Portal de Cartagena
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Carob is one of the less abundant plant species in the region, but which, however, retains more CO2 and, therefore, better combat climate change.
With the intention of promoting the cultivation of carob it has been organized at the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT), the Fourth Conference for the promotion and improvement of cultivation carob, which has participated the School of Agricultural Engineering of Cartagena, Entity Land Stewardship Conservation Garbancillo Tallante (ECUGA), the City of Cartagena and the Garrofa Innovative Enterprises (EIG).
During the conference, the technical coordinator of Innovative Companies of Garrofa, Joan Tous, recalled that in the 50s planting carob in the field of Cartagena "was very important", a situation that changed a decade later when he replaced this type of intensive agriculture, ie vegetables and fruit trees irrigated.
"There are now very few carob and should be more because it is one of the species most retained C02 and that is very important to mitigate climate change," he says.
Currently, in the region carob occupies about 1000 hectares, which result in crops ranging from 1000 to 3000 tons.
In the Campo de Cartagena, between 40 and 50 productions between 12,000 and 15,000 tonnes were obtained.
According to the expert, these days are interesting for society to know the environmental benefits of such trees, which not only produce but retain CO2 "and this benefits society because it will have a better standard of life."
In order for farmers in the region are encouraged to implement these crops, innovative companies in the Garrofa will launch an experimental plot in October near Almendricos, Lorca.
Tous reports that this action and are developing in areas of Catalonia, Valencia and Mallorca and now there is a lorquino take advantage farmer interested in planting carob to launch the pilot in the region.
One of the advantages that say they have the carob is that you can carry out a part-time farming.
They argue that there are many farmers with farms, but work in the city, so they can not spend too much time on the land they have.
"The carob tree is not like the artichoke, for example, if you take it today, you can do tomorrow or the next day and will remain as well," he says.
A problem of the sector is the lack of nurseries and grafted plant.
At this point, Tous reports that since its organization have reached agreements with the sector so that the farmer can get grafted plant at competitive prices.
A healthy product
Commercially, Tous ensures that found "many interesting molecules from the point of view of health."
In fact, it stresses that pulp can be obtained fiber and is a good antioxidant, it is also useful to reduce cholesterol, prevent heart attacks and for diabetics has been found that the carob has some sugars which reduces blood glucose.
"His future I see more in food than in the animal," he says.
At the conference, which was attended by 70 people, they have been addressed other issues such as disclosure of the latest farming techniques, evaluation of agronomic performance of varieties of carob and environmental applications and potential of the fruit (carob or garrofa) in the confectionery and food industry.
Furthermore, it has been able to taste some food processors with roasted carob flour, such as cakes, muffins, chocolates, ensaimadas.
At the inauguration attended by the rector of the Polytechnic University of Cartagena, Alejandro Diaz Morcillo, director of the School of Agricultural Engineering of Cartagena, Arantxa Aznar, and the Councillor for Agriculture of the City of Cartagena, Obdulia Gomez.
Source: UPCT
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