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Spanish soils are at high risk from climate change, in particular due to their serious lack of organic carbon, decreasing their natural fertility. The National Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change (PNACC) includes among its lines of action “the evaluation of the practice of agriculture oriented to soil conservation on the increase of organic carbon content and the improvement of soil fertility”.

Biointensive agroecology has adapted to agroclimatic conditions around the world (specifically, it has already reached more than 140 countries) and has demonstrated its positive impact on indicators such as water consumption, fertilizers, soil fertility and yields in small food production units, its high capacity for soil regeneration being extremely important.

This project has implemented this innovative method with producers in the three main Spanish climatic regions (Atlantic, continental and Mediterranean), allowing to evaluate its effectiveness for adaptation to climate change, with special attention to soil resilience.

The general objective of the project has been to demonstrate the effectiveness of the biointensive method of agroecological food production as an innovative solution for the adaptation to climate change of small production units.

The specific objectives were as follows:

• To put into practice the biointensive method of agroecological food production with 54 producers from four autonomous communities: the Community of Madrid, Galicia, Aragon and the Balearic Islands.
• To analyse the impact of the biointensive method on parameters of adaptation to climate change, in particular on improving the quality and resilience of the soil of small orchards in these four autonomous communities.
• To disseminate the results achieved and contribute to the implementation of the biointensive method to continue in Spain beyond this project.

• Implementation of the principles of the biointensive method in more than 50 family and community gardens.
• Preparation of an updated study on climate change adaptation indicators for food production at the family and community level in the territories studied, belonging to the three main climatic regions of Spain. For this study, measurements were made in 62 crops of the participating orchards.
• Establishment of five reference Biointensive Agroecological Centres as spaces for research and demonstration of the biointensive method in La Puebla de Fantova (Aragon), Meaño (Galicia), Sant Llorenç de Balàfia (Ibiza), Soto del Real (Madrid) and Petra (Mallorca). In addition, the continuity of the project was ensured, so that these Centres can serve as a place for training, research and experimentation and demonstration of the method (cultivation area, seedbeds, compost, etc.) in the future.
• Study of the quality of the compost made following the biointensive method in the selected Biointensive Agroecological Centres and orchards. In total, 49 samples of compost were made, that is, a product obtained from different materials of organic origin and which is later used as fertilizer.
• Study of changes in the basic parameters of fertility and physical characteristics of biointensive orchard soils relevant to soil resilience to climate change. To do this, a final soil analysis was carried out in 54 plots after going through between two and four crop cycles.
• Training of eight local technicians from the Friends of the Earth entity for the implementation of the biointensive method and to be able to carry out the territorial monitoring of the project in Madrid, Aragon, Galicia, Mallorca and Ibiza.
• Training workshops on the establishment and management of family and community gardens with the biointensive cultivation method were given to 159 producers, 57 of whom also received expert support for the implementation of the knowledge acquired in their gardens.
• Dissemination of the activities carried out and the impact and results of the project through news publications on the entity’s website and other content on its social networks, sending press releases, etc.

Biointensive cultivation is an agroecological method focused on self-consumption and small-scale marketing. According to the entity, while respecting nature, it obtains larger harvests than conventional agriculture in very little space, with reduced water consumption and almost without depending on any external input. On the other hand, together with the in-depth preparation of the land, the contribution of ecological amendments adapted to the shortcomings of each garden, the careful selection of crops and their rotations and associations, biointensive agroecology allows the recovery of structure and nutrient content of the soil. For this reason, they point out that it would be a key ally in the fight against desertification and the depletion of resources, including soil, as well as a tool against climate change.

With this project, Friends of the Earth has managed to get 54 producers in Aragon, the Balearic Islands, Galicia and Madrid to put into practice a biointensive garden through the different support provided. This experience has shown, according to the entity, that biointensive farming is well adapted in the three main Spanish climatic regions. Likewise, it is only a first effort that lays the foundations for a greater extension of this cultivation method throughout Spain, as a useful tool for adaptation to climate change and for the recovery and protection of the soil.

On average, positive yields have been obtained in all the orchards, as well as an improvement in the soils and a trend towards a reduction in the need for fertilizers and water. In addition, the diversity of crops planted in the study gardens is very high (79 different crops) and the incorporation of crops intended to produce biomass and carbon that feeds the soil was also significant (25 different crops, which account for 44.2% of the planted area).

Similarly, within the framework of this initiative, 5 Agroecological Centres of reference in the biointensive method have been created that will work to guarantee the continuity of the project’s actions.

Finally, the entity also highlights the good receptivity of farmers to this type of crop, which is not traditionally part of the orchard in Spain, which means a great step towards achieving truly sustainable and self-sufficient orchards.