With what objective was the ´El Mirador ‘center created?
The center was born as a way to provide real solutions to the farmers of Campo de Cartagena. In this way, a reliable and complete experimentation of new varieties and cultivation techniques demanded by the sector is carried out, which are then transferred through reports, workshops or visits to interested farmers and technicians.
What agricultural technologies and innovations are the most prominent today?
Currently, innovations and new technologies are aimed at optimizing irrigation water and reducing nitrates provided in fertilization. In addition to this, it is always sought to carry out a sustainable, efficient and profitable agriculture for farmers.
We are working hard with soil tensiometers to optimize water, products with the ability to retain water in the soil and with more sustainable fertilizers for crops in the area.
What are the most impressive results in the trials with food and crop varieties?
We find them, as I have already pointed out, in the great water savings obtained with the use of soil tensiometers. We are currently reducing water consumption by 30-50% in most crops, without causing reductions in production or deficiencies in the quality of the products.
For example, in celery trials it was reduced by 63%; 32% in pepper outdoors; 51% in peppers in the greenhouse; and 56% in Galia and Cantaloup melons. It is very important to optimize the irrigation water and always take into account the real needs of the crop.
In addition to this, as a very interesting fact, we have also managed to carry out greenhouse pepper crops and celery, reducing the fertilizer units provided.
What do you think will be the most disruptive innovations in crops and agricultural technologies in the coming years?
Agriculture is constantly changing and the optimization of all resources and the computerization of crops will continue to advance to leave us with very positive results. Right now, with the technological era, information is just one click away: from irrigation control, to the use of drones to detect pests in crops, use of chip tags to detect merchandise and mechanization of field work .
Sustainability with the environment is a key element for agriculture, in what lines is the center working to advance towards that sustainability?
When we carry out a certain test, it is essential for us that it be the most sustainable with the environment. In this sense, we always try to manage, as far as possible, the crops towards zero residue, reducing the nitrogen fertilizer units in the soil and looking for more efficient alternatives.
We are conducting tests with ozone for the control of fungi in soil and as a treatment against fungal diseases, ecological fertilizers to reduce nitrate levels in soil and fruit, integrated control with new insects and ecological soil disinfection.
In addition to this, the ´El Mirador ‘center is involved in two projects of the European Community, with organizations such as the UPCT or CEBAS-CESIC, to carry out tests aimed at the realization of a more sustainable agriculture.
In your opinion, how are farmers in Campo de Cartagena implementing these sustainability measures?
This sector is always in continuous evolution and the farmer looks for alternatives to improve his crops and adapt to new demands. The techniques that we carry out here are implemented by many people in the agri-food sector, who seek profitability in their cultivation while maintaining environmental sustainability.
How has the pandemic affected the dynamics of the center?
Our work here is mainly that the results obtained can be seen by technicians, farmers and interested people in the sector. This new fact has affected us like the rest of the world in terms of allowing the free circulation of visits from other countries, open days and talks and exhibition of works.
Even so, we always try to ensure that the results obtained reach the majority of people in the sector through reports and / or visits with a small number. The agricultural sector has not stopped being interested in the work carried out in the center.
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