
Spain: MAPAMA and FEBE collaborate to boost the spirits sector
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environment collaborates with the Spanish Federation of Spirits drinks to improve the competitiveness of the sector by signing a general protocol of action, which took place on March 1st. The agreement includes actions to promote sustainable growth and the internationalization of the sector, as well as the responsible consumption of these drinks. It also recognizes the opportunity to establish a stable framework for collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and the spirits sector.

The apple and pear of Catalonia surpass the quotations of the past campaign, by the descent of production in Europe
The selling prices of the apple and pear are above the prices of last season, due to the productive decline experienced by pip fruit throughout Europe during the current season. Despite the optimistic figures and the correct valuation of the campaign, the Managing Director of Afrucat, Manel Simon, affirms that "we must not get distracted and trust, but we must maintain this fluidity of sales to eliminate camera stocks" .

UNIÓ denounces the first cases of poisoning of bees by pesticides
LA UNIÓ de Llauradors has recently denounced the first cases of poisoning of bees that have been detected this year, as a result of the use of pesticides in the flowering of fruit trees, which is usually given from these dates. Thus, in the town of Cheste (Hoya de Buñol), a beekeeper has seen most of his dead bees and beehives practically without activity, which he had installed in a settlement very close to a fruit plantation. He has filed the corresponding complaint with the Civil Guard Barracks of this town of La Hoya de Buñol and now it is the Seprona who investigates the event.

FIMA reaffirms its international leadership, exceeding 240,000 visitors
FIMA 2018 has been confirmed as a benchmark in agriculture 4.0 and international fairs of machinery for the agricultural sector, after a day of closure that shows the quantitative and qualitative leap experienced by this event. As the president of Feria de Zaragoza, Manuel Teruel, explained at the inauguration, FIMA has given way to a show that is at the forefront of the international market in terms of advances and development of agricultural machinery.

The T7.225 AC. of New Holland, best tractor in Spain in FIMA 2018
For the second consecutive edition, the International Fair of Agricultural Machinery has received the "Tractor of Spain" award, one of the most awaited awards by professionals in the sector. A recognition of national prestige that, in the same way as FIMA, aims to encourage the development of Spanish agriculture. On this occasion, the concrete model that has been raised with this recognition is the New Holland T7.225 AC. The professional jury has valued "its great versatility, its efficiency, the renewal of its engine and its harmonious design".

AGRAGEX expects 2017 to close with a 10% increase in Spanish exports of agricultural equipment
AGRAGEX, the Spanish Association of Manufacturers-Exporters of Agricultural Machinery and its Components, Greenhouses, Crop Protection, Irrigation Systems, Livestock Equipment, Animal Health and Nutrition, Forest Machinery, Biomass and Post-harvest; On February 21st, it released information on the Spanish export of agricultural equipment during the last financial year. With official data available only until November 2017, and totaling exports worth 2,127,949,081.08 €, the association estimates that the year will close with a 10% increase compared to 2016, in which, moreover, only an increase of 2.95% had been achieved compared to 2015.

FIMA shows its full potential in its 40th edition
With the 40th edition of FIMA, which takes place from February 20th to 24th, the Aragonese capital becomes, in the words of the President of Feria de Zaragoza, Manuel Teruel, "the world leader in the agri-food sector". A market that has once again shown its confidence in Feria de Zaragoza and FIMA, International Fair of Agricultural Machinery.

The Spanish agri-food sector continues to pull strongly on exports, with a rise of more than 7% in 2017
The Spanish agri-food sector continues to pull strongly on exports from the Spanish economy, with an increase of 7% in 2017, reaching 47,236 million euros. One of the data that has been released during the course of the Conference, held on February 13th in Madrid by ESADE and the LAFER Foundation, The external agri-food sector in 2017: basic data, challenges and opportunities. Among the main conclusions of this debate is the fact that although our country continues to maintain its export strength, it still fails to create value. In fact, this issue together with the diversification of markets and digitalization are the main challenges facing the agri-food sector in the field of export.

The 40th edition of FIMA will feature King Felipe VI at its inauguration
King Felipe VI will inaugurate, on February 20th, the 40th edition of the International Fair of Agricultural Machinery, FIMA 2018. The show, which is held until Saturday 24th, has the presence of more than 1,550 exhibiting firms and occupies the eleven pavilions of Feria de Zaragoza. It will be the second time that the monarch visits FIMA, since he already did it in 2014, when he was still Prince of Asturias. Then he received the FIMA gold badge from the president of Feria de Zaragoza, Manuel Teruel.

The VI National Forum of Rural Development, one of the highlights of the Technical Conference of FIMA 2018
The professionalization of the agricultural sector will be the axis of the FIMA 2018 Technical Conference. Within the framework of these, one of the most important events of the program of this edition will be held, the IV National Forum of Rural Development, which will be held on the days 20th and 21st February. With these Technical Seminars, FIMA maintains its ongoing commitment to improving agricultural activity, working to improve knowledge and provide added value to the sector.