The Doñana Natural Area in south-western Spain is a vital ecological region, known for its biodiversity and as a key habitat for migratory birds, including the Dutch national bird, the Black-tailed Godwit (Grutto). Doñana is also a major hub for soft fruit production, closely linked to Northern European trade and consumption, including in the Netherlands, making its sustainability a shared concern. However, the region faces challenges such as groundwater overuse, climate change, and pollution, exacerbated by agriculture and tourism.
Recent research by Wageningen University highlights regenerative agriculture as a promising long-term approach to balance productivity, ecosystem restoration, and habitat preservation. This initiative aligns with the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture’s food systems approach, fostering sustainable practices and collaboration to protect Doñana’s ecological and economic future. The sections below will explore how regenerative agriculture and multi-stakeholder collaboration can address these challenges in Doñana.
Beeld: © LAN team Madrid / LAN team Madrid
Ecological and economic importance of the Doñana Natural Area
The Doñana Natural Area, located in south-western Spain, is considered one of the most important protected natural areas in Europe. The region is renowned for its rich biodiversity which serves as a vital habitat for migratory birds, including the Dutch national bird, the Black-tailed Godwit (Grutto), as well as endangered species such as the Iberian lynx.
Doñana is characterized by unique ecosystems, including marshes, dunes, and forests, and lies along one of the main migratory routes for birds travelling between Europe and Africa. Thanks to its mild climate, water availability, and fertile soils, the region has also become one of Europe’s leading hubs for soft fruit production like strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries, much of which is consumed and traded in Northern Europe.
Environmental and socio-economic challenges in Doñana
In recent years, however, soft fruit production around the park - alongside tourism, climate change, and pollution - has become a growing concern due to excessive groundwater abstraction. These concerns have resulted in legal disputes, including an infringement procedure initiated by the European Commission in 2014. These complex socio-economic and environmental challenges such as those in Doñana require a coordinated, multi-stakeholder approach in which all perspectives are taken into account.
In 2024, the LAN team in Spain began collaborating with the Water Roadmap Collective Action Project (WRAP), delivered by Good Stuff International (GSI). The involvement of the LAN team extends well beyond ecological concerns alone. Soft fruit production in the Doñana region is directly linked to Northern European trade and consumption patterns including the ones of the Netherlands. The impact of soft fruit production on the region has caused controversy among NGO’s and these countries pleading for a consumer boycot.
Regenerative agriculture as a solution for Doñana’s challenges
Over the past year, a tangible contribution has been a research conducted by Wageningen University offering insights on the potential of regenerative agriculture in soft fruit production to balance productivity and sustainability. The outcomes of this research were presented in November during a workshop held in the Doñana.
Beeld: © LAN team Madrid / LAN team Madrid
Researcher Angel de Miguel Garcia of Wageningen University & Research, sharing key findings of research during workshop
Key findings from Wageningen University’s research
During the workshop, the key findings of the research were shared with local stakeholders by researcher Angel de Miguel Garcia of Wageningen University & Research. Applying regenerative agriculture within intensive production systems such as soft fruits present significant challenges, making this research a valuable contribution to knowledge development and to the multi-stakeholder approach required for addressing complex issues.
The main conclusion is that regenerative agriculture should not be seen as a quick or flawless solution for the soft fruit sector in Doñana. Rather, it represents a promising long-term approach aimed at ecosystem restoration, enhancing the sector’s reputation, and creating new market opportunities, implemented through targeted and gradual measures.
The research identified several opportunities. Growing interest in European markets offers potential for market differentiation, alongside opportunities to apply regenerative practices within soilless production systems. These factors could become important drivers for further knowledge development and for strengthening collaboration between growers, institutions, marketers, and governments to integrate this model into the broader Doñana action framework. The full research report is available.
Beeld: © LAN team Madrid / LAN team Madrid
Alignment with broader sustainability goals
Through this study, the LAN team in Spain has contributed a building block to the knowledge development on environmental and socio-economic challenges of the European food chain, particularly in relation to soft fruit production in the Doñana.
This commitment to sustainability will not only help protect this valuable ecosystem but will also strengthen the long-term viability of the sector, in line with the food systems approach of the Dutch ministry of Agriculture.
Sources: Europa.eu / Wrap.ngo / Goodstuffinternational.com / Inspanje.nl / Wur.nl