Canary Islands Agricultural History: Cochineal and Crops

The Great Cochineal Era (1831–1880)

The cochineal is a parasite of the Las Tunas (prickly pear) plant, brought to the region by migrants from Nicaragua, Honduras, and Mexico. From this insect, a vibrant red dye was extracted, which was used extensively for dyeing fabrics and contributed to the emergence of soft drink industries in France and other nations.

The success of this product was bolstered by agricultural plagues that wiped out crops in competing countries like Nicaragua, Honduras, and Mexico. By 1865, over 1,000 tons of cochineal were exported from the Canary Islands to England and France. This economic expansion directly led to the construction of the Port de la Luz in Las Palmas and the Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

However, in 1870, the industry collapsed following the emergence of synthetic chemical dyes. This decline triggered a new wave of emigration to Cuba and Venezuela. During the 1871 International Trade Exhibition, a new product known as "the tuner" (prickly pear) appeared, which saturated the market because it was significantly cheaper than cochineal.

The Agricultural Triad: Potatoes, Tomatoes, and Bananas

Starting in 1880, the return of British influence brought significant technological changes, specifically the development of water galleries (tunnels) to support thirsty crops like bananas and tomatoes. While water had been sourced from natural springs and wells since the 15th century, the development of galleries allowed production to flourish in La Palma, La Gomera, and Tenerife.

Key Crops and Economic Shifts

• Potatoes: Seed potatoes brought by the English had actually arrived in the Canary Islands much earlier; they were naturalized by the time they were reintroduced by the British.
• Bananas: The local variety is very similar to the dwarf banana (formerly the colonial Canary banana), whereas modern varieties are more similar to American types.
• Vineyards: Although the climate is best suited for vineyards, the cochineal and sugar cane industries eventually vanished.

Economic Fragility and Migration

Until the tourism boom of the 1960s, the local economy remained fragile. A subsistence economy prevailed, prioritizing survival on the land. When resources became scarce, migration became a necessity. This migration was often tied to political strategy, aimed at "lightening the land" to avoid social conflicts, with large estates favoring emigration.

For four centuries, the outlying islands remained under a feudal system. Notably, internal migration within the Canary Islands represents some of the most significant continuous movements in Europe.