Agricultural & Fisheries Policy: EU Strategies & Spain's Sector Evolution

Objectives of Agricultural Policy

• Modernization of farms to increase productivity.
• Achieving self-sufficiency in basic agricultural commodities.
• Ensuring moderate prices for agricultural products for consumers.
• Guaranteeing a fair standard of living for farmers.

Key Decisions in Agricultural Policy

To achieve these objectives, several key decisions were taken:

• Subsidies for basic food production.
• Restrictions on imports from non-EU countries to ensure fair market prices for domestic products and support farmers.

EU Agricultural Subsidies Today

Yes, the European Union continues to provide agricultural subsidies. However, these subsidies are primarily directed towards:

• Promoting environmentally friendly farming techniques.
• Supporting rural development initiatives.

Agricultural Landscapes in Europe

There are two typical agricultural landscapes in Europe: the Mediterranean and Central European.

Mediterranean Agricultural Landscape

• Dry Farming: Characterized by low yields. The three traditional Mediterranean crops grown are wheat, vines, and olive trees.
• Irrigated Farming: Offers higher returns than dry farming. It focuses on growing horticultural crops, in addition to cereals (especially barley for cattle feed) and industrial plants (such as sugar beet, tobacco, and cotton).

Central European Agricultural Landscape

This landscape is known for high-yield grain production, thanks to mechanization and crop rotation. Key grains include winter wheat and barley.

European Union Fisheries Policy

The European Union implements a Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) to manage fishing activities. Key aspects of this policy include:

• Setting fishing quotas for each country to prevent overfishing.
• Protecting the marine environment and endangered species.
• Providing financial assistance for the development of aquaculture.
• Negotiating agreements with non-EU countries to allow EU fleets to fish in their waters.

Spain's Primary Sector

The primary sector (agriculture, livestock, forestry, and fishing) plays a significant role in Spain's economy.

• Approximately 5% of Spain's active population is employed in the primary sector.
• This sector contributes around 3.5% to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
• It encompasses both traditional and modern production and sales methods.

Transition from Traditional to Modern Agriculture in Spain

A century ago, around 70% of Spain's population was engaged in agriculture. The modernization of this sector was a gradual process.

Historically, two main types of agricultural holdings existed:

• Modern Holdings: Focused on producing goods for sale in urban markets.
• Traditional Holdings: Primarily for family consumption, with surpluses sold in local markets.

Traditional agriculture faced a deep crisis in the mid-20th century. From the 1960s onwards, there was a substantial increase in agricultural modernization, driven by technological advancements. This modernization process was further accelerated by Spain's entry into the European Union in 1986.