Migros is stepping up its involvement in Spanish strawberry cultivation. Together with WWF Switzerland, the Swiss supermarket chain is launching a project for environmentally friendlier and more socially acceptable production methods. 
Image: Migros
The economically important strawberry industry in the Spanish region of Huelva is the livelihood of thousands of people. At the same time, strawberries are grown in the area of the Coto de Doñana National Park, an ecologically important region of wetlands and an UNESCO World Natural Heritage area. It provides habitat for over six million migratory birds and is home to several rare bird species. However, intensive agriculture - including strawberry cultivation - has led to an 80 percent drop in water inflow into the wetlands. To protect the area, to which the WWF has been strongly committed for decades, Migros and the environmental organization have now launched a joint project.
Over 70 measures taken
By introducing exactly 74 separate new measures, the sustainability of strawberry cultivation is to be improved step by step over the coming years. The following priorities were defined: water management, pesticides, soil management and social projects.