The Cabildo of Lanzarote has brought its agricultural system of jable and volcanic sands to the FAO headquarters in Rome, recognised as World Agricultural Heritage in 2025.
The Cabildo of Lanzarote, through the Economic Promotion and Environment departments, presented this Thursday at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, the unique agricultural, landscape and gastronomic heritage of the island. The event, titled "Lanzarote, the kitchen of ingenuity: the agricultural systems of jable and volcanic sands (SIPAM)", is part of the 30th session of the Committee on Agriculture (COAG), which brings together institutional representatives and international experts until July 24.
The initiative, promoted by Turespaña and the Spanish Tourism Office in Rome, gathered nearly a hundred attendees, including COAG participants and professionals from the Italian tourism sector. During the event, held in the FAO MuNe–Foods Lab space, it was shown how Lanzarote's natural conditions gave rise to unique farming systems capable of transforming water scarcity, wind, jable and volcanic sands into landscape, food, culture and identity.
In 2025, the FAO recognised Lanzarote as an Important Agricultural Heritage System for its agricultural systems in jable and volcanic sands. This designation incorporates the island into an international network of over a hundred agricultural systems and acknowledges farming methods based on knowledge accumulated over generations and adaptation to complex environmental conditions.
The president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Oswaldo Betancort, thanked the FAO for this recognition and emphasised that “the SIPAM is not just a distinction for Lanzarote, but also a commitment to the generations of farmers who have managed to turn the challenges of the land into knowledge, creativity and opportunities.” Betancort noted that the Cabildo's strategy aims to strengthen the primary sector and protect the island's identity through an alliance between agriculture, gastronomy and tourism. “This combination is helping to preserve our landscape, promote generational change, generate local economic activity and ensure that a greater share of tourism income remains and is distributed within the Island,” he added.
The deputy director of the FAO's Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment Office, Piedad Martín, highlighted the inclusion of Lanzarote in the global SIPAM network. Martín stressed that “SIPAMs are not landscapes frozen in time, but living, dynamic and resilient systems, where food production, biodiversity, traditional knowledge and cultural identity are deeply interconnected.” She stated that Lanzarote is an extraordinary example of adaptation to the territory, where farmers have developed solutions to conserve moisture, protect crops from wind and produce food in conditions of great aridity.
For his part, Spain's permanent representative to the FAO, Fernando Miranda Sotillo, highlighted that Lanzarote's designation allows for the international projection of an agricultural system that combines tradition, innovation capacity and efficient management of limited natural resources. He considered that the protection of these models must be accompanied by measures that ensure their economic and social continuity, supporting farmers, facilitating generational change and promoting knowledge exchange among the territories of the SIPAM network.
Representing Lanzarote, Samuel Martín from the Environment and Food Sovereignty Area of the Cabildo, emphasised that the recognition values a culture built around the land, knowledge passed down through generations and a way of producing fully adapted to the available resources. He explained that the crops in jable and volcanic sands are systems that must be preserved and strengthened to remain productive and have a future. He highlighted the need to support those who work the land, protect agricultural biodiversity, recover local varieties and encourage new generations to find opportunities in the primary sector. “The FAO designation represents a collective responsibility. It is not just about conserving a landscape, but about keeping alive a system that produces food, preserves knowledge, sustains our identity and reinforces the food sovereignty of Lanzarote and La Graciosa,” he added.
The head of Outreach and Promotion of the FAO Communication Office, Clara Vélez Fraga, valued the format chosen to bring Lanzarote's agricultural heritage closer to attendees. Vélez Fraga highlighted that gastronomy allows for the transfer of agricultural and environmental knowledge into a relatable, understandable experience that can connect with diverse audiences.
The presentation at the FAO marks another step in the Cabildo of Lanzarote's strategy to internationally promote its agricultural and tourism model, based on sustainability and respect for the territory. The island hopes that this recognition will boost gastronomic and agroecological tourism, attracting visitors interested in culture and the volcanic landscape.
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