administration, organizations, and key actors from the agricultural and commercial sectors. Through open, participatory, and cross-sector dialogue, key challenges were identified, and common perspectives were shared to lay the groundwork for the Alliance.

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New Land Stewardship agreement for vegetable garden lands

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Just a year ago, S’Hortet de s’Algar was born on a plot of land in eastern Menorca that had long been abandoned. With passion and hard work, this project has flourished into a thriving, sustainable farm producing healthy food while caring for both the land and the people.

Now, S’Hortet de s’Algar has joined the Custòdia Agrària program of GOB Menorca, committing to farming without pesticides or synthetic fertilizers through regenerative agriculture techniques. The farm is currently in a transition period, awaiting its official organic certification.

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Training course: Water conservation through soil mulching

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Covering the soil reduces water evaporation. This can be done using various materials such as straw, wood chips, bioplastics, and, of particular interest, sheep wool. This traditional practice has regained attention as a way to mitigate drought effects and reduce reliance on conventional materials. It is a sustainable method that is gaining popularity in organic farming.

To promote this technique, we are organizing a practical training course at Vinyes Binitord (Ciutadella) on April 11th. The course will explore different mulching options, with special emphasis on the use of wool—a material that not only conserves water but also improves soil quality and protects crops from pests.

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Alliance for a sustainable agricultural sector

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During the first half of February, the Agrarian Custody team and the San Crispín Cooperative organized three focus groups to promote an alliance for transitioning the agricultural sector towards an agroecological and sustainable model.

These meetings have involved various stakeholders from administration, organizations, and agricultural businesses. Another session will soon be held with actors from the commercialization sector. These discussions have brought to light shared perspectives and valuable contributions across multiple areas, helping to identify many of the common needs of Menorca’s agricultural sector.

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The loophole of exoneration

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In our winter, the grass is green. The combination of periodic rainfall, humidity-laden dew, and limited direct sunlight keeps Menorca’s fields lush. Many annual plants take advantage of this season to thrive.

Alongside the ancient dry-stone walls, built piece by piece, a rich variety of wild vegetation finds refuge, safe from the plow’s path. This creates an essential habitat for wildlife, offering shelter among shrubs, trees, and countless crevices between the stones.

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Thursday 6th: Agricultural Resilience kicks off the round table series at the Ateneu

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This Thursday, February 6, at 7:30 PM, the Ateneu de Maó will launch the round table series of discussions on Resilience to Climate Change with an opening session dedicated to agricultural resilience. The discussion will focus on addressing the challenges of drought and desertification.

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Tradition and livestock for sustainable agriculture at the 2025 Agriculture Seminar

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Traditional practices as a guarantee of sustainability and the role of livestock in wildfire prevention are the focus of the second session of the 2025 Agriculture and Environment Seminar, taking place on Saturday, February 8, at the Convention Center in Es Mercadal.

There’s still time to register for this final session of the seminar! You can fill out the registration form, email us at custodia@gobmenorca.com, or call us at +34 971 350 762.

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