The Association of Organic Producers of Galicia (Proecogal) has requested "urgent measures" to face the consequences of the drought and high temperatures in organic farms. Among the proposals they put forward is the temporary authorization of the use of dry grass or conventional local fodder to compensate for the reduction of available organic food.
In a statement, the organization details that the scarcity of pastures and fodder is causing the reserves planned for winter to be consumed earlier than expected. This, they emphasize, forces many farms to turn to the market sooner than anticipated to ensure the feeding of livestock, "in a context of scarcity and generalized price increases."
In light of this scenario, Proecogal sees it as "essential" that the administrations "act now" and implement "exceptional mechanisms for an exceptional situation." Among them, they include the option to temporarily allow the use of dry grass or conventional local fodder in the farms affected by the lack of organic food.
The association clarifies that it would be a "very limited and specific" use of conventional food, "restricted to the current exceptional circumstances and always within the framework of European regulations." The goal, they emphasize, would be to ensure the proper feeding of livestock and the viability of the farms.
Proecogal intensifies efforts with the administrations
Proecogal has already held a meeting with the Regulatory Council of Organic Agriculture of Galicia (Craega) to present firsthand the situation that producers are facing. In turn, the council has conveyed the matter to the Galician Agency for Food Quality (Agacal), dependent on the Ministry of Rural Environment. The association considers it "fundamental" that both organizations act "coordinately" to articulate a response.
"From Proecogal we are knocking on all the doors that have responsibility to defend the interests of our members and, in general, of the producers in the organic sector. We will not stop insisting until measures are adopted that allow us to face this situation," the entity states.
The organization emphasizes that the immediate priority is "to make decisions before the reserves are completely depleted." At the same time, it demands to advance in a specific adaptation plan for the Galician ecological sector to drought and episodes of extreme heat, in order to strengthen its resilience against future adverse climatic episodes.