Queen Letizia discovers the power of biological control
Sustainable agriculture is also something you experience firsthand. And that’s exactly what happened during Spanish Queen Letizia’s visit to the Cajamar Las Palmerillas Experimental Station in El Ejido (Almería).
Inside the experimental greenhouses, the Queen had the chance to discover one of the cornerstones of Almería’s agricultural model: biological pest control. A system rooted in natural balance and the use of beneficial insects to protect crops from harmful pests.
As she toured the facilities, researchers explained how this model works in horticultural crops such as tomatoes. There, the Queen observed the essential work of bumblebees from the Bombus terrestris genus, responsible for the natural pollination of flowers. Their activity is vital to ensure proper fertilization and produce higher‑quality fruit.
But they weren’t the only stars of the visit
The Queen also met one of the growers’ most important allies: Amblyseius swirskii, our very own SWIRScontrol. This tiny predatory mite, packaged in sachets that hang directly on the plant, plays a key role in the biological control of thrips and whitefly, two of the most common greenhouse pests.
Thanks to these natural enemies, growers can achieve optimal production with high quality and food safety.
The biological control model developed in southeast Spain is now an international benchmark. A shining example of how innovation, research, and collaboration between growers and technology centers are transforming the way we produce vegetables and fruits.
Queen Letizia’s visit sheds light on a farming model that is moving firmly toward the future, supported by science… and by the tiny allies working tirelessly inside every crop!
Photography: Javier Alonso, Diario de Almería