Last Saturday 30 April was held in Vilanova de Meià (The Noguera) The presentation day of the initiative to recover the Catalan goat of the Montsec that is led by Slow Food Terres de Lleida with the support of different institutions.

The day, which was part of the Cultures Found project, had three different parts. The first included four presentations and a debate on the subject of native breeds and rural development. It was inaugurated the mayor of Vilanova de Meià, The Mr. Xavier Terré; The President of Slow Food Terres de Lleida, Joan Inglada, i, last, Diego Gamo Com A Representant of the Biodiversity Foundation, Main project funding.

The first paper was given by Antón Álvarez, Livestock and author of different books on the native races of the Principality of Asturias, who explained the processes of recovery of the sheep races Xalda, Cabra Bermeya, The Asturcón Horse, Gocho Asturcelta, Gallina Pita Pinta, purple cow, as well as culture, customs and territory to which they are linked. Álvarez emphasized the importance of native races for ranchers, because thanks to them a bond is renewed, often transmitted for generations, between race and pride of being a livestock. He also emphasized that in search of native breeds always appear evidence of his presence in the past, and it is almost impossible that there are no more pictures of 100 years old.

In second place, Martí Quintana, Ramader de la Catalunya Nord, He shared with the public his tireless work of conservation of the Catalan goat breed of Albera, which has allowed to avoid extinction in recent decades.

Next, Santi Álvarez, Researcher on Races Autòctones, He made a complete exhibition on the Caprine populations of the Principality detailed in the bibliography of the beginning of the 20th century, Special emphasis on the Catalan goat of the Montsec. Attendees could enjoy detailed explanations about the ancestral origin of the Catalan goat, its historical distribution, the description of the main features and causes that led to almost disappear in recent decades.

The last intervention was given by Carlo Petrini, Founder I President of Slow Food International, which emphasized the importance of agricultural biodiversity, claiming the involvement of restaurateurs and consumers (co -producers according to Petrini) through the purchase action. Also, alerted to gastronomic impoverishment associated with genetic erosion, As an example, the disappearance of the Agerolese cow race also associated with the loss of the authentic "Mónaco provolone", a traditional cheese from southern Italy.

In the subsequent discussion of the presentations, the exciting testimony of a retired shepherd from the Noguera Seca, who thanked the initiative and recognized the race as the one that populated this area in the past..

Corral visit and lunch with land products

The technical day already finished, The eighty attendees were able to visit the livestock farm that Slow Food Terres de Lleida has registered for the first phase of multiplication of animals and which aims to remove the population of Catalan goat from the state of technical extinction in which it is located.

To round off the act, A lunch was held at the Vilanova de Meià union premises, which was prepared by the chefs of the 'Km 0' network by Slow Food Catalunya: Enric Millà of El dien, Sergi de Meià de Mon wine, Mercè Camins de Casa Mercè, Ramon Gaspà of the Bridges, Joan Luque of El Celler dels Joglars and Núria Lucas de Negrefum. An unpublished cider from the Aran Valley from old reclaimed apple trees could be tasted, the vineyards found 2010, The Olive Oils found 2010 as well as the bastard of Torre, among other foods.

In lunch development, Carlo Petrini expressed his satisfaction with the real Slow Food spirit that breathed in the day and sponsored the first Catalan goat in Montsec, saying he would return next year to taste the milk.