Finca Astronómica and AgroSimbiosisLab: Where Science, Land and People Meet
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Some announcements are easy to make.
Others mark a moment where past decisions, long-term values, and future plans suddenly align — and you realize you’re standing exactly where you hoped you’d be.
Earlier this year, Finca Astronómica officially became part of AgroSimbiosisLab, a major regional project coordinated by the University of Murcia and supported by Fundación Biodiversidad, focused on the agroecological transition of the Mar Menor basin.
For us, this is not just a collaboration.
It is a recognition of a path we started years ago — and an opening into a much larger, collective effort.
As we write this article, we are preparing for our first workshop activities with a group of agronomists during an event in Cartagena IV Féria de le Biodiversidad Cultivada, marking another step in what we hope will be a long and meaningful collaboration.
A Visit That Confirmed the Direction
One of the highlights of the project so far was the visit of Professor José Mª Egea, Full Professor of Botany at the University of Murcia and coordinator of the project:
“AgroSimbiosis, a Living Laboratory for the Agroecological Transition of the Mar Menor Basin.”
During his visit, we walked the land together, discussed our systems, and shared not only what already exists at Finca Astronómica, but also where we are heading. These conversations matter. They are where science meets territory, and where theory becomes practice.
We are also proud to confirm that Finca Astronómica will be featured in the official AgroSimbiosisLab guide-book, alongside other initiatives contributing to tangible environmental and agricultural change throughout the region.
What is AgroSimbiosisLab?
AgroSimbiosisLab is designed as a living laboratory — not a metaphor, but a working model.
Its goal is to drive real agroecological transition in the Mar Menor basin through:
Soil and biodiversity restoration
Transformation of agricultural practices
Strengthening of local and regional food systems
Active collaboration between science, land managers and society
Rather than isolated pilot actions, the project creates a network of implementation sites, research institutions and territorial actors where solutions are tested, refined and scaled.
In short: this is about doing, measuring, adjusting and improving — not simply producing reports.
Project Scale and Institutional Framework
AgroSimbiosisLab operates at both a regional and national strategic level.
Coordinated by: University of Murcia
Scientific ecosystem: CEBAS–CSIC
Funded by: Fundación Biodiversidad (MITECO)
Duration: 2024–2026
Total budget: approximately €2,000,000
Public funding: approximately €1,800,000
The project is implemented through a selected network of sites and partners, chosen for their capacity to deliver real agroecological transition on the ground, with accountability, monitoring and long-term vision.
Being part of AgroSimbiosisLab means working within a framework of scientific rigor, territorial responsibility and measurable impact.
Why This Matters to Us — Personally and Professionally
When we arrived in this area five years ago, we fell in love with the Mar Menor — its light, its landscape and its fragile, unique beauty.
At the same time, it was impossible not to see how vulnerable it is, and how urgently it needs thoughtful, long-term care.
From the very beginning, Finca Astronómica was designed as a low-impact, regenerative project, integrating:
Off-grid energy systems
Responsible and efficient water management
Minimal-impact infrastructure
Deep respect for land, sky and biodiversity
Sustainability was never an add-on for us.
It was the foundation.
Eco-Food: A Transition Already Underway
Today, this philosophy naturally extends into food.
At Finca Astronómica, we are implementing an eco-food transition based on sourcing from local certified ecological farms, prioritising short supply chains and responsible production methods. Food becomes part of the same system as energy, water and land management — coherent, transparent and rooted in the territory.
This approach supports regional agroecological producers while reducing environmental impact and strengthening local resilience.
It is a first step — and an intentional one.
Looking Ahead: Innovation Within the Mar Menor Basin
Our collaboration with AgroSimbiosisLab is not static. It is designed to grow in scope, ambition and practical application.
As part of our long-term commitment to sustainability and environmental innovation, we are currently developing a new project within the Mar Menor basin focused on an unconventional challenge: the production of renewable energy through atmospheric water capture.
The concept explores the possibility of harvesting water directly from the air and using it within a gravity-based energy generation system. While still in the development and validation phase, the goal is to investigate whether such an approach could become a viable tool for increasing resilience in water-scarce environments.
If successful, the project could provide valuable knowledge for future adaptation and scaling, potentially benefiting other fincas, rural properties and off-grid homesteads facing similar environmental conditions.
Beyond the technology itself, the initiative reflects a broader objective shared by many of the projects within AgroSimbiosisLab: developing practical, locally adapted solutions that can contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future for the region.
We are excited to explore these possibilities and to share both successes and lessons learned as the project evolves.
Where Science, Land and People Meet
Finca Astronómica sits at an unusual intersection:
Astronomy and land.
Science and education.
Night skies and soil.
Being part of AgroSimbiosisLab allows us to strengthen that intersection — to show that environmental responsibility does not live in silos, and that caring for the sky and caring for the land are part of the same worldview.
Science needs land.
Land needs commitment.
And real change needs both.
We are proud to be part of AgroSimbiosisLab — and even more excited about what lies ahead.
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