Have you wondered what the origin of the food that arrives on your table is? The history of what we eat is often unknown. Carrots, for example, were not always orange. They were originally white and were grown for their leaves and seeds, like parsley or coriander. Its current color comes from two recessive genes that favor the accumulation of carotenoids, the same compounds that give the tone to many fruits and vegetables. The first colorful varieties appeared more than a millennium ago in Central Asia, and farmers bred them to produce the modern orange carrot centuries later. It is believed that the Dutch popularized it in honor of William of Orange, making it a national symbol. Curiously, its triumph was not just political: this version is also the most nutritious and rich in vitamin A, essential for eyesight. During World War II, the British even spread the myth that eating carrots allowed you to see at night to hide their new technology, radar.
This curiosity, as well as other different activities (such as soil workshops, experiences to extract DNA from seeds, nutrition workshops and tastings) can be discovered at Expo Sagris, the Sustainable Agriculture and Livestock Exhibition, organized by Ifema Madrid in collaboration with the Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture (ALAS). Its first edition, which bears the motto Where land, technology and people embrace each otherit will take place from 6 to 8 November at the capital’s fairgrounds. The event was created with the aim of bringing the countryside closer to urban citizens and enhancing the role of the agri-food sector in society. “This event seeks to show in a pedagogical and demonstrative way the origin of food, the work behind its production and the importance of sustainability in all its dimensions: economic, social and environmental,” says César Marcos, coordinator and communications manager of ALAS.
The initiative, inspired by the Paris Agricultural Show, aims to consolidate itself as an annual event that contributes to improving the perception of the rural world and strengthening the link between producers and consumers, explains Marcos. “For three days, Madrid will become a meeting point between farmers, breeders, cooperatives, institutions and citizens, with an informative approach that will allow us to understand firsthand how the products that arrive on the table are grown and prepared,” adds the representative of ALAS, a group of entities from the sector (Asaja, Coag, UPA, Cooperativas Agroalimentarias de España, Fepex and National Association of Agriculture for the Conservation of Living Soil).
The show will address the different forms of agricultural production that coexist in Spain – conventional, integrated, ecological and biodynamic -, explaining the characteristics and methods that each uses to maintain the balance between productivity and respect for the environment. The exhibition space will have more than 2,000 square meters, 38 exhibitors and multiple demonstration areas. Practical activities, workshops and talks will take place that will allow visitors to learn about processes such as the extraction of olive oil in a working oil mill, the cultivation of fruit and vegetables in a greenhouse, the conservation of agricultural soils or the application of artificial intelligence in agriculture. One of the main objectives of the event is its educational nature and its proposal for dialogue with the new generations.
“Schools and institutes will come because we want younger people to understand the origin of food and the values of the sector. That when they go to buy, they know how to recognize how a tomato is produced or how a calf is raised in Galicia,” says Marcos. Although it is not a trade fair, the fair will constitute a meeting point between all the links in the agri-food chain. Interprofessional oil, milk or meat operators will participate, but also suppliers of seeds, agricultural technology and institutional representatives, including the Ministry of Agriculture and various autonomous communities. “We don’t want to confuse the visitor with the brands. The important thing is the representativeness of the entire sector”, underlines the expert.
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The fair also aims to awaken vocations, showing the training and employment opportunities in the agri-food sector and in the related industries. Marcos underlines that the primary sector is fundamental for territorial cohesion. Likewise, it represents the second largest contribution to the national GDP and was the only economic sector that recorded a surplus in the trade balance last year. The sector employs almost 800,000 people (3.6% of national employment) and Spain’s useful agricultural area amounts to over 23 million hectares, with approximately 900,000 agricultural holdings.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) will be the main sponsor and programming pillar. Their participation focuses on three key areas: the Cultiva program (training trips for young farmers), the forum Being a farmer and breeder is profitable (debate on management models and feasibility) and the workshop against food waste (promotion of conscious habits). Additionally, the fair is sponsored by Cajamar and McDonald’s.
Expo Sagris will be a space for innovation and agricultural technology. Technology Plaza will be the epicenter. Projects such as Go DronSafe (safe application of plant protection products with drones) and the ENIA chair of the University of Córdoba, which will present the progress of artificial intelligence and sensors applied in the field, will be presented. Asaja and UPA will complement these activities with essential conferences on sustainability, digitalization, green economy, family farming and rural women’s leadership. The program will also include the promotion of agri-food training and scientific debate on biotechnology.
Visitors will be able to participate in product tastings (such as wine, oil and meat) and unique practical experiences, such as a journey inside a greenhouse. The event will conclude with the presentation of awards, including the McDonald’s Big Good Awards and the UPA Sustainable by Nature Awards. “The event aims to sow collective commitment to a food system that is sustainable, safe and essential for common well-being,” concludes Marcos.
