The Community of Madrid is going to offer free training to 1,500 professionals in the agricultural field in forest soil regeneration, through the Madrid Institute of Research and Rural, Agricultural and Food Development (IMIDRA). To this end, it has scheduled 60 courses and transfer days for this year that will be held in different municipalities of the region.
Among the new features of the 2026 program is for the first time the course "Animal traction in forestry work," aimed at training professionals in the use of animals to carry out certain tasks in the mountains. According to the Community, this technique helps to reduce environmental impact, facilitates access to difficult areas, and promotes safer management against fires.
This training action will take place in Puebla de la Sierra from November 3 to 8, with a total duration of 48 hours, as detailed by the Madrid government in a statement.
IMIDRA also adds to the program the course "Introduction to landscape bioengineering to combat erosion and stabilize soil," scheduled in La Hiruela between November 11 and 13, with a total of 20 teaching hours. It will address practical content to halt land degradation through vegetation and natural materials, with the aim of protecting slopes, recovering ecosystems, and strengthening the resilience of agricultural spaces.
The training planning also includes actions aimed at the modernization and digitalization of farms. The course "Agricultural marketing with digital tools, social networks, and e-commerce," lasting 20 hours and in face-to-face format, stands out. Each participant will design a digital marketing plan tailored to their farm, and it will include modules with concepts on the use of Artificial Intelligence applied to the sector.
Among the other proposals are courses on aromatic plants and essential oils, shepherd dogs, olive cultivation in the Community of Madrid, pruning and management of the olive grove, as well as the production and tasting of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO).
IMIDRA also provides training that allows obtaining essential licenses to carry out certain professional tasks, such as the application of phytosanitary products.
In total, the program offers 1,500 places during 2026 for the different activities that will be developed in various municipalities of Madrid. The purpose is to support agricultural workers and promote the modernization of the agricultural sector through training, knowledge transfer, and innovation in rural areas.
The details of the courses, along with the requirements and the registration procedure, can be consulted on the institutional portal of the Community of Madrid.
The program is funded by the regional government through IMIDRA, within the framework of the Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy (PEPAC) of Spain-Community of Madrid 2023-2027, and has the co-financing of the European Union through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.