"We have been serving as intermediaries for some time to try to ensure that the transformation and processing of milk is done in Lanzarote," explained Councilor Higinio Hernández to this media on Thursday. Initially, it was considered to grant the operation of the factory to the AHOS livestock cooperative, but they have rejected the offer given the size of the business, which moves about 20,000 liters of milk per day.
As Hernández explains, the Cabildo has been sounding out private companies in Lanzarote from other sectors unrelated to the primary sector, given the lack of companies related to dairy products on the island. Apparently, the companies contacted are not interested in the business and the Cabildo has chosen to start conversations with companies from outside, even though "it hurts us that it is a company from outside," says Hernández, the one in charge of making Lanzarote cheese. Apparently, conversations with the company Maxorata, which already produces cheese from Fuerteventura, are progressing, as are contacts with the company JSP, which would be in charge of marketing the cheese produced.
The Minister of Agriculture is committed to investing in improving the facilities of the Agroindustrial complex to introduce the latest technologies in the cheese industry, instead of continuing to grant subsidies to farmers on the island for the transport of milk to Fuerteventura, where cheese is currently produced with rabbit milk at the facilities of S.A.T. Ganaderos de Fuerteventura. According to Higinio, "subsidies are a short-term fix, investment in the Agri-food complex would help Lanzarote's farmers to be more competitive." This same Thursday, the 2005 subsidies were approved, endowed with 6 cents for each liter of milk transported to the neighboring island.
From the Cabildo they affirm that they are waiting for the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of the Government of the Canary Islands to receive Inés Rojas and assume part of the necessary investments for the cheese factory. The company Maxorata has already made some initial recommendations in terms of technology and infrastructure, which according to Higinio Hernández will not involve a very high cost.
For the Councilor of the Cabildo, the desire of all is to "maintain our identity and our own brand of cheeses." He affirms that all the steps are being taken with the consent of the livestock sector and still does not give a date for the possible opening of the cheese factory because, as he explains, "it does not depend solely on the Island Council."
