Lanzarote has been the protagonist at the FAO's First World Exhibition: From Seeds to Food, an international event held at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in Rome, where the island presented to the world its three traditional agricultural systems: the enarenados, the jable, and La Geria, all of which are recognized as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) by the FAO itself.
The Minister of Environment and Landscape, Samuel Martín, attended the exhibition where Lanzarote showcased these systems through its most emblematic landscapes and products such as legumes, potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, onions, and especially, gofio and volcanic Malvasia wines, grown on the characteristic rofe.
The Cabildo of Lanzarote recalls that it is the first European island to receive this recognition, and the sixth system in Spain, a milestone that underscores the environmental, cultural, and productive value of Lanzarote's agricultural model, based on sustainability, extreme adaptation to the arid climate, biodiversity conservation, and the transmission of knowledge from generation to generation.
The president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Oswaldo Betancort, highlighted the pride that the island is a global reference in sustainable agriculture. "In one of the driest areas of Europe, our ancestors were able to develop a unique agricultural system on the planet, and now in Rome we can tell the world that protecting this legacy is both a responsibility and an opportunity. Lanzarote is an international example of how innovation and respect for the territory can go hand in hand," he added.
For his part, the councilor recalled that next October 31, also in Rome, Lanzarote will officially receive the SIPAM recognition for its three agricultural systems. Martín emphasized "the environmental and social value of these systems. La Geria, the jable, and the enarenados are landscape, living heritage, resilience, and inspiration. They are a lesson in how to cultivate respecting the environment, taking advantage of water, and adapting to the climate. In a world affected by the climate crisis, Lanzarote offers real answers."
### Lanzarote, Featured at FAO Headquarters
Lanzarote's presence at the FAO's First World Exhibition: From Seeds to Food, held in Rome, is all the more relevant as it is an international event that inaugurates the World Food Forum and is part of the celebrations of the FAO's 80th anniversary, culminating in World Food Day on October 16.
This exhibition is a global platform that celebrates agricultural heritage and culinary traditions, while highlighting innovation, science, and new technologies in agricultural systems under the slogan "Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind." It has allowed Lanzarote to showcase the uniqueness and value of its traditional agricultural systems to experts, international delegations, and multilateral organizations. Being present on this global stage represents a recognition of the work of Lanzarote's primary sector and reinforces the island's leadership as a model of sustainability and adaptation in arid territories.
Participating in this international exhibition, with nearly 200 exhibitors and 140 countries from five continents, gives visibility to La Geria, the volcanic ash soil, and the sand-covered crops, and opens the door to new opportunities for cooperation, research, and institutional support from the United Nations and other countries interested in replicating these practices.
"That Lanzarote is at the FAO headquarters means that the world is looking at our way of cultivating, protecting the landscape, and innovating from tradition," Martín emphasized.
"The Cabildo of Lanzarote will continue to promote the conservation of these agricultural landscapes, convinced that they represent a living heritage and an inspiration for the future of sustainable agriculture on the planet," they conclude.