Cabrales cheese producers push for biogas plant amid contest record bid

The 64th edition of the Cabrales cheese contest, scheduled for 30 August, will try to set a sixth Guinness World Record for the amount raised at the auction. Mayor José Sánchez warned that without proper management of dairy and livestock waste the iconic cheese could disappear, and he reiterated his support for a biogas plant in Arenas de Cabrales.

Producers and DOP Cabrales president Benigno Pérez say the plant, proposed by Agrolinera, is essential to treat waste, generate biogas and electricity, and give a second life to whey. They argue that without it many small cheeseries would have to close, the cheese price could rise sharply, and the DOP could be jeopardised. The project was rejected by the regional Commission of Urbanism and Territorial Planning (CUOTA) for technical reasons that can be remedied, and a new urban‑planning process is being prepared.

The contest has raised record sums in recent years – €37,000 last year – and organisers hope to match or exceed that figure again, emphasizing the cheese’s cultural and economic importance for Asturias.