Lanzarote receives prestigious FAO SIPAM award in Rome

Lanzarote officially received the United Nations’ SIPAM designation at a ceremony in Rome last week.

Lanzarote was the only Spanish territory to be honoured in this edition of the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s SIPAM award. The island participated with its own stand at the international event, showcasing its traditional farming systems, alongside quality produce grown in its volcanic soil.

The FAO highlights that the award distinguishes Lanzarote’s traditional agricultural system as “an exceptional example of balance between humans and nature.” It recognises the system’s ability to sustain life in a volcanic environment while maintaining a respectful and sustainable relationship with the landscape.

The island’s delegation in Rome was led by Cabildo President Oswaldo Betancort, who also serves as the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock. He was accompanied by Vice President María Jesús Tovar, the Minister of Landscape and Food Sovereignty, Samuel Martín, and the technical team behind the successful candidacy.

Betancort described the award as a pivotal moment. “SIPAM is not the end of a journey, but the beginning of a new era for traditional agriculture,” he stated. He characterised the international honour “not as a gift, but as the result of centuries of wisdom, effort, and deep love for the land. This event symbolises that recognition, but it is also a call to commitment. From now on, a new path begins. SIPAM is not a goal, it is a starting point to continue cultivating the future. And that future has a name: it is called generational renewal.”

Councillor Samuel Martín emphasised the award’s role in strengthening Lanzarote’s identity. “This SIPAM is an opportunity to strengthen the agricultural identity of our island, so that the world can learn about the wisdom of our farmers, their way of working the land and living with it,” he said. “Lanzarote shows that sustainability is not a fad, it is a living heritage that we continue to build every day.”