Spain's Agricultural Evolution: Policy, Land Use, and Modern Farming

Spain's Common Agricultural Policy Integration

Spain's entry into the European Union brought significant changes to its agricultural sector. The country integrated into the Community's internal market with fixed maximum and minimum prices. As Spanish prices were historically low, they experienced an upward trend, aligning with European equivalents. Trade with the EU was liberalized, adopting the Community preference, which reoriented Spain's import benefits within the EU.

This integration provided an opportunity to modernize the agricultural sector and increase its quality, productivity, and competitiveness. However, it also presented challenges:

• Low Product Prices: A persistent issue for many farmers.
• Agricultural Surpluses: Managing excess production of certain agricultural products.
• Livestock Quotas: Combating overproduction in the livestock sector through quotas.

In response, policies promoted organic farming and extensification. Rural depopulation was addressed with aid from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), aiming to combat this trend and foster rural development.

The consequences of these changes varied regionally:

• Problematic Regions: Areas with less competitive products, such as the Cantabrian region, faced difficulties.
• Positive Impact: Regions like Andalusia and the Mediterranean coast experienced positive outcomes due to their competitive agricultural products.

The Use of Rural Space in Spain

The spatial distribution of agricultural land uses in Spain shows marked differences between its Autonomous Communities. Significant transformations have occurred, altering the contributions of various components to the final agricultural production:

• Agriculture: Has decreased in importance.
• Livestock: Has increased its contribution.
• Forestry Production: Remains relatively stable.

This shift is primarily due to changes in dietary patterns and consumer habits. Furthermore, new uses have emerged for rural areas, including residential, industrial, and recreational services, diversifying the rural economy.

Agricultural Activity: Traditional vs. Modern Practices

Agricultural activity has undergone profound changes in Spain, moving from traditional methods to more modern, market-oriented approaches.

Traditional Farming

Historically characterized by:

• Polyculture: Growing multiple crops simultaneously.
• Backward Techniques: Reliance on outdated methods and tools.
• Extensive Farming Systems: Low input per unit of land.
• Underachievement: Resulting in low yields and productivity.

Modern Agricultural Practices

Current agriculture reflects significant transformations in structure and production, focusing on increasing yields and orienting production towards market sales. Key structural changes include:

• Specialization: A trend towards specializing in products that perform best in each specific region.
• Modern Techniques: Incorporation of advanced methods such as:
  • Mechanization
  • Pesticide use
  • Fertilizers
  • Selected seeds, including transgenic crops
  • New techniques like hydroponics, greenhouses, and soil conditioning (e.g., sanding)

Forced Crops and Irrigation Expansion

Forced crops are those cultivated using specific techniques to enhance productivity and accelerate growth cycles. This approach is central to intensive agriculture, which has seen increased yields due to extensive irrigation and the reduction of fallow land.

Expansion of Irrigation

The broadening of irrigation has transformed agricultural landscapes:

• Irrigation Units: Whether outdoors or in greenhouses, these units allow for 2 or 3 annual crops, including a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and tropical fruits.
• Extensive Irrigation: Enables one crop of the same type as rainfed fields, but with significantly improved performance and higher yields.

The distribution of irrigation is uneven across Spain; it is scarce in the north but most prevalent and strongest in the Mediterranean climate area.

Benefits of Irrigation

The economic and social benefits of expanded irrigation are substantial:

• Rising Incomes: Increased incomes from agricultural exports.
• Improved Living Standards: Enhanced quality of life for the population.
• Service Provision: Better access to services and welfare for rural communities.
• Population Stabilization: Helps to stabilize rural populations and reverse emigration trends.
• Skill Development: Improved professional and technical skills for vocational and university graduates in the agricultural sector.

Challenges of Irrigation

Despite its benefits, irrigation also presents significant problems:

• Inadequate System Utilization: Inefficient use of irrigation systems.
• Groundwater Overexploitation: Excessive extraction of groundwater resources.
• Environmental Degradation: Negative impacts arising from:
  • High consumption of fertilizers.
  • Proliferation of plastic structures from greenhouses.