One of the main objectives of ECAF and its National Associations is the transfer of technology of CA techniques to the agrarian sector. With this purpose different activities (seminars, field days..) are organized throughout all Europe.   ECAF also takes part in Congresses, seminars, workshops and fairs organised by other entities.
	For an outlook of the activities organised in the past please download the following document: ECAFActivities.doc

Past Activities                                                                          

I Hispano-American Seminar on Conservation Agriculture                    

The I Hispano-American Conference on Conservation Agriculture will take place on the Agramonte Farm, near the locality of La Almunia de Doña Godina, about 40 km from Zaragoza. It is a property of 700 hectares, of which 240 are dedicated to fruit trees, and the rest to herbaceous crops irrigated using pivots, mainly maize, wheat, peas and barley.

The farm has been practicing Conservation Agriculture systems for over 8 years  

     Cover Crop in perennial crops

§         No-Till in annual crops

     with spectacular results in terms of economic profitability, soil improvement and water conservation.

The 1st Hispano-American Conference on Conservation Agriculture  has a unique and innovative character. It combines a series of active workshops (theme stations) with a dynamic machinery demonstration. The objective being that the farmer receives first hand information, from the best experts, and participates actively.

• Training/technology transfer. The techniques of Conservation Agriculture, particularly No-Till, represent a completely new system for the farmer, in which he must adopt new techniques for crop establishement, fertilization, weed control, rotations, etc ; this adoption step requires a strong effort of technology transfer. In order to facilitate it, we will benefit from the presence of Spanish and Argentinian experts, most of them with over 20 years’ experience in Conservation Agriculture.

• Communication of environmental, agronomical and economical benefits. The conference will take place in the Agramonte Farm, where Conservation Agriculture systems have been in use for over 8 years. In site verification of the results will be possible.

• Knowledge of the suitable equipment. Conservation Agriculture systems require new machinery and inputs or new ways of using them. In Spain, the number of Conservation Agriculture machinery suppliers has considerably increased in the last years ; the event wil bring them together in order for attending farmers to compare all the current offer.

• Exchange of experiences. The presence of many farmers and agronomists already applying these techniques in diverse areas of Spain is expected.

• Exchanges between farmers and companies providers of solutions for Conservation Agriculture systems.

The conference is structured in several sesions, with the following timetable:

08.30 – 09.30 h. Reception of participants and handing out of     

                       documents

09.30 – 10.00 h. Main Tent. Inauguration of the Conference.

10.00 – 14.00 h. Theme stations.

14.00 – 15.30 h. Lunch and visit of stands.

15.30 – 17.00 h. Dynamic demonstration of No-Till machinery.

17.00 -  18.00 h. Main Tent. Conclusions and closure.

A space for commercial stands will be prepared which will be visited throughout the conference, where companies will be able to show their products suitable for Conservation Agriculture.

Theme stations.

These stations will be set up in different parts of the farm. The object is to analyze in each of them concrete aspects of the different systems of Conservation Agriculture. To facilitate the pedagogical process, those attending will be divided in rotating groups, allowing a more direct contact and a more active participation.

Station 1: The system of No-Till

Subject: System of No-Till. Benefits of the system and its environmental impact. Criteria on production strategies for different agricultural systems.

Speakers:

- Rogelio Fogante (25 years’ experience in No-Till. Pioneer in the dissemination of the No-Till system and responsible for various innovations that have achieved an improvement in agricultural productivity in Argentina. He produces over 20.000 has of crops under    No-Till in different agro-climactic regions).

- Alejandro Tapia (Abulac, pioneering farmer of No-Till in Spain.  He has been managing 500 has of annual crops under No-Till for the last 15 years)

Station 2: Conservation Agriculture Machinery.

Subject: Machinery for Conservation Agriculture and Precision Agriculture. All the right equipment a No-Till machine must have. Brief comments on exhibited equipment. Concepts of Precision Agriculture.

Speakers:

- Mario Bragachini (INTA Research Technician. Expert in precision agriculture and No-Till machines)

- José Luis Hernanz (Professor of the Madrid School of Agricultural Engineers. Specialist of No-Till machines)

- Jesús Gil Ribes Professor of the Cordoba School of Agricultural Engineers. Specialist of No-Till machines)

Station 3:  The importance of previous crop residue management.

Subject: Crop rotation and weed control in No-Till. Strategies of weed control in crop rotation systems.

Speakers:

- César Belloso  (Member of AAPRESID, consultant for agricultural businesses. Strategies of weed control in No-Till and crop rotations)

- Horacio Agüero (Founding member of AAPRESID, producer and consultant for agricultural businesses. Broad experience in crop rotation in warm regions)

- Cesar Fernández–Quintanilla. (Research Professor in the Environmental Sciences Centre. CSIC. Madrid)

- Vicente Bodas (consultant in Conservation Agriculture systems)

Station 4:  Maize, the “king of No-Till”.

Subject: Maize cultivation in No-Till after different preceding crops. Technology of crop production on top of pea residues and barley residues. How to achieve a good establishment of the crop. Aspects to consider to achieve a highly productive maize under No-Till.

Speakers:

- Jorge Romagnolli (Pioneer of No-Till in Argentina. Vice-president of AAPRESID. He manages 10.000 has, maize being one of his major crops)

- Germán Fogante (pioneer of No-Till, ample experience in management of No-Till crops in different regions and soil types)

- Juan Escribano (manager of the Agramonte Farm)

Station 5: No-Till and soil conservation   

Subject: Organic matter and soil recuperation. Fertilization strategies in Conservation Agriculture systems.

Speakers:

- Rodolfo Gil ( Researcher of INTA Castelar Soil Institute)

- Pedro González (Project Manager. Researcher for the Junta of Andalucía)

Station 6. No-Till and water conservation

Subject: Conservation Agriculture in irrigated systems. Soil structure and its relationship with water infiltration, storage and conductivity in the soil. 

Speakers:

- Eduardo Martelotto  (Specialist of No-Till in irrigation)

- Joaquín Gómez Aparisi (Aula Dei Researcher)

Dynamic demonstration of No-Till machines

The participating machinery companies (European, North and South American manufacturers) will demonstrate their machines at work, both in row and non-row crops, drilling/planting on top of wheat residues.

Documentation

To support and complement the conference, a field guide will be published and distributed to all participants with the following contents:

1. General characteristics of Conservation Agriculture systems

2. Most relevant characteristics of the farm

3. Description of applied techniques

4. Benefits of Conservation Agriculture on the farm

5. Presentations of the theme sessions

6. Description of No-Till planters taking part to the demonstration

To which will be added diverse publications edited by the conference organizers.

For inscription or more information, please contact Armando Martinez, e.mail

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