Around twenty people are participating in a free training initiative on regenerative agriculture, organised by the Reflota Project in Yaiza, with support from the Yaiza Town Council and La Huertita de Femés. The programme aims to promote an agricultural model focused on restoring soil fertility, enhancing biodiversity, and strengthening ecosystems to produce more sustainable crops and healthier food.
The training began at the Camel Interpretation Centre in Uga, featuring a theoretical session on the principles of regenerative agriculture and challenges facing current food production methods. It also seeks to create a network for individuals interested in developing this type of agriculture in Lanzarote, enabling knowledge and resource sharing among producers.
Águeda Cedrés, the Councillor for the Environment in Yaiza, noted the strong interest in the scheme and the growing desire for a return to farming. She expressed gratitude to project leaders Isidro Pérez and Rodrigo Delgado, as well as Sergio Valiente from La Huertita de Femés, who has been key in promoting this agricultural model in the area.
The council is also working on establishing a community garden, supported by Valiente’s expertise. During the first session, Pérez highlighted the need for agricultural systems that regenerate soils, lessen reliance on external products, and eliminate harmful pesticides. He cautioned that the current model is unsustainable and depletes the land, stressing the link between human health, food quality, and ecosystem conditions.
Delgado pointed out that significant portions of global soil are degraded due to intensive agricultural practices. The speakers discussed specific challenges faced by agriculture in Lanzarote, including wind, drought, scarce water, and poor organic content. They emphasised a model tailored to the dry, resource-limited landscape, incorporating techniques to enhance crop resilience and effectively utilise available resources.
Participants included urban garden owners, gardening professionals, and individuals keen to improve their diet, with several young attendees concerned about the lack of generational change in the agricultural sector and Lanzarote’s heavy dependence on imported goods.
Following the theoretical session, the programme moved to La Escuelita de Mácher for a practical workshop on creating fertilisers, bio inputs, and natural preparations for crop care. The initiative will conclude this Saturday, 27 June, at La Huertita de Femés with a hands-on session focused on the regenerative management of Lanzarote’s traditional enarenados.
Interested individuals can find out more about the project by emailing [email protected] or calling 676 833 563.
