- CM sees value in Barcelona’s Mercabarna model
Bhopal, – Madhya Pradesh is looking to revolutionize its agricultural sector by potentially adopting the comprehensive model of Mercabarna Barcelona’s renowned food logistics hub. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, currently on an official visit to Spain, expressed keen interest in integrating Mercabarna’s best practices to enhance post-harvest management and export systems, crucial for the state’s burgeoning agricultural output.
On the third day of his productive visit, Dr. Yadav toured the sprawling 250-acre Mercabarna facility, a leading European center for integrated food production, storage, processing, and distribution. His observations confirmed the potential utility of such a model for Madhya Pradesh. Pablo Villanova, CEO of Mercabarna, warmly welcomed Dr. Yadav, highlighting the strong prospects for cooperation between India and Spain in areas like agricultural logistics, food processing, and market infrastructure. Villanova conveyed Mercabarna’s particular interest in Madhya Pradesh and agreed to explore future bilateral knowledge partnerships.
From farm-to-fork: Embracing global best practices
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav lauded Mercabarna’s adherence to “farm-to-fork” models, robust cold chain systems, stringent quality control, traceability, and food safety standards. He announced plans to incorporate these innovations into Madhya Pradesh’s developing mega food parks, agribusiness clusters, and rural industrial centers. Dr. Yadav also closely examined Mercabarna’s operational food bank, its impressive zero-waste management system, and its incubation model for food-tech startups, noting that these initiatives would bolster Madhya Pradesh’s innovation-driven agricultural policy.
Inviting investment for export potential
Dr. Yadav emphasized Madhya Pradesh’s immense potential for exporting wheat, rice, fruits, vegetables, and processed foods. He articulated a vision inspired by Mercabarna, aiming to significantly reduce post-harvest losses and produce goods that meet international quality benchmarks. Extending a direct invitation, the Chief Minister urged Mercabarna’s management to invest in Madhya Pradesh, affirming the state’s readiness for global partnerships, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ethos of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family). The state government, he added, is actively promoting private sector participation and technological investment in the agricultural domain.
