• CIHEAM Zaragoza is part of the organising committee for the 10th National Rural Development Forum, which will take place on 10, 11 and 12 February 2026.
• The Forum will address rural development in the new international context and will be held within the framework of the 44th edition of the International Agricultural Machinery Fair (FIMA) in Zaragoza.

A Tenth Anniversary with Strategic Vision

In its tenth anniversary, the Forum addresses the theme "Rural development in the new international context", taking a comprehensive approach to the major challenges and opportunities facing the agrifood sector and rural areas. Throughout its different editions, the Forum has developed topics of greatest interest to the sector: from rural development and cooperation between stakeholders, the relationship between urban and rural sectors, the incorporation of young people, new agrifood challenges, professionalisation of the sector, training in innovation and digitalisation, all within a framework of environmental and economic sustainability.

This edition is configured with current and attractive content, responding to the global and national scenario in which we find ourselves, essentially characterised by geopolitical uncertainty, regulatory changes, technological transformations and the need for more just, sustainable and inclusive development.

Four Major Lines of Debate

The work programme of the 10th Forum is structured around four thematic pillars that address the most relevant issues for the future of rural areas:

1. Geopolitics of Agrifood Systems

At a time of growing global uncertainty, the geopolitics of agrifood systems is positioned as a strategic issue of the highest order. This technical session will analyse how food security is conditioned by international tensions, market volatility and dependence on essential inputs from abroad.

This situation presents complex dilemmas for agricultural production, particularly regarding the balance between commitment to sustainable local production and the need to compete in a global market that constantly pressures prices and challenges sector stability. European regulations, designed to guarantee high standards in product quality, face the challenge of harmonising with international competition that does not always play by the same rules. In this context, trade agreements acquire fundamental relevance, as they determine the conditions of market access and the degree of food sovereignty of each territory.

2. Taxation in Rural Areas

The economic dimension of rural areas has a direct reflection on their development. This line of work explores taxation as a tool to promote rural development, analysing the possibility of applying differentiated regimes that favour the agricultural sector and the most depopulated territories.

The experiences of other European countries show that there are ways to strengthen the local economy through well-designed tax incentives, capable of improving living conditions and fostering greater territorial equity. In this regard, the question is raised of how to address the major economic challenges facing the agrifood sector, especially in a changing and demanding environment.

3. Living Conditions and Equity in the Rural World

This session delves into key issues such as the role of women in rural development, female leadership and innovation in agricultural entrepreneurship. New territorial cohesion strategies will be explored, with special attention to the European Generational Renewal Strategy, which seeks to attract and retain young talent in rural areas.

Social dialogue and active participation of all stakeholders in the governance of the agrifood sector are essential to build a more just and resilient future. Among the major challenges are access to land and credit, the barriers faced by new farmers and the phenomenon of land grabbing.

Migrant labour, often invisible, plays a crucial role both in agrifood production and in the revitalisation of rural environments. Within this framework, the family farming model is championed as the backbone of a modern, efficient, digitalised and competitive agricultural system. Digitalisation, understood as a transformative tool, must be accompanied by a genuine digital culture that facilitates farmers' adaptation to the new times, always in line with the framework of the CAP.

4. Technology Agenda, New Technicians and Technologies at the Service of Rural Areas

The forward-looking perspective is completed with the Technology Agenda, which focuses on new technicians and emerging technologies at the service of rural areas. These professionals, called upon to support those who will take the reins of farms, play an essential role in guaranteeing the sustainability of the rural environment and facing the changes ahead.

Their work will enable the quantification of impacts and precise evaluation of the effectiveness of applied measures, especially in key areas such as the agroenergy transition, land use, sustainable water management or resilience to climate change. Innovation, advanced mechanisation and digitalisation are presented as the pillars of more efficient and sustainable agriculture, capable of responding to present challenges without compromising the needs of the future.

A Consolidated Space for Reflection and Dialogue

The 10th National Rural Development Forum is consolidated as a reference space for debate on the future of the agroindustrial sector and rural development in Spain, bringing together the main stakeholders in the sector to reflect on current challenges and jointly build solutions for a more prosperous, equitable and sustainable rural environment.

All information and free registration here: https://coiaanpv.org/forodesarrollo/#inscripcion