Spain's Agro‑food Sector Pushes Productivity and Digitalisation

The Spanish agro‑food observatory reports that the sector remains economically strong but faces structural challenges. Productivity is identified as the main lever for long‑term growth, yet most firms are small and struggle to scale, making integration and cooperation essential. The report highlights the need for sustainable practices, cost optimisation, product differentiation and greater adoption of AI, digital tools and new technologies. Barriers include implementation costs for small farms, a digital‑skills gap, rural connectivity deficits and a lack of interoperable solutions, all of which require public investment and tailored technologies.

A conference in Almería organised by BBVA and Grupo Joly gathered regional agro‑food actors, bank representatives and sustainability officials to discuss these issues. Participants stressed the importance of generational renewal, water management, sustainability, technology uptake and maintaining competitiveness in increasingly demanding global markets. The dialogue underscored that collaborative approaches, especially through cooperatives, are seen as critical to overcoming the sector’s current hurdles.