The European RETSCOOP project will trial the collaborative production of biofertilisers in Okiturri, with the aim of reducing dependence on external inputs and making the most of local resources.
Can agricultural and livestock farms produce their own fertilisers and share the resources needed to do so? This is the question that the community-based biofactory pilot project being developed by RETSCOOP in Álava aims to answer.
The idea was presented on 20 October at the San Millán municipal hall, in the Okiturri industrial estate, as part of the 12th Lautada Astea. The event brought together local producers and stakeholders to discuss a shared concern: the cost of external inputs and the potential for achieving self-sufficiency.
The aim is to investigate how the collective production of bio-preparations for on-farm use can improve soil quality and crop yields. In addition to material resources, knowledge and experience will be shared in order to adapt the processes to the needs of individual farms.
Okiturri, the place to start
The space provided by San Millán Town Council will host the initial trials. Okiturri draws on the experience gained from other agri-food initiatives promoted by the Lautada Regional Development Agency (ADR), such as the production of organic sunflower and rapeseed oils and the processing of local pulses. Thanks to an agreement signed with San Millán Town Council, it has been possible to adapt an area of the Municipal Hall, situated in the Okiturri industrial estate, where the experimental development of the small demonstration plant will take place.
The pilot scheme will help to determine costs and acquire the technical knowledge required to develop, apply and test bio-preparations on different crops, as well as to identify possible ways of organising the work. Reducing costs and improving soil health are objectives that will need to be assessed against the results of the trials.
Farmers and livestock farmers will be involved in both the trial and the decisions regarding the operation of the biofactory. Their experience will be essential in assessing what works, what needs adjusting and how useful it can be in day-to-day life.
Working together to ensure the initiative continues
The preparation of the pilot project has brought together the six rural development associations of Álava, coordinated by Arabalanda and with the active participation of ADR Lautada. The approach is to start in one region and share what has been learnt with the others. Meetings have also been held with the economic development departments of the Provincial Council of Álava to support the project’s development.
ASLE, a RETSCOOP partner alongside the Provincial Council, brings its expertise in the social economy and collective entrepreneurship. Its support will help to develop shared management, forge links with the business community and ensure the continuity of the initiative, whilst also taking generational succession into account.
The trials will be complemented by workshops in the districts of Álava and exchanges with other initiatives in biofertilisation and regenerative agriculture. Documenting the results will enable us to assess whether the model is viable and under what conditions it could be rolled out to other locations.
RETSCOOP is being carried out between 2025 and 2028 in collaboration with organisations from Spain, France and Portugal, and is co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg Sudoe programme. At Okiturri, the next step will be to put the proposal into practice and assess how it can benefit farms in Álava.