How to become a fresh produce powerhouse - lessons from Spain

The Almería region in Spain is proof of what can be achieved when the whole agriculture sector stands united to work towards a mutually beneficial goal. Returning from a recent visit to the region, Lindi Botha reports on how farmers, researchers and banks have joined forces to become a major player in fresh produce production.

- Lindi Botha

The sea of plastic - that is how the Almería region in southern Spain is mostly referred to, referencing the greenhouses that span 33 000ha. It is indeed an awe-inspiring sight to behold, descending from over the mountain into the valley and at once having this gleaming landscape sprawled out as far as the eye can see. With the plastic sheets glistening in the morning light, one can hardly distinguish where the greenhouses end and the Mediterranean Sea starts.

The area under production makes up only 0,24% of the agricultural land in the EU. Yet its four million tons of fresh produce annually provides the union with 8% of its agricultural products, making up 24% of the EU's horticultural production value. Thanks to ongoing research to reduce water usage, farmers achieve this level of production using only 1,8% of the EU's irrigation water.

These are impressive numbers, yet the area has been marred by negative publicity, most notably focusing on chemical use, exploitation of foreign workers and plastic waste, earning it an oft-used description of 'the dirty sector'. However, a visit to this region quickly shows a very different picture, and one that can be held up as a success story of what can be achieved when an industry stands united.

A COLLECTIVE EFFORT