Spain's farm unions call for stronger role in climate emergency and harvest policies

The Coordinadora de Organizaciones de Agricultores y Ganaderos (COAG) met with Agriculture Minister Luis Planas, urging the government recognition of the agricultural sector’s role in tackling the climate emergency. COAG highlighted that extensive livestock grazing can reduce forest fuel loads by up to 90 % and presented four proposals for the State Climate Emergency Pact: greater participation of agrarian groups in water management, policies to support generational renewal and rural services, recognition of agriculture as a carbon sink, and reform of the agricultural insurance system. The organization also promoted a campaign to introduce an agro‑food culture subject in schools.

The Unión de Pequeños Agricultores y Ganaderos (UPA) of Castilla‑La Mancha complained of “limit situation” conditions caused by the Junta’s Sustainable Development Council restricting cereal harvesting through daily IPP maps. UPA said the changing and irregular maps create uncertainty, prevent timely harvesting, and lead to irreversible economic losses for hundreds of family farms. The union demanded an urgent meeting with the council and a review of the restrictions, arguing that preventive measures should not halt agricultural activity.