The Environmental Fair in Tàrrega, organized by the Department of Economic Promotion, commenced today, Thursday, in the capital of Urgell. The event, part of the Bio Week initiative by the Generalitat de Catalunya, will offer four days of activities for the public, with a special focus on natural environment conservation, sustainability actions, and local agroecological food.
The inaugural professional conference, titled ‘Biodiversity and Territory: Reality, Limits, and Future’, took place at Mas de Colom ─ Casa Borges. It featured a keynote by Fernando Valladares, an expert in ecology and plant biology, followed by a panel discussion on the challenges of responsible agriculture. Participants included Mireia Cañellas (Department of Territory, Housing, and Ecological Transition), Elena de Carandini (Fundació Comunitària Raimat Lleida), Anna Gras (X_Agritech), and Francesc Reguant (College of Economists of Catalonia). The event was closed by the Councilor for Economic Promotion, Jaume Vall.
Concurrently, educational activities are being held in local high schools. The citizen science project Ritme Natura, facilitated by researchers from the Centre de Recerca Ecològica i Aplicacions Forestals (CREAF), teaches secondary students to analyze the effects of climate change on biological cycles using the iNaturalist application to record observations of fauna behavior.
In the afternoon, at the Palau dels Marquesos de la Floresta, an exhibition of decorative pumpkins by farmer Rafa Alegre (Gimenells) was inaugurated and will be open throughout the weekend. This venue also hosted a tasting and pairing of autumn products by Montse Fabrés (Davantal Net de Gluten), paired with artisanal ratafias from Arrels de Retrassia.
The Biblioteca Germanes Güell will be another venue, hosting a workshop on the environmental footprint of mobile phones on Friday the 16th, led by Ramon Oromí (gòTIC). Additionally, the cooperative Som Energia will hold a session on 100% renewable electricity.
On Saturday the 17th, Plaça del Carme will host the ECO and KM-0 Products Fair-Market, featuring 37 exhibitors. Visitors can find agroecological food products, seeds, nature stories, and sustainable innovations like the BIOW device for homes. There will also be free community participation workshops, including the 'garden of the soul' with artist Ainoa Soler and a textile reuse workshop with Upcycled Cartaes, which has reportedly saved a million liters of water.
Other workshops will cover natural air fresheners, infusions, natural dyes, and spelt cookie making. The fair will also include children's games, craft workshops with recycled materials, a storytelling session, and the theatrical performance l’Ecopagès.
The collective Eixarcolant will present its ‘Singulars’ project, connecting Catalan agro-food producers with local shops, including a tasting of local products. The Tàrrega Agrarian School, through the IRTA Fruit Centre, will organize the 'Sustainable Diet and Plant Products' conference, featuring a tasting of different apple varieties from Ponent.
On Sunday the 18th, activities will move to Parc de Sant Eloi. The Agents Rurals (Rural Agents) will conduct a demonstration of their canine unit, perform the play 'l’Acampada de l’Oriol', and release recovered fauna. Rural agent Miquel Rodríguez highlighted that the play aims to raise awareness about responsible behavior in nature and its conservation.
The fair will conclude with a vermouth in the park, featuring products from the Paupaterres food truck and music by Arqué, the solo project of young Tàrrega musician Miquel Pascual.
