Spanish agricultural sector cost crisis

Agricultural unions in Spain, specifically the Unión de Pequeños Agricultores y Ganaderos (UPA), are warning of an irreversible crisis for the farming sector due to rising production costs and fuel prices.

In Castilla y León, the UPA has called for a general mobilization and a protest in Valladolid on August 27 to denounce regional government inaction. The union is requesting that the Ministry of Economy extend the current agricultural diesel subsidy of 20 cents per liter beyond its September 30 expiration date, citing inflation pressures.

In Castilla-La Mancha, the UPA has issued an alert regarding the potential extinction of family-run farms. The organization highlights that despite drops in Brent crude oil prices, these savings have not reached producers. They report that while oil industries have seen profit increases of 200%, farmers continue to work at a loss due to diesel prices and failures to comply with the Food Chain Law.

As of August 2026, the sector faces additional structural pressures. In Castilla-La Mancha, the organization Asaja has announced planned mobilizations and legal actions to protest excessive bureaucracy, high production costs, and harvest restrictions caused by fire risks. Meanwhile, regional authorities are exploring ways to adapt Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) criteria to support truffle cultivation, aiming to facilitate access to aid and youth incorporation programs.

To address generational renewal, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) has launched the ‘Cultiva 2026’ program. With a budget of 1.2 million euros, the initiative offers 549 practical training placements for young professionals to learn various production models across Spain.