In the context of general scarcity of water resources and climate change, technology is emerging as a tool to improve management and efficiency and fight against drought. The decision was reached today by trade associations, agri-food companies, managers and the board brought together by Cajamar at a 'Water Dialogues’ forum held at the company’s conference hall in the capital Malaga. .
The first interventions were made by Eduardo Baamonde, president of Cajamar; and José Luis Bonnet, President of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce’s Insight Foundation, highlighted the work being carried out through the Cajamar Innova project, in which both companies participate, and which is helping to accelerate many companies. Technology transfer in water matters.
„In Spain there is knowledge, but to a large extent they are micro-enterprises, accustomed to installing systems from other regions according to their agro-climatic needs. They have not been able to develop that knowledge and turn it into their own technology, so, together with Incyde, the technology brings people information, needs and solutions. We created this incubator in a place that is a common place of exchange, and we help turn this idea into an object. Company. , with a business plan, „explains Eduardo Bamonte.
For Cajamar’s president, the small size, typical of Spanish companies, is a problem that prevents them from having innovation and development departments. Hence the importance of Public-Private Partnerships to overcome this deficiency through collaboration. „If knowledge is shared by them, let them see it again as nourishing and multiplying.” „There is talent and knowledge in Spain, but there is a lack of companies that can catalyze it into a business, so it is lost or sold.”
Another key to digitization is the ability to provide more information to the enterprise with platforms like Tierra, where tools and initiatives for innovation, research and results are freely available to the entire agri-food community. According to him, acquiring knowledge is not only important, but it can be transferred and not confined to a few organizations. „At Kazamar we are well aware that we are a lever for knowledge transfer at all levels, because we need to find solutions to the biggest challenges, such as population growth.”
Food as a strategic factor
At this point, the head of Kazamar warns: «Food is going to become a strategic element; In Spain we have a lot of opportunities, we are the fourth country in the European Union in agricultural food production, we have the opportunity to reach greater heights as long as we improve knowledge and change it, think with long lights. Medium and long-term, because „we live more in the current situation, we create knowledge ecosystems with economic, environmental and social sustainability.”
For his part, José Luis Bonnet highlighted the alliance between Kazamar and the Insight Foundation to design Kazamar Innova as „a revolution”. It is part of a national network of 21 hi-tech incubators, in which more will soon be created, even in empty Spain, with the support of European funds and the cooperation of city councils and provincial councils. „Technology transfer” is possible. , in matters like water and blue economy.
Initiatives like these, according to Bonnet, contribute to the „structure of Spain” because of their networking. „We need to get into people’s heads the importance of R&D&I with partnerships and public-private collaboration.” This is without looking at the digitization of SMEs, which comprise 99% of Spanish companies, supported by next-generation funds. To date, more than 300,000 SMEs have accessed digitization, and according to their calculations this will reach one million next year. This is the first step on the path towards the internationalization of SMEs, where the Chambers president highlights a strong increase in exports.
Group view
Ramiro Angulo, the General Secretary of Water of the Board, intervened on behalf of the Autonomous Administration, who assured that there is no water problem in Andalusia, large flowing resources, for example, in Cádiz and Huelva, „rather a management problem.” As for Málaga, the Andalusian government is working on projects to exploit the resources of the Rio Grande; A desalination plant is planned in Aksargia to artificially recharge aquifers with surpluses from the Verde and, above all, use reclaimed water that is „more efficient than desalination” because it has less power consumption. „Desalination plants should be our nuclear power plants,” he commented regarding their strategic position. Another key element is controlling leakages, as „obscene amounts are lost in some municipalities.”
At this point, he broke a spear in favor of Andalusian agriculture, which, in his opinion, was „too competitive.” “We can grow because we have the resources, but we cannot grow until we solve the infrastructure and governance issues”, through the use of technology, unity and integration. Among other tools, he mentioned the Platero nanosatellite, which will allow information on irrigation in each area, and „farmers will be monitored through technology.”
On the other hand, Angulo was realistic about the drought situation: „We have water for less than a year, only for a few months in some areas, and we have to ask the citizens for additional efforts because all areas are in an emergency; „The situation is very critical, in some places, worse than the meta-drought of ’95. .” And he concluded: “In the next drought, after 20 years of inactivity, we are working in the board so that Andalusia does not experience this again.” “Irrigation and municipalities, the board and the government must each act within their competence.”
Among the speakers was Pedro Simon, technical director of the Sanitation and Sanitation Institute of the Region of Murcia. Domingo Zarzo, president of the Spanish Desalination and Recycling Association. as well as businessmen Rafael Sánchez de Puerta, general director of TiCoop; Enrique Colles, general director of Traps; General Director of PTA Felipe Romera and President of Soho Boutique Hotel chain Gonzalo Armenteros.