The second-tier cooperative and leading horticultural exporter in Spain, Unica Group, and the largest biotechnology center devoted to natural agriculture in Europe, Kimitec’s MAAVi Innovation Center, have signed a strategic collaboration agreement that will lead to MAAVi researching tailored natural solutions to obtain residue-free fruit and vegetable productions.
The ultimate goal is to provide the cooperative’s producers with the natural, efficient and sustainable tools needed to achieve the goals set out by both the European Union in its Farm to Fork strategy and the United Nations in its SDGs.
By 2030, the EU’s plan is to have reduced the use of chemical pesticides by 50%, the use of the most hazardous pesticides by 50%, nutrient losses by at least 50% without altering soil fertility and fertilizer use by at least 20%. These objectives are as ambitious as they are necessary. However, there is still no specific regulation to streamline the registration of biopesticides in Europe, so the prospect is that producers will run out of tools in the coming years.
According to Antonio Domene, vice president of Kimitec, “more than 14 years ago, Kimitec set out to become the alternative to chemical synthesis products in agriculture, with a focus on natural productivity, consumer health and environmental protection.” And although there are still many problems for which there is no natural solution available that is as effective as the chemical synthesis tool, he says that “in the coming years, we will see the disappearance of many chemically synthesized active ingredients, which is why these private research partnerships are so important.”
Diego Calderón, deputy director of Unica, said that “this research agreement with MAAVi Innovation Center and our commitment to sustainability are strengthening the link with our customers, which is our main objective and what is allowing us to continue growing steadily over time.”
Both companies are committed to creating the right environment to make the healthy and sustainable choice the easy choice, as well as to guarantee the supply of healthy, affordable and sustainable food, fight climate change, protect the environment and preserve the biodiversity.
Source: diariodealmeria.es