Under the theme ‘Cultivating a Sustainable Future’, the 5th CASI-UAL Business Sustainability Conference was held, focusing on the practical application of sustainability in agricultural production. Following a day dedicated to equality, this conference gathered a high-level panel of experts, merging the efforts of academia and the private sector with the support of administrations such as the Regional Government of Andalusia and the Almería City Council.
The opening was attended by José J. Céspedes, rector of the University of Almería; Antonio Bretones, president of CASI; Aránzazu Martín, territorial delegate for Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development of the Regional Government of Andalusia; and Antonio Urdiales, councilor for Environmental and Energy Sustainability of the Almería City Council. Participants included figures such as Gabriel Trenzado (Agri-food Cooperatives of Spain), Manuel Pimentel (former Minister of Labor), José Miguel Mulet (Polytechnic University of Valencia), and Luis Manuel Navas (University of Valladolid).
Rector Céspedes highlighted the synergy between the UAL and CASI in advancing the horticultural sector, an economic pillar of the province, aiming for greater well-being for all involved and society. He praised the work of CASI as a leading cooperative in tomato production and commercialization, thanking them for creating debate spaces for sector improvement.
Céspedes emphasized the strategic role of the UAL in knowledge generation, research, and innovation, as well as its collaboration with companies. He noted that the agri-food sector is part of the UAL's DNA, recognized among the best universities globally.
Antonio Bretones, president of CASI, expressed pride in the cooperative also being a benchmark for sustainability, aiming for this practice to be natural and not result in lower production or profitability. He advocated for integrating it into daily operations for progress in all aspects.
Diego Valera, a professor at the UAL and president of the Andalusian Academy of Agriculture, explained that the conferences aim to provide concrete solutions for increasing sustainability and competitiveness, calling to 'ground the concept' beyond mere slogans.
Former Minister Manuel Pimentel commented that modern agriculture extends beyond cultivation, encompassing ideas, ideals, and binding laws, with changes in technology and the Western ideological context.
Aránzazu Martín, from the Regional Government of Andalusia, defined the Almería model with the words 'cooperativism, innovation, and sustainability,' highlighting its leading role environmentally, economically, and socially.
Antonio Urdiales, from the Almería City Council, reaffirmed municipal support for farmers and the importance of these conferences for Almería to remain a benchmark in Mediterranean agriculture, driven by innovation, productivity, and environmental sustainability.
