"Catalonia cannot afford to lose more agricultural land for the installation of photovoltaic energy", warn several entities in a joint statement, including organizations linked to the agricultural world, but also the Col legi d'Economistes or the environmental organization Ipcena -EoC.
The main reason: "To prevent further deterioration of the already reduced food self-sufficiency of Catalonia at a time of global food crisis in which all states, including the European Union, are taking measures to increase their productive potential."
The release of the statement coincides with the announcement of several projects for the installation of solar panels on an 800-hectare farm in what will be the largest photovoltaic solar complex in Catalonia, if it prospers. In addition, the town where the projects are located is Alcarràs (Segrià), popularized by the award-winning film of the same title and which deals precisely with the occupation of agricultural land by solar panels.
"It is a mistake to consider it as either agriculture or renewable," says Manel Romero, delegate in Catalonia of the Spanish Photovoltaic Union (Unef) and co-owner of the installation company Sud Renovables. “It is clear that we must prioritize the location of panels on roofs –adds Romero–, but they are not enough. It is necessary to place panels on the floor. The promoters are not obsessed with occupying agricultural land, but it is normal for them to prioritize the most profitable projects”.
The reason why agricultural locations are chosen is what Francesc Reguant, president of the Agri-Food Economy Commission of the Col·legi d'Economistes de Catalunya, complains about: "They are located on agricultural land because the price of land is more economical, not because it makes sense. On the contrary, losing agricultural land is a strategic mistake as a country and a waste of private and public resources in the case of irrigated land, which has required million-dollar investments to be irrigated”.
The signatories of the joint statement affirm that "in some way, they want to urgently resolve the error of the lack of foresight, planning and resolution capacity of the public authorities with regard to renewable energies, with a new error that, if continued being executed, it will end up increasing the food dependency of our country”.
However, Romero points out that "there are other points to be discussed in this regard, such as the current agricultural model, the prices received by the farmer or the suitability of certain crops such as rapeseed for export or non-food uses." In addition, the Unef spokesman warns that Catalonia's degree of energy dependency is still lower than that of food. Specifically, it is estimated that Catalonia only produces 16% of its electricity with renewable sources. On the other hand, the degree of food sovereignty is between 40% and 45%. But there is not one without the other, because the entire food chain needs electricity to produce.
In the opinion of Joan Vázquez, spokesperson for Ipcena-EdC, placing solar panels on agricultural land is "a purely speculative act." Vázquez (and the joint statement) points out that "there are many other alternatives." These alternatives are road infrastructures, roofs of industrial buildings and agricultural parks, land that has ceased to be cultivated, irrigation canals or floating in lakes or reservoirs.
