- The Government of Navarre has dismissed the appeal made by the City of Marcilla against the macro-cattle sector on the grounds that there is a final judgment of the Superior Court of Justice of Navarre. The Valle de Odieta intends to open the farm to 7,200 cattle and this town hall has called for the project to be halted because of the environmental damage it would produce.
The Government of Navarre has dismissed the City of Marcilla's prior request against the Integrated Environmental Authorization approved for the expansion of the Caparroso's cowboy, indicating that there is a "firm" court ruling that must be complied with "by court order", because it goes beyond the administrative scope.
In addition, the City of Marcilla called for the cessation of the expansion of the cowboy while an expert report clarifies the relationship between abnormal amounts of nitrate in groundwater and the cowboy. Nor has this demand been accepted by the foreign executive, as in his opinion it is not possible to demonstrate this relationship with a simple analysis of groundwater: "Only these data show that in aquifers there have been increases in nitrates in the areas studied, but not that this is due to the gallbladder."
The Department of the Environment of the Government of Navarra has acknowledged that there is "a problem" with nitrate concentrations in the Ebro and its margins, but it has required a "comprehensive study" to "take corrective measures".
The Valle de Odieta wants to double its size and extend it to 7,500 cattle in 2023 near the municipalities of Caparroso, Villafranca and Marcilla, next to the Bardenas. It is one of the largest macroins in Europe and has generated great concern both for the exploitation itself and for the management of the waste generated therein, especially in the surrounding villages. Members of the Marcilla Viva platform, for example, believe that it could damage the ecosystem of the Aragon River basin, as the cow purines will get there and have launched a collection of signatures.
As the project has been launched and the plans for extending the nursery have been put in place, judicial mobilizations and initiatives have been continuous. EH Bildu has taken the matter to the European Commission and the Government of Navarre itself has announced that it is going to sue the cooperative, which also wants to build a 20,000 head farm in Soria, because it considers that bad digestive treatment damages the environment.