Jornada Espacios Test Agrarios 12 diciembre Betxi Castellón

The Jornada sobre Espacios de Test Agrarios, held on 12 December in Betxi (Castellón), gathered 65 stakeholders—including cooperatives, local action groups, and municipalities—to explore innovative agricultural models addressing generational succession and rural depopulation. Organised by Red PAC (Ministry of Agriculture) and RETA, the event highlighted test spaces as structured, multi-phase frameworks supporting new farmers through public-private partnerships. Key themes included legal and governance models integrating local administrations, universities, and agro-food enterprises, with regional examples like Cooperativa Falset-Marcà (Tarragona), Fundación Cooperado (Cáceres), Haztegia (Urkiola), Zunbeltz (Aragón), and ALEKO (Vitoria-Gasteiz) demonstrating success in generational transfer, youth engagement, and decarbonisation. Five Navarre municipalities showcased how test spaces drive rural development and attract population. Challenges such as legal ambiguities for 'testers' and the need for integrated physical, legal, and technical support were identified. RETA’s Laura Megías discussed evolving models inspired by international frameworks, while Sebastià Mata called for legislative reforms to ensure long-term viability. Contact: Red PAC, Ministerio de Agricultura, [address and email].