La Conselleria de Agricultura, Pesca y Medio Natural has activated a new edition of the "Bonos de Producto Local" (Local Product Vouchers) campaign, designed to cushion the economic consequences that the war in the Middle East is having on the primary sector of the archipelago.
With an allocation of one million euros, the measure aims to boost the internal consumption of local food products and offer direct support to the producers of the Islands, as detailed by the Conselleria in an informative note.
The conseller of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment, Joan Simonet, together with the general director of Agrifood Quality and Local Product, Joan Llabrés, announced this Thursday the new call, which is launched at the same time that the BOIB publishes the bases for interested producers and operators to join the initiative.
"It is a concrete measure within the extraordinary response of the Govern to the economic effects of the war in the Middle East," Simonet affirmed.
The head of Agriculture emphasized that the primary sector is particularly affected by the increase in production costs, which is why tools with direct impact are launched. "They help producers, incentivize local consumption and strengthen the real economy of our islands," he added.
New edition with changes in the vouchers
This new call incorporates adjustments regarding the first campaign. The maximum limit per beneficiary person is increased from 60 to 100 euros, distributed in ten vouchers of ten euros, which can be used by applying one voucher for every 20 euros of purchase in participating stores and entities.
Likewise, the vouchers become nominative, with the purpose of ensuring a more orderly, transparent and balanced management of the available resources.
"In a moment of international uncertainty, we want every public euro to have a real impact on the sector," Simonet pointed out, who underlined that the campaign not only stimulates demand, but also strengthens the direct relationship between producers and consumers and contributes to keeping alive the agricultural, livestock, fishing and agrifood activity in Baleares.
The conseller highlighted that this action is part of the initial package of measures that the Conselleria deploys under the Decree-Law approved by the Govern.
In this regard, he announced that next week two new support lines linked to transport and investments in agricultural holdings will be presented, with the aim of giving continuity to the regional Executive's response and supporting the sector in the current context of rising costs.
The campaign is aimed at individuals over 18 years of age residing in the Islands, and the vouchers can be used at participating points of sale and establishments.
Agricultural holdings, direct sales points, fishermen's guilds, agricultural and agri-food cooperatives, food industries, producer associations or groups, and other businesses where local products are produced, processed, or marketed may join.
The Director General of Agri-food Quality and Local Product, Joan Llabrés, has emphasized the intention for this call to reach the largest possible number of producers and consumers, which justifies the increase in amounts.
"Local product is quality, proximity, and trust, and this campaign makes it easier for citizens to choose it in their usual shopping," he stated.
Only products that meet the definition of local
The initiative is limited to items that fit the legal definition of local product: agricultural products grown in the Islands; livestock products obtained in the archipelago; fishery, shellfish, and aquaculture products; foods with protected designation of origin, protected geographical indication, or geographical indication; transformed products made in the archipelago with local primary ingredients, and other goods linked to the primary sector and the territory.
As in the previous edition, the campaign is developed in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce of Mallorca, through an agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment.
Under this agreement, the Chamber is responsible for managing the campaign's digital platform, through which operator adhesion is processed, vouchers are activated, and the list of participating establishments can be consulted.
In this regard, the president of the Chamber of Commerce of Mallorca, Eduardo Soriano, recalled that the institution maintains its commitment to supporting and accompanying companies and producers on the island.
"This campaign helps bring local products closer to citizens and strengthen the activity of local farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and producers, a key sector for our economy and for the maintenance of the territory," Soriano indicated.
Calendar, website, and territorial distribution
Processing must be done through the website www.bonsproductelocal.com, from where operators can formalize their adhesion.
Subsequently, consumers will have the possibility to activate the vouchers and consult the participating points of sale. According to the established calendar, the registration period for producers begins this Thursday and will last for seven business days.
The activation of the vouchers by citizens is planned from June 4, while the redemption period will begin on June 8 and will extend until August 7, 2026, or until the available vouchers are exhausted.
The campaign has 909,250 euros in effective funds allocated to vouchers, which amounts to 90,925 vouchers of 10 euros each. In addition, the call incorporates territorial correction criteria to favor a balanced distribution among islands, with an increase of 30 percent for Formentera and 20 percent for Eivissa and Menorca.