The Catalan Agricultural Test Spaces Network (XETAC) is created to promote generational change and the continuity of the agricultural sector.

On June 16, 2025 , the Catalan Agricultural Test Spaces Network (XETAC) was officially presented in Passanant and Belltall (Conca de Barberà) . This initiative aims to promote the incorporation of new entrepreneurs into the agricultural sector and ensure the continuity of the peasantry in the region.

The presentation event, organized by the Association of Rural and Maritime Initiatives of Catalonia (ARCA) , was attended by the Regional Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food, Òscar Ordeig i Molist , and representatives of the entities promoting the project, as well as local authorities.

The day included a visit to the Passanant and Belltall agricultural test site, one of the 12 regional facilities created to support agricultural entrepreneurship in Catalonia. These sites are inspired by successful models developed in France and Canada and offer new entrepreneurs access to land, machinery, training, technical advice, and legal coverage for a limited period—one to three years—during which they can test their project with minimal financial risk.

XETAC is the first regional network of its kind in Spain. It is a non-profit organization that aims to represent and coordinate Catalan agricultural test areas, facilitate cooperation between them, and strengthen their presence in the region. Its challenges include contributing to the generational renewal of agricultural activities, promoting social innovation in rural areas, and supporting those wishing to start businesses in the agri-food sector.

Agricultural test spaces are proposed as a key tool against the sharp decline in the incorporation of young people into the primary sector, which according to the Agri-Food Observatory of Catalonia has fallen by 70% since 2015. In addition, these devices contribute to the diversification of the agricultural landscape , the preservation of cultivated biodiversity , fire prevention and adaptation to climate change , promoting a productive model based on small farms and territorial roots.

There are currently six agricultural test sites operating in Catalonia and another six in the process of being created, with different productive orientations such as extensive livestock farming and traditional crops, including Belltall garlic.

XETAC's mission is to coordinate these local initiatives, act as a collective voice within institutions, collaborate in the development of public policies for agricultural development, and establish synergies with national and international networks, such as RETA in Spain and RENETA in France.

The Belltall test site, an example of this model, has allowed entrepreneur Sven Rock to launch his agricultural activity in the area with the necessary support and without having to make large initial investments, thus contributing to the dynamism and resilience of the rural environment.