Regional Study Area
The Spanish regional study area extends from the Ebro delta area to the Parc Natural de l’Albufera. The regional study area is situated on the Spanish Mediterranean coast covering from Tarragona to the south of the province of Valencia, and is one the main rice cultivation areas of the country.
Local Study Area
The local case studies for Spain will be conducted in selected farms of the Sueca and El Palmar rice district. The area is situated in the south of Valencia. It has been the cradle of rice cultivation in Spain and its introduction is attributed to the Arabs in the eighth century. The special conditions of flooding that exist around the lake and its shallow allowed agricultural transformation for the cultivation of rice.
The lands occupied by the cultivation of rice amounts to 16,000 ha, which is the area that has remained stable in recent years. Since the crop is reserved only for land suitable for it, that area will not be ever increased. Thus the spirit of booking only for rice swamps, where other crops are not possible, has survived to our days.
The selected farms belong to farmers that potentially will collaborate with ERMES activities providing local expert knowledge and assessing ERMES products and services. The guarantee granted by the Regulatory Board of Designation of Origin “Arròs de València” warrants that rice with this stamp has been produced in accordance to tradition.
Spanish Study Areas – Light blue line encloses regional study area (from southern Tarragona to Valencia); Red line encloses the local study area (Albufera natural Park).