Morocco Challenges Spain Agriculture Dominance

For decades, the "plastic market" in the Almería region has dominated Europe’s winter vegetable supply. With its 40,000 hectares of greenhouses – the largest concentration of its kind worldwide – this area produces approximately 40% of fresh vegetables consumed in Europe out of season. This ultra-productive system had relied until now on cheap immigrant labor and an exceptional climate, guaranteeing unbeatable prices for supermarkets. However, as reported by the EFE agency, this golden age is coming to an end.

On Bladi.net : Morocco threatens Spain’s vegetable exports with price war

The vertiginous increase in the minimum wage of more than 30% in five years has considerably increased the burden on Spanish farmers. Now, the sector faces head-on the fierce competition from Morocco, where labor costs are much lower. A major producer even testified to having replaced his bean crops imported from Morocco for a demanding Swiss retailer. But facing supermarkets refusing to pass on price increases, farmers’ margins are dangerously shrinking, threatening their economic survival.

On Bladi.net : Tomatoes: why Morocco is winning the price war against Spain

Beyond the wage challenge, hyper-regulation of health standards weakens Iberian production. Under pressure from increasingly food-safety-conscious consumers, the European Union has drastically reduced authorized active substances, dropping from 1,000 to approximately 500 validated pesticides. To maintain viable yields, farmers are attempting to turn to costly warehouse automation or betting on research, like the new Syngenta center dedicated to creating varieties naturally resistant to disease. Despite these initiatives, Spain lags behind in agricultural digitization.