Transforming the Illa de Gràcia into a regenerative farm
A new project aims to evaluate the design and feasibility of transforming the Illa de Gracia farm in Catalonia, Spain into a regenerative Living Lab. The Living Lab will integrate agricultural production, ecological restoration, innovation and leisure uses, becoming a model for the whole of the Ebro Delta.
Illa de Gracia 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 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 130-hectare island of Illa de Gracia 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 time ago. 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.
Critically, this 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 becomes a proof of concept for the Mediterranean and beyond, guided by the CBA’s 7 Principles for Regenerative Landscapes.
The lessons generated here, from biodiversity recovery and climate adaptation to community engagement and economic viability, are designed to be transferable: a blueprint for how fragile deltaic territories can be reimagined as places of ecological renewal, social vitality and sustainable economic activity.
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. The CBA’s Chief Programmes Officer Talia Smith is part of the project’s Steering Committee, and the CBA’s Scientific Advisory Board chair Professor Bart Muys sits on the project’s Advisory Board.
