The Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Neiker-Tecnalia, and Basque Water Agency, URA, have signed a cooperation agreement to undertake joint actions in conservation and recovery of water resources in the Basque Country. The agreement is valid until December 2012 and be extended by agreement between the two parties.
The specific objectives of the agreement are investigating the contamination of surface and groundwater, conduct monitoring of the effects of restoration of coastal and inland wetlands and the restoration and bank protection. The collaboration also includes actions aimed at primary sector, such as studies of the irrigation needs of crops, the identification of good irrigation practices and the study of soil erosion resulting from forestry and water condition at . Finally, the two organizations will share technical resources and personnel to perform water analysis and other elements.
The parties will work together to protect ecosystems, landscape and plant and animal species, and improve the quality of environmental resources. The collaboration between URA Neiker-Tecnalia and set out in the framework of the policy of the Department of Environment, Planning, Agriculture and Fisheries of the Basque Government, which aims to promote sustainable development in the BAC.
Water resources are closely related to the activity of the primary sector, which Neiker-Tecnalia is fully committed to improve productivity and competitiveness. Similarly, the objective of this technology center to meet the quality requirements of the food processing industry, with distinctive products and general consumer. Neiker-Tecnalia has the most advanced technological infrastructure and more specialized staff to develop its activities in its two business units: Agricultural Innovation and the Environment and Natural Resources.
Basque Water Agency, meanwhile, aims to carry out the policy of water in Euskadi. The main lines of action of the Basque Water Agency are addressed in the following ways: improving the ecological status of water bodies of the Basque Country, universal supply in sufficient quantity and quality, the result of the consolidation plans and effective administration of the resources. Another objective of URA is cooperation in international efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals on water.
Source: SINC
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