Economía

ALMONTE, SPAIN – A collaborative initiative aimed at fostering sustainable innovation within the Doñana Natural Area was formally launched today in Almonte, Huelva. The project, known as Doñana Terra Innova, received a significant boost from the Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico y la Innovación (CDTI) and the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.

The project’s kickoff event, held in Almonte, drew over one hundred attendees from the surrounding region, including local officials, researchers, and representatives from the agricultural sector. Francisco Bella Galán, the mayor of Almonte, inaugurated the event alongside Elías Atienza, Director General of the Corporación Tecnológica de Andalucía (CTA), and José Rodríguez Quintero, Rector of the University of Huelva (UHU).

Doñana Terra Innova is designed to stimulate economic and social development in the municipalities surrounding the Doñana Natural Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve. The two-year plan will focus on identifying and developing innovative solutions to key territorial challenges, including water management, sustainable agriculture, and improving employment conditions within the agricultural workforce. The initiative will also explore opportunities in renewable energy and affordable housing.

CTA is leading the consortium, which also includes Asaja-Huelva, the Huelva Business Federation (FOE), OnuCoop, Seprocoop, and the University of Huelva. According to Atienza, the project represents “the first action of CTA in 2026 as the strategic ally of the CDTI in Andalusia” and reinforces the organization’s role in supporting public administrations to accelerate research, development, and innovation (R&D&I) processes.

Key components of Doñana Terra Innova include the establishment of the Doñana 2030 Living Lab, the Doñana 2030 Observatory, and the UHU Doñana Chair. The project will also support the creation of the Doñana Agricultura Sostenible center for advanced experimentation and testing, and the Doñana Innovación Sostenible incubator and accelerator. The initiative will facilitate the implementation of Public Procurement of Innovation (PPI) schemes.

Pilar González Gotor, Head of Institutional Promotion and Territorial Cooperation at the CDTI, outlined the objectives of the Doñana Dynamization Program, which provides funding for the project, and indicated that further funding opportunities related to innovation in the region are forthcoming.

Concurrent with the launch of Doñana Terra Innova, the Fundación Moeve participated in a reforestation effort in the ‘Las Peñuelas’ area of Doñana Natural Park. The planting event, attended by the President of the Regional Government of Andalusia, Juanma Moreno, and a group of young volunteers, aims to restore areas devastated by a major wildfire in 2017 that burned over 10,000 hectares. The reforestation project, ‘Doñana Renace’, has seen the planting of 1.1 million trees in recent years, a collaborative effort between the regional government and various associations, including Fundación Moeve, which has contributed 152,300 trees since 2022.

Rector Rodríguez Quintero emphasized the University of Huelva’s commitment to the project, highlighting the relevance of ongoing research at the UHU in areas such as species modification, agrivoltaics, and solutions for agricultural worker housing. He stated that the university’s research could significantly contribute to the various activities planned under Doñana Terra Innova.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced Saturday he will raise tariffs on all goods entering the United States from 10% to 15%, a day after the Supreme Court ruled against his administration’s previous use of emergency powers to impose such tariffs. The move, described by Trump as a response to a “ridiculous” and “extraordinarily anti-American” decision, signals a renewed commitment to protectionist trade policies despite legal setbacks.

The Supreme Court on Friday invalidated the original tariffs, which had been enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The ruling represented a significant defeat for Trump, particularly given the court’s conservative majority, and prompted a sharp rebuke from the president. During a press conference following the decision, Trump reportedly expressed anger towards the court and specifically criticized Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, both of his own appointees, according to reports.

While the Supreme Court invalidated the tariffs imposed under IEEPA, Trump’s administration is now invoking Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to justify the new 15% tariffs. This provision allows the president to impose tariffs of up to 15% for an initial period of 150 days. However, any extension of the tariffs beyond that timeframe will require congressional approval, a potential point of contention given the divided political landscape.

Trump reiterated his long-standing claim that the tariffs are aimed at countries that have been “stealing” from the United States for decades without facing consequences. He stated that he will use the next five months to “determine and announce new legally permissible tariffs” to ensure “America remains greater than ever before.”

The initial tariffs, and now the increased rates, have sparked concern among trading partners and domestic businesses alike. The CNN reported Friday that the Court’s decision was a “contundente derrota” (strong defeat) for the White House’s foreign and economic agenda. El País noted the Supreme Court, despite its conservative leanings, struck down the “recíprocos” tariffs imposed indiscriminately by Trump. The Associated Press reported that Trump vowed new tariffs despite the ruling.

The legality of the initial tariffs had been challenged, with critics arguing that Trump had overstepped his authority by unilaterally imposing broad tariffs without congressional authorization. The Supreme Court agreed, with Chief Justice John Roberts writing in the majority opinion that the president needs “clear authorization from Congress” to impose such sweeping trade restrictions. The court did not, however, address the fate of the more than $130 billion in tariffs already collected.

The administration’s decision to utilize Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 introduces a new dynamic to the trade dispute. While it allows Trump to temporarily impose the tariffs, the requirement for congressional approval for any extension could lead to negotiations and potential compromises with lawmakers. The outcome of those negotiations remains uncertain.