Context

Catalonia generates more than 60% of Spain’s pasta and semolina business and the Catalan company Productos Alimenticios Gallo SL is the industry leader. Given that durum wheat is not produced in Catalonia, this significant level of internal demand is met through importation. The project aims to create a productive and commercial framework to meet the internal demand for high-quality durum wheat, with the following advantages:
- For the producer: a new cultivation alternative with associated technological packages. These include recommendations concerning varieties and precision agriculture production, with agronomic practices based on latest-generation remote detection and sensor techniques that optimise irrigation and nitrogen fertilisation. Diversification of production and improvement of the economic and environmental sustainability of farms.
- For the industry: coverage of demand with local, high-quality production and full traceability. Integration of all the links of the pasta value chain, including the choice of variety, raw material production methods, the preparation of the product, and delivery to the end consumer.
- For the environment: cereal crop diversification, implementation of a production model designed to reduce environmental impact and the emission of greenhouse gases caused by goods transport.
The project (2019-2020) includes the following stages: 1) Identification of the best varieties, 2) Definition of innovative technological packages for sustainable production, 3) Establishment of a short distribution chain oriented to quality and sustainability, 4) Assessment of the environmental and economic impact of the production model, 5) Dissemination of the results to the sector.