The flood caused by DANA, which affected Valencia almost a month and a half ago, damaged the rice fields of La Albuferawhich will now be integrated into Global Omnium’s HortiGO2 project with the aim of promoting its recovery.
La Acequia del Oro and Global Omnium have signed the incorporation of the first irrigation community of La Albufera to the HortiGO2 technological tool which, it should be remembered, allows you to calculate, measure and compensate CO2 emissions in agriculture taking advantage of the absorption capacity of crops. The objective is to channel the resources obtained from climate neutrality for the sustainable recovery of crops affected by the flood.
Recovery of rice fields
HortíGO2 is a technological tool that unifies two essential values in the commitment to climate neutrality. On the one hand, it allows the measurement, calculation, estimation and correction of the CO2 impacts to the atmosphere of any activity and, in addition, the absorption of these emissions in the local agricultural economy.
The agreement has as its immediate priority the recovery of the local agricultural fabric, especially rice fields. DANA left more than 1,300 hectares and 800 farmers affectedalmost 700,000 euros in damage to infrastructure and ecosystems, leaving many communities in a critical situation.
Since its inception in collaboration with the Irrigation Communities and the Water Court, the objective of HortiGO2 is to contribute to the positive impact of the activities carried out in the city of Valencia and that offset their negative impact with action to promote and support sustainable agriculture, by offsetting their carbon footprint.
In this framework where the recovery of rice fields requires imagination and value contribution, HortiGO2 will channel not only the positive impact of events but also of companies committed to recovery such as EMIVASA, whose commitment to Irrigation Communities It also extends to the implementation of long-term solutions that improve your resilience against future extreme climate events.
Juan Luis Pozo, Director of Sustainability at Global Omnium, stressed the importance of this initiative: “All the actions that companies have to do to offset our negative impact, let’s do it in the territory with our farmers. Let’s help them and sponsor them to recover and have that capacity to respond in the future against new risks that they may suffer.”
The HortiGO2 agreement opens the opportunity for companies and municipalities in the Valencian Community to become green sponsors, actively participating in the financing of projects aimed at crop recovery in rice fields and not abandoning the lands.
This collaboration will allow participants to contribute directly to the restoration of natural spaces and strengthening local ecosystemsplaying a crucial role in the recovery of agriculture in the region. “L’Albufera needs a lot of help because it has served as a sponge to suffer less impact,” said Antonio García Celda, Director of the European Green Capital 2024.
In addition to restoring rice fields, the agreement seeks transform Valencian agriculture into a more resilient model against future climate threats. During this process, practices that protect the natural environment and promote the sustainability of the agricultural sector will be consolidated. Luis Blanch, President of the Acequia del Oro, highlighted the benefits of the agreement by stating that they are making progress in preserving the landscape, as well as guaranteeing adequate weather and atmosphere.”
La Acequia del Oro has joined the HortiGO2 project of Global Omnium, who through this project reinforce their environmental commitment and social in order to mitigate the negative environmental impact. In this case they will help the recovery after DANA of the rice fields of La Albufera.