Illa de Gràcia 3.0
Co-design
Illa de Gràcia 3.0
Transforming the Illa de Gràcia into a regenerative farm, empowering agricultural production, conservation and ecosystem services and continuing its legacy.
Illa de Gràcia is a farm with a strong historical legacy, located in one of the most ecologically valuable and climate vulnerable territories in Europe. The Ebro Delta in Catalonia, Spain is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, a Natura 2000 area and is included in the list of Wetlands of International Importance. The area is a frontier for climate change – especially vulnerable to coastal regression, subsidence and rising sea levels.
The project evaluates the design and feasibility of transforming the farm into a regenerative Living Lab, integrating agricultural production, ecological restoration, innovation and leisure uses, and becoming a model for the whole of the Ebro Delta.
About the project
The 130-hectare island of Illa de Gràcia lies in the middle of the Ebro river; over the years the estate has grown various fruits and vegetables, as well as producing milk and meat. Today, the predominant agricultural focus is on intensive citrus fruits cultivation. Despite this agricultural intensity, the island retains remarkable biological richness, especially on its banks.
The ambition is to transform Illa de Gràcia from an intensive, citrus-focused monoculture into a thriving, biodiverse regenerative farm. By replacing monoculture with a diversified, regenerative agricultural model, the island can rebuild its natural capital, strengthen ecosystem services, and generate resilient new livelihoods.
- The transformation is designed to connect directly to the Agrolimen Group’s value chains, making Illa de Gràcia a living demonstration of how regenerative production at farm level can feed into and reshape the wider food system
- This model will becomes a proof of concept for the Mediterranean and beyond, guided by the CBA’s 7 Principles for Regenerative Landscapes.
The project is supported by Agrolimen, and is carried out by the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance Advisors Ltd in collaboration with Nactiva, CTFC, Eurecat, and The Regen Consulting.
