• The VIII National Fair for the Repopulation of Rural Spain, Presura 24, is being held in Madrid this time to explore urban-rural relations.
• The PAC Network set up its own stand to publicize the Network's functions and activities related to agricultural and rural development.

Urban-rural dialogue was the leitmotif of the 8th edition of Presura 2024 , the "national fair for the repopulation of rural Spain" organized by the El Hueco Foundation (Soria). This year, the fair was held in Madrid, at the Palacio de Cristal de la Arganzuela, in Madrid Río Park, from October 18 to 20. The reason for being present for the first time in the Spanish capital was to establish relationships between the urban and rural spheres, destined to understand each other, as they are complementary and interdependent spaces.

Since Presura has established itself as one of the largest and most important events for rural repopulation in Spain, each edition focuses on highlighting good practices in social innovation taking place in rural areas to reverse depopulation. Hence, its structure revolves around an agora with discussions on housing, employment, and rural entrepreneurship, and an exhibition space where rural exhibitors showcase their work to the public. A centerpiece of the fair is the " El Hueco starter " competition, which awards entrepreneurs whose business and social entrepreneurship ideas have contributed to the repopulation of rural areas.

The CAP Network set up its own stand within the exhibition area to showcase its work supporting the objectives of the CAP Strategic Plan in Spain ( PEPAC 23-27 ). Visitors could browse brochures, purchase Network merchandise, read the CAP Network magazine, Savia Rural , and view the program for the 7th "Cinema and Rural Women" Series, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food. The CAP Network shared the space with exhibitors from various sectors (Local Action Groups ( LAGs ), local associations, retailers and artisans, wine producers, and a wide range of representatives from the rural world).

Urban-rural dialogue

A wide variety of speakers participated in the Agora, discussing the connections between cities and towns. They held roundtable discussions open to the public and were able to interact with each other. Representatives from various associations (the Paisanaje Association, the Royal Cabaña de Carreteros de Quintanas de la Sierra (Burgos), the COPADE Foundation, the Association of Friends of Sarnago (Soria), etc.) participated over the three days, as well as prominent political and institutional representatives: Pedro Duque (Hispasat), Paco Boya (MITECO), Jesús Casas (Tragsa Group), and a large number of mayors from various localities.

The agora also featured cultural moments, with the presentation of Miguel Santesmases' film "Tierra Baja," a film shot in a village in Teruel and starring Aitana Sánchez Gijón. It will be released in 2025.

“El Hueco – starter” contest

The thirteenth edition of this competition was held at Presura on the afternoon of October 18 and 19. The prizes and awards given to the new rural entrepreneurs were as follows, among the 10 ideas submitted:

1. CESCE Award for the best rural entrepreneur in sparsely populated areas : Cristina Muñoz's "Entellus Pro" project, which aims to commercialize the "Tenebrio Molitor" worm as a sustainable food source, was awarded. For this project, Cristina received a prize of 1,500 euros, as well as a three-month incubation/acceleration process in El Hueco.
2. ENISA Award for the best social enterprise in sparsely populated areas : "Raíces del Cerrato" by Vanessa Urizarna. The project is dedicated to organic and sustainable agriculture. For this, she received a prize of 1,500 euros and a three-month incubation process in El Hueco.

The next edition of Presura is scheduled to take place in Pozo Sotón (Asturias) in 2025 and in Burgos in 2026.