The Fundación Patrimonio Comunal Olivarero has generated unease among the municipalities of Martos, Montoro, and Porcuna following the announcement of the closure of two of its centers and staff dismissals. In response, a meeting was organized between representatives of the Foundation and local administrations to clarify details and future plans for the facilities.
The meeting was attended by the mayor of Martos, Emilio Torres; the mayor of Porcuna, Miguel Moreno; the mayoress of Montoro, Lola de Amo; the councilors for Agriculture and Heritage from Martos, Juan Pérez and Elena Molina, respectively; along with the Foundation's president and manager, Rafael Sánchez de Puerta and Iñaki Benito Otazu. The explanations provided by the Foundation did not convince the municipal representatives.
The mayors noted that the meeting, far from bringing clarity, has heightened their level of concern. Consequently, they have decided to urge the Foundation's Board of Trustees – which includes participation from the Spanish Government, the Junta de Andalucía, agricultural organizations, and sector companies – to urgently open a channel for dialogue. The objective is to protect these facilities, given their importance both for the local economy and their role in structuring the territory.
According to the mayors, the closure of the centers is justified by the economic losses of the Foundation, an argument they consider unfounded, particularly from the municipality of Martos. The mayor of Martos, Emilio Torres, announced that all necessary actions will be taken to protect the facilities, including initiating a protection file. The Foundation's facilities in Martos are located in an archaeological protection zone, and the aim is to prevent speculative urban development through the PGOU and the urban planning file, thereby prohibiting their closure or disappearance.
As background, on July 3rd, the municipalities of Montoro and Martos issued a joint statement expressing their discontent. They emphasized that the Foundation's decision signifies the disappearance of two historic centers linked to the Andalusian olive oil sector, affecting territories whose identity, economy, and development have been closely tied to olive cultivation.
The municipal representatives acknowledge the Foundation's management autonomy but stress that decisions of this magnitude should not be based solely on internal operational or profitability parameters. They must consider the strategic role these facilities have played for decades in serving the sector, farmers, cooperatives, and the rural community at large.
