A fundamental element of Catalan culture and society
Farming has been and is a fundamental element of Catalan culture and society. Over the years, farmers have been guardians of our territory, shaping the rural landscape. Beyond food providers, they have transmitted our deepest traditions, from harvest celebrations to ancestral techniques for working the land. All this legacy has forged our identity, setting the rhythm of the seasons and respecting natural cycles.
The challenges of Catalan farming
But today, the Catalan peasantry is crying out for survival. In recent decades, the sector has suffered a worrying decline. Globalization has flooded the market with cheap mass-produced products, mechanization has reduced the need for labor, and the abandonment of the countryside has left many rural areas depopulated. In addition, persistent drought threatens crops and administrative bureaucracy overwhelms farmers with paperwork.
The prices of agricultural products are volatile and often do not compensate for the hard work that goes into them. International competition is fierce and access to land is complicated by high prices. As if that weren’t enough, generational change is another of the great challenges; young people often do not see an attractive future in the countryside, looking for alternatives with less sacrifices and more economic benefits.
The consequences of the disappearance of the Catalan peasantry
The disappearance of the Catalan peasantry would have a devastating impact. The rural landscape would be degraded, biodiversity would be affected and many traditions would disappear, but the worst thing would be the loss of the cohesion brought by towns and agricultural communities. Catalonia would lose part of its identity, forged over the centuries by the sweat and wisdom of farmers.
Measures to ensure a viable future for farming
To ensure a viable future for farming, the challenges need to be addressed comprehensively. The fight against drought must be an absolute priority, and for this reason, investments in water infrastructure, research into resistant crops and sustainable management policies must become essential. Bureaucracy must be eased and generational succession must be promoted through training programs, access to land under favorable conditions and financial incentives for young agricultural entrepreneurs.
It is also essential to promote local and seasonal consumption. We must become aware of the importance of supporting farming, consuming fresh, organic and local products, which not only benefits health and the local economy, but also contributes to the sustainability of the environment.
The collaboration between farmers and students
Surprisingly, on this path towards survival, the Catalan peasantry finds unexpected allies: the Athenians and cultural associations. These entities, with a history also linked to the fight for the preservation of Catalan culture, have much in common with the farming world. Both sectors face similar challenges of devaluation and lack of resources, but they also share a fighting spirit and a firm commitment to the land and Catalan traditions.
Examples of collaboration between farmers and students
In Catalonia we have examples of how the Athenians and the peasantry have been united for more than 100 years. In the Plan del Penedès, at the beginning of 1900, the Agricultural Center was created and, in Vilassar de Mar, the Vilassarenc Cultural Center has an initiative to bring the small local products of the territory closer to its members. It is about the shared basket, a way of buying food for sporadic consumption in a group, where each of the participants sponsors a product and takes responsibility for the purchase and logistics process.
These are just two examples that demonstrate that the collaboration between farming and universities has also played a key role in facing the challenges of a changing world, and that both share the same commitment to continue fighting to ensure a sustainable future for the Catalan culture.