Enhancing sustainability in Spanish maize production: the sustainable corn project

Introduction

This case study examines the sustainable corn project (spain, nuts 1 level), an initiative promoting climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices in national maize production. The project focuses on knowledge sharing, technology adoption, and potential certification development – all aligning with core CSA principles that mitigate or adapt agriculture to climate change. The project’s goal is to address sustainability challenges and improve the overall climate resilience of the Spanish maize sector.

Related modules:

Module 3

Module 6

Module 5

Module 4

Partners

Vertex Bioenergy, Universidad de Sevilla (Grupo Investigación Smart Biosystems Lab), Itacyl (Instituto Tecnológico Agrario de Castilla Y León), Corteva Agriscience, Timac Agro España, Control Unión Wg Spain (Cu Spain) Y Grupo An.

Year of establishment of the initiative

2021

Location

Spain

Case description

Spanish maize production faces environmental and economic challenges due to climate change and other factors. The maíz sostenible project aims to address these by promoting CSA-aligned practices. These include biodiversity enhancement, soil health improvement, and water management strategies. Through workshops, information sharing, and potential certification development, the project seeks to empower farmers, improve resource use efficiency, and enhance the long-term viability and climate resilience of the maize sector.

Total area or number of animals

Not applicable (project targets the entire sector, data not available on the website).

Main agricultural activity and Multifunctional activities

Main activity: maize production. Multifunctional activities could potentially include training programs or knowledge-sharing events for farmers in the future.

Critical challenges of the farm/ the region

Climate change impacts (extreme weather, water scarcity), declining soil health, economic pressures on farmers.

CSA Activity

Reason for engaging in CSA/ Triggering moment for implementation

While the website doesn’t provide specific reasons, potential drivers for the project’s focus on CSA could be:

Addressing climate challenges: promoting practices that enhance climate resilience in maize production, such as improved soil health for carbon sequestration and reduced erosion, and water management strategies to adapt to changing precipitation patterns.
Economic sustainability: enhancing farm profitability through improved resource management and potentially accessing market advantages through sustainability certifications.
Consumer preferences: meeting growing demand for sustainably produced food products.

Description of the innovation

Its focus on knowledge sharing, technology adoption, and potential certification aligns with core CSA principles that promote climate-smart agricultural practices:

Knowledge sharing: organizing workshops and training sessions for farmers on various CSA practices, including water management, soil health improvement, and integrated pest management (ipm).
Technology adoption: encouraging the use of technologies that promote sustainable practices, such as cover crops, precision irrigation, and conservation tillage techniques, which can contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Implementation Process of the innovation & used methods of innovation management

Potential steps could include:

Collaboration with agricultural research institutions and extension services.
Stakeholder engagement with farmers’ organizations and industry representatives.
Development of training materials and workshops on CSA-aligned practices.
Pilot projects demonstrating the benefits of these practices.
Exploration of potential certification systems for sustainable maize production.

Todays Results of this implementation

Concrete results of the project’s implementation are not available on the website. However, potential outcomes could include:

Increased awareness among farmers of CSA principles and their benefits for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Pilot demonstrations showcasing successful implementation of CSA practices.
Development of training materials and workshops for wider dissemination.
Initial steps towards a potential certification system for sustainable maize.

SWOT of the Case today

Strengths

Addresses critical challenges facing Spanish maize production, including climate change impacts.

Promotes climate-smart and sustainable practices that mitigate or adapt to climate change.

Builds capacity and knowledge among farmers on CSA practices.

Potential for market differentiation through certification.

Weaknesses

Overcoming initial resistance to change among some farmers.

Ensuring economic viability and affordability of new technologies.

Opportunities

Growing consumer interest in sustainable

Education/ Training of the decision makers/ leading persons

Information on specific training programs for project leaders is not available on the website, although videos and dissemination material are available and have been presented in workshops and seminars. However, collaboration with research institutions and extension services likely plays a role in capacity building for project leaders. These institutions can provide expertise on CSA practices and effective methods for knowledge dissemination to farmers.

Outlook/ Aims and Goals

The project’s long-term goals likely include:

Widespread adoption of CSA practices among maize producers, contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation in the sector.
Improved soil health, water conservation, and biodiversity within maize production systems.
Enhanced economic viability for farmers through increased efficiency and potentially higher market prices for certified sustainable maize.
Increased consumer confidence in the sustainability credentials of Spanish maize.

Lessons Learned/ Recommendations

While the project is still ongoing, potential lessons learned and recommendations for similar initiatives could include:

The importance of stakeholder engagement, including farmers, researchers, industry representatives, and policymakers.
The need for clear communication and capacity building to encourage farmer adoption of new CSA practices.
The value of pilot projects to demonstrate the effectiveness and economic benefits of CSA approaches.
The potential role of incentives and support mechanisms to facilitate technology adoption, particularly for practices with higher initial costs.

Result, Success & Risk Factors

Actual today’s situation

The project has recently concluded, and while there is no specific data available yet on its current impact—beyond its presence in the media and seminar attendance—the actual situation remains challenging to assess. However, efforts to build awareness among farmers continue, utilizing the materials developed during the project.

Dependence of any kind of ongoing support/ subsidy?

The platform has received public funding, but it is still seeking additional funds to support future website hosting.

Dependence of specific regional/ personal aspects?

The project’s focus on national maize production in Spain suggests it may be tailored to the specific climatic and agricultural challenges of the region. However, the core principles of CSA practices promoted by the project (e.g., soil health improvement, water management) could potentially be adapted to other regions with similar challenges.

Applicability in other regions/ other situations

The CSA practices promoted by the can be applicable in other regions facing similar challenges, such as climate change impacts, water scarcity, and declining soil health. However, the specific technologies and approaches may need to be adapted to local conditions, cropping systems, and resource availability.

Conclusion

The project represents a significant effort towards achieving climate-smart and sustainable maize production in Spain. By fostering knowledge sharing, technology adoption, and potentially developing a sustainability certification system, the project empowers farmers to address environmental and economic challenges. Widespread adoption of these practices has the potential to enhance climate resilience, improve resource use efficiency, and contribute to the long-term viability of the Spanish maize sector. The project’s success will depend on overcoming implementation challenges, achieving buy-in from farmers, and securing necessary resources. If successful, the project can serve as a model for promoting sustainable agriculture practices across Spain and beyond.

Project N. 2022-1-DE02-KA220-VET-000089615

Contact email: info@innocsa.eu

Cookies Policy

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, so long as attribution is given to the creator. The license allows for commercial use. If you remix, adapt, or build upon the material, you must license the modified material under identical terms. CC BY-SA includes the following elements: BY: credit must be given to the creator. SA: Adaptations must be shared under the same terms.