Urzante Leads Second Round of Funding for Sustainable Agro-Industrial Innovation in Spain
The Spanish Ministry of Industry and Tourism has approved provisional funding for 34 new projects under the second call of the PERTE Agroalimentario programme, amounting to nearly 25 million euros. These grants are distributed across ten autonomous communities and serve to reinforce the strategy of the government aimed at modernising and improving the competitiveness of the domestic agro-food sector.
Urzante, a notable player based in Tudela, Navarre, has emerged as a flagship project within this funding round. The company is set to receive 2 million euros to implement innovative and sustainable energy sources in their oil production processes. This initiative underlines the commitment of Urzante to energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact, positioning it as a sector leader in technological innovation and sustainability.
Besides Urzante, other recipients include La Rentilla in Montilla with 2.7 million euros, Danone in Aldaia receiving 2.5 million, Panaderia Milagros Diaz in Illescas with 2.3 million, Destilerias Manchegas in La Roda obtaining 2.1 million, Cárnicas Cinco Villas in Ejea de los Caballeros with 1.7 million, and La Charcuteria Alemana in Barcelona granted 1.1 million. These investments target the modernisation of production lines, energy efficiency, and sustainable practices, illustrating the programme's role as a catalyst for industry transformation.
The first phase of PERTE Agro allocated 182 million euros across 286 projects involving 224 companies, while the current phase has approved nearly 98 million euros for 138 projects. In total, the programme now has over 279 million euros committed in subsidies. These investments aim to support both large corporations and strategic small and medium-sized enterprises, especially those integrating sustainability and technological advancement in their operations.
Overall, the PERTE Agro programme underlines the efforts of the Spanish government to foster innovation, promote energy transition, and reinforce the competitiveness of the sustainable agro-food industry through strategic public funding. These initiatives pave the way for a greener, more efficient, and resilient future for the sector, aligning with broader European objectives for decarbonisation and industrial modernisation.