The Union of Small Farmers and Ranchers (UPA) has completed the POLINIZ-UP project, in order to make compatible a productive agriculture that ensures the production of food for society and a defense of biodiversity.

The Union of Small Farmers and Ranchers (UPA), was a beneficiary with the project “POLINIZ-UP: Increase in the population of pollinating insects”, in the 2017 Call for Grants. It has aimed to increase pollinator populations by creating habitats adapted to insect species and local conditions. Previously, the entity carried out the Infoadapta-agri project: Information, communication, awareness and training on climate change adaptation measures in agriculture and livestock.

The Polinizup Project has shown that it is possible to carry out sustainable agriculture that allows and improves biodiversity. Important learning has been done on the importance of choosing plant species to achieve, on the one hand, the right habitat for insects, but also to ensure the productivity of agricultural farms, not interfering with it and, if possible, to attract auxiliary insects that can be converted into biological control against pests. The farmers have been involved in the experience with pleasure, they have been able to see how it is possible to reconcile a productive agriculture that ensures the production of food for society and a defense of biodiversity. 142 species of pollinating insects have been identified in agricultural environments. Of that total, there are 12 wild bees and 2 species of butterflies protected and included in the IUCN Network, in addition to 6 Iberian endemic species.