Coordinator of Farmers and Ranchers Organizations (COAG) Asturias has requested "dialogue and guarantees," along with a clear and accessible procedure, to reach a technical solution for the management of livestock and cheese waste in Cabrales. The objective is to ensure the continuity of the sector in the council, emphasizing that "ranchers and cheese factories need solutions to continue developing their activity, and the neighbors have every right to demand guarantees for their environment."
The agrarian organization has explicitly expressed its support for the concerns raised by the Regulatory Council of the DOP Cabrales after the meeting held on August 14, in which the body warned of the difficulties this issue poses for the survival of the activity. In this context, COAG has reiterated that "the position of the 'DOP Cabrales', which represents a sector of enormous economic and cultural importance for the council and for Asturias, must be part of any debate about the future of this activity."
At the same time, the agrarian collective has shown its respect for the concerns raised among the neighbors regarding the project proposed in the area, insisting that the protection of traditional cheese production must go hand in hand with the well-being of the local population. In this regard, it has reminded that "the defense of livestock farming and Cabrales cheese cannot be posed in opposition to the defense of the quality of life of those who live in Cabrales."
In light of this scenario, the organization has emphasized the urgent need for public administrations to attend to the citizens and introduce the necessary modifications to the project in order to address the social conflict and carry it out rigorously. It has also pointed out that the origin of the controversy lies in "the need to properly manage the waste generated by livestock farms and cheese factories."
Consequently, COAG Asturias has reiterated its commitment to a negotiated solution that avoids direct clashes between producers and residents, and has made a final call for collective understanding through "an agreement based on dialogue, transparency, and technical knowledge, avoiding closed positions in advance and, above all, avoiding pitting the primary sector against the population."