This was explained by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Sustainable Development, Carmen Crespo, who was proud of the innovation of the Andalusian countryside, to which the Polo of Technological Innovation in Agriculture Cita 4.0 of Andalusia, which will be based in Almería and in which "important steps are already being taken" as the Marketing Platform.

"Andalusia will have a tool that will allow it to plan agricultural production, a fundamental issue to advance in the search for a fair price for farmers for their product and their work", highlighted Crespo, who chaired the event in Madrid 'Discover the flavor of Andalusia at Fruit Attraction', organized at the institutional stand of the Board at the International Fair of the Fruit and Vegetable Sector (Fruit Attraction) 2021.

The head of Agriculture has valued that Andalusia begins its participation in this important event "showing that we are leaders in sustainability and flavor throughout the world" and has highlighted the 7.500 million euros that Andalusian agri-food exports have reached in the first six months of the year, “500 million euros more than last year”.

"This shows that the sector is more alive than ever," Crespo said, pointing out that now, in the de-escalation of the Covid-19 pandemic, "they need the support of public administrations." "The Junta de Andalucía is clear that it will continue to accompany a sector whose sustainable practices have to be recognized in Europe," he asserted.

In her speech, the counselor has claimed that the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) "represents us all" and contemplates that the agricultural practices that are being developed in Andalusia are "socially and environmentally sustainable".

"All the Andalusian agri-food sectors, and especially the fruit and vegetable sector, must have a specific weight in the new CAP and have market mechanisms that make it possible to avoid imbalances in the chain, fundamentally, in the field of prices", stated the counselor .

On the other hand, Carmen Crespo has affirmed that the Andalusian Government will work to “remove the brakes” as the Russian veto to "allow fruit and vegetables to export to this country and also be leaders in an area where, right now, Andalusia is not".

He also announced that, given the incorporation of 2.000 young farmers and ranchers to the beneficiaries of the aid aimed at this group, the Ministry will increase the incentives to "continue advancing in the generational change of the field" and in its support for women.

Likewise, the person in charge of Agriculture has highlighted that Andalusia is a leader in organic production and has pointed out that, from this autonomous community, "we are pending the entry into force of the waste law" that regulates the obligation of the extended responsibility of the producer.

"Meanwhile, Andalusia is already working on a traceability system" and, as Crespo explained, it has launched, in collaboration with town halls of the autonomous community, the White Commitment initiative to achieve the goal of zero waste in agriculture.

"We continue hand in hand with the sector, business organizations and agricultural organizations, and we listen to the sector every day", stressed the counselor before wishing "a good fair" to all the producers in Andalusia who have been encouraged to attend this international event that will be in Madrid until Thursday.