The Community of Madrid Promotes Local Agriculture with 55,000 Native Seedlings

An initiative to revitalise the Madrid garden

The Community of Madrid has launched an ambitious campaign aimed at preserving and promoting native varieties of vegetables, offering 55,000 seedlings to local farmers. This action seeks not only to rescue traditional flavours but also to promote agricultural sustainability in the region.

The seedlings come from the Germplasm Bank of the Madrid Institute of Rural, Agricultural and Food Research and Development (Imidra). Among the varieties to be offered this year are true gems of the Madrid garden, such as piel de sapo melon, Gordo de Patones tomato, and various types of peppers. This year, a new addition is being introduced: Chinchón white and purple onions.

With a notable increase compared to last year, 7,000 more seedlings will be distributed, reaching a total of 55,000 units. Prices remain affordable: melons, peppers and tomatoes will cost 0.27 euros per unit, while onions will have a special price of 0.04 euros per unit.

Those interested in obtaining these seedlings can make their reservation through the institutional website until 31 March. Collection will take place at the La Isla experimental farm, located in Arganda del Rey, from late April to May.

This is not the first time the Community has launched this initiative; it began in 2014, with the clear goal of recovering crops that had fallen into disuse or completely disappeared. So far, the bank has managed to gather more than 300 native varieties, many of which were on the brink of oblivion.

"80% of the reservoir is made up of seeds that began to disappear in the 1960s", explains the regional government. The choice by farmers for these varieties is not only a cultural decision but also a strategic one: they are better adapted to the local climate and require fewer inputs for their cultivation.

As this campaign progresses, it becomes evident that supporting local agriculture not only helps keep culinary traditions alive but also contributes to a more resilient agricultural model in the face of current climate challenges.