Mercabarna is to open the first market for organic produce in the whole of Europe in 2020, responding to the growing public demand for this type of produce as well as the marketing and distribution needs of wholesalers and local producers. Dubbed the ‘Biomarket’, the facility means an investment of 5 million euros and is to be built according to energy efficiency criteria. A ceremony was held today to lay the founding stone and plant a tree.
The new facility is in line with Barcelona being a signatory of the Milan agreement for a healthy and sustainable food model. This requires interest among the public, but also infrastructures which guarantee the sale and distribution of organic produce.
To this end, the Mercabarna Biomarket will have floor space of 5,180 m2 and 22 wholesale stalls, eighteen of them with 130 m2 of space and four with 57 m2. A direct sales section will also be set up, with space for eight small local producers of organic produce to use on a rotating basis.
Eco-building for an eco-market
According to barcelona.cat, the building has been conceived to cut energy consumption as far as possible, with elements for passive temperature control and lighting. The construction will use a pre-fabricated concrete structure and a lightweight cover with a serrated shape, supported by a wooden structure using wood from sustainably managed forests.