Por Redaccion 
The Council of Ministers has authorized this Wednesday the territorial distribution among the autonomous communities of five credits aimed at financing various lines of action in the agricultural and livestock sector, for a total amount of more than 30.2 million euros, with the aim of improving the competitiveness and quality of agricultural production and markets.
Specifically, the government reinforces its commitment to a «competitive and sustainable» agricultural sector, to promote various lines of action related to the beekeeping sector, plant genetic improvement, conservation of native breeds, control of milk yield, and support for agricultural production in the Canary Islands.
In this way, this proposal will be submitted for consideration at the next Sectorial Conference on Agriculture and Rural Development.
One of the most relevant funded lines is the Sectoral Beekeeping Intervention (ISA), included in the National Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023-2027, with a budget of more than 4.57 million euros, aimed at addressing the structural weaknesses of the Spanish beekeeping sector and strengthening its competitiveness.
The funding is structured under a co-financing scheme of 50% between the European Union and the Member States. In the case of Spain, the national 50% is divided between the Ministry of Agriculture (25%) and the autonomous communities (25%), except in the Basque Country and Navarra, which assume the 50% state share with their own budget.
Beekeeping aid is structured around seven types of intervention, including advisory services, asset investments, honey analysis, restocking measures, research, and promotion.
The goal is to advance in the professionalization of the sector, modernize farms, improve production and marketing systems, and open up new markets with high-quality products.
IMPROVEMENT OF PLANT VARIETIES
On the other hand, the line aimed at the quality of plant varieties and the certification of reproduction materials is funded with 1.752 million euros. This action allows for the execution of agronomic trials throughout the national territory to evaluate the behavior and agronomic value of new plant varieties, a prerequisite for their registration in the Plant Varieties Register.
Likewise, the certification system is maintained through quality, health, and traceability controls of seeds and nursery plants, to ensure their compliance with market requirements and their correct use by the agricultural sector.
A credit of 1.45 million euros has also been authorized for the promotion of Spanish native breeds, in support of breeder associations recognized by the autonomous communities. These aids allow for the management of pedigree books, the conservation of germplasm banks, and the development of genetic improvement programs.
This support focuses especially on breeds in danger of extinction, generally linked to extensive systems, which require specific support due to their peculiarities and as an essential part of the Spanish livestock genetic heritage. These breeds contribute to the sustainability of rural areas, fire prevention, and the production of quality food linked to the territory.
MILK YIELD CONTROL
Within the framework of actions to improve livestock farming, 1.45 million euros are allocated to the official control of milk yield. This action allows for the systematic collection of data on the production and quality of milk in bovine, ovine, and caprine farms, providing essential information for both the genetic evaluation of animals and technical decision-making by farmers regarding management, feeding, and selection of breeders.
The National Official Milk Yield Control Commission, composed of representatives from the Ministry, regions, and breeder organizations, ensures the coordination and uniform application of this system throughout the national territory.
POSEI IN CANARY ISLANDS
Finally, the highest allocation, 21 million euros, is allocated to the Community Program to Support Agricultural Productions (Posei) in the Canary Islands, as part of the additional national funds provided by the Spanish government through the General State Budget (PGE).
This national contribution complements European funding and aims to promote specific measures to address the structural constraints affecting agriculture in the archipelago, such as the distance from the continental territory, insularity, territorial fragmentation, complex topography, and economic limitations due to its geographical location.
The measures included in Posei are aimed at preserving the development and strengthening the competitiveness of traditional agricultural activities on the islands, promoting the production, processing, and marketing of local crops. In addition, it promotes the integration of producers into organizations, the maintenance of the rural socio-economic fabric, access to foreign markets, and the promotion of high-quality agricultural productions linked to the territory.