Meet MARÍA PICAZO ROLDÁN | Architect, farmer and agronomist.

We had the good fortune of connecting with MARÍA PICAZO ROLDÁN and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi MARÍA, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
I think the success of my career has been not being afraid to change things. The fact of seeing obstacles as opportunities to change or start over. At the age of seventeen I faced the first big change of my life, in a family of farmers and agricultural merchants, I decided to enter a new world, I began to study architecture. A tough career, with high workloads and very demanding. In six years of university career, I learned everything and nothing, and that is what architects are: a bit of an engineer, a bit of an artist, a bit of a plumber, a bit of a landscaper, a bit of an electrician, a bit of a carpenter, a bit of an urban planner… But above all, I learned to work as a team, to take a curious attitude towards life, to develop my creativity and to strengthen myself professionally, seeing each challenge as an opportunity and acquiring great problem-solving abilities.
I started working as an architect in 2012, the next challenge was to start when Spain was in an economic crisis, with the construction sector hitting rock bottom. Despite this, I worked in an architecture studio for 6 years, Arquinur, a studio with a great multidisciplinary team. A team of which I have very good memories, we carried out great projects such as the Bodegas Alcardet, in my hometown, Villanueva de Alcardete.
Over time, my family roots gained strength and it is that in this small town in Castilla La Mancha, the generational change is important to avoid depopulation. I felt the need to contribute to this society and decided to study a Master’s Degree in Agroengineering, specializing in irrigation and renewable energy at the University of Agronomists of Madrid. That Master’s degree led me to where I am today, working in agriculture. I left architecture in the background and despite not being my job now, I would study it over and over again. This has been part of my path and thanks to it, I learned to see the world in a different way.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
As I was saying, I returned to my hometown to work in agriculture and joined RIEGOS TDJ, a family business in which I am the third generation. I am lucky to learn every day from my father but also from a great multidisciplinary team with extensive experience. We work for farmers, we are specialized in the design and assembly of irrigation installations, solar irrigation, plantations, vineyard assembly… but we also work our own vineyard, almond, olive and pistachio crops. I believe that the success of this small company lies in the constant effort and commitment to sustainability, seeking long-term solutions and stability in the agricultural sector.
Farmers face the great challenge of producing more with less and that only happens through mechanization, technology, efficiency and sustainability. For this reason, our main objective is to serve all the needs of the farmer, saving costs, energy and water. We are leaders in drip irrigation installations. We were the first in the region to carry out buried drip installations, more than 25 years, maximizing efficiency in the use of water and energy. At the same time, the rise in the price of electricity and the need to increase the profitability of our crops has imposed the use of renewable energy. We carry out solar pumping installations giving a profitable, economical and very low-maintenance solution, guaranteeing the energy supply in a respectful and sustainable way.
We handle all efficient irrigation techniques: automation, monitoring, fertigation… We use intelligent irrigation systems, optimizing performance with the help of field sensors, georeferenced meteorology and satellite information. We interpret what happens in each crop by applying water and fertilizer only when the crop needs it, saving costs but also improving environmental sustainability.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If you come to my hometown, we would go to the first farmers’ cooperative in Castilla La Mancha that brings together three nuts: almond, pistachio and olive groves, CROPAV, which I helped found and of which I am especially proud. We would visit the Roman site of Segóbriga, we would take a guided tour with wine tasting at Bodegas Alcardet, we would have vermouth on the Pretiles, we would see a La Mancha sunset behind the Don Quixote mills and we would have dinner at the Casa del Preso.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I could not dedicate it to just one, because I believe that moving towards success is only possible by learning from everything that you find on the way. Without hesitation, I must remember my university days in Madrid, at the San Juan Evangelista College. I cannot imagine a better context in which to study a degree, living together in freedom with absolute respect. Almost twenty years later, I still have that small group of friends that you can always count on, from whom you always learn and brag.
To my tutor at the ETSAM-UPM in Architecture, Luis Pancorbo, for his professionalism and humanity. To Francisco Ayuga Tellez from the ETSIAAB-UPM, for listening to my crazy idea of studying agronomists as an architect, for giving me the opportunity to do it at his school. To Antonio Vela Vico, from Solener, where I was able to do the Master’s internship and take the first steps in solar pumping installations. And to Luis Juana Sirgado, my Irrigation Hydraulics tutor, thanks for believing in my project and laying the foundations of what is now my profession.
I cannot finish this answer without remembering my parents, with whom I learned not to have obstacles in my feminine gender, to walk safely, to fall and to always get up. My aunt, my sister, my grandmother and my partner, they close that circle of support, strength and unconditional love, thanks to which I feel full.

Website: www.riegostdj.com

Instagram: riegos_tdj_sl

Linkedin: María Picazo

Facebook: Riegos TDJ

Youtube: RIEGOS TDJ SL