Spain’s ‘Almeria agro model’ coming to Qatar

Qatar is set to adopt Spain’s time-tested ‘Álmeria agro model’, converting desert into an intensive production area of vegetables and fruits using cutting-edge technology, as part of the country’s ongoing efforts to make Qatar ‘food secure’.
Almeria, the south-eastern province of Spain is the European area with almost similar climate of Qatar.
Once an arid land, today, with 50,000 hectares of greenhouses, Almeria is the most important intensive production area in the world, as well as the largest supplier of vegetables and fruits to Europe, Spain’s ambassador to Qatar Ignacio Escobar said yesterday.
“Discussions are progressing to adopt the Almeria model to at least 200 hectares in Qatar. We have the solution to ensure the future of agriculture in Qatar by providing sustainable financial returns, cost competitiveness, increased annual production cycles reduced production items and high productivity quality”, Juan Carlos Santiago, COO, Forestaria told The Peninsula, while speaking on the sidelines of “Matchmaking event with AgroQatar.”
Forestaria, is one of the active members of ‘AgroQatar’, an alliance of Spanish companies for agribusiness development in Qatar. This consortium proposes a new generation of greenhouses adapted to the Qatari climate, based on the knowledge and the technology developed by Forestaria for five years in and for Qatar.
AgroQatar brings the experience in the agricultural business and Spanish agro-industrial capacity to ensure the success of farms in Qatar.
This consortium proposes a new generation of greenhouses adapted to this genuine climate, based on the knowledge and technology developed for 5 years in the country.
This proposal points out a productive system designed exclusively to meet the challenge of agriculture in Qatar,optimising all the parameters that determine the profitability of a farm. The Spanish solution is the most advanced, efficient and adapted integrated system able to produce throughout the year a variety of crops with the highest quality and in the most sustainable and cost-efficient way in Qatar.
The Almeria model is the most successful model of intensive agriculture in arid climates worldwide has been developed, implementing the most advanced systems of production, logistics, processing, distribution, marketing, traceability and food safety.
“The Almeria productive system is designed to meet the challenge of agriculture in Qatar and to optimize the parameters that determine the profitability. “Our greenhouses are equipped with systems of cooling, irrigation and ventilation that allow a comprehensive managing of the crop at all times. Our productive system is the most advanced, efficient and adapted fully integrated system capable of producing throughout the year in Qatar a variety of crops with the highest quality in the most sustainable and cost-efficient way,” Juan said.
Miguel Angel Fajardo, Economic and Commercial Attache, Embassy of Spain, said FIEM, a public financial instrument which belongs to the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce of Spain can support exports of goods and services and direct investment coming from Spanish companies.
“Since Qatar is a priority country for Spain, the instrument is available for the Qatar investors, both public and private. The projects have to be studied in a case by case basis. Once a project receives a positive assessment, the financial support will be extended after the final approval by the FIEM Committee and the Council of Ministers of Spain.”