Catalan ecological livestock threatened by pasture shortages

Ecological livestock farming in Catalonia is facing a critical threat due to persistent lack of rainfall and extreme heat, which has significantly reduced available pastures. In some northern mountain areas, losses of natural forage have reached nearly 50 percent.

To prevent mass farm closures and ensure animal survival, the organization Joves Agricultors i Ramaders de Catalunya (JARC) is calling on the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food for an exceptional measure. JARC is requesting temporary permission for affected farms to use conventional feed without losing their organic certification. This flexibility, which is provided for in European law during climate disasters, is seen as a necessary way to avoid financial collapse and protect the regional productive fabric.