Turning One of Spain’s Biggest Agricultural Issues into a Solution

Spain has surmounted itself as a leader in agricultural production in Europe, due to the largest land cover of greenhouses across the continent (Duque-Acevedo et al., 2020). Most of the greenhouses are centered in Almeria, which has the highest concentration of greenhouses in the world (Duque-Acevedo et al., 2020). The predominance of greenhouses in Almeria increases agricultural productivity because of the high efficiency of resources and a complementary climate (Duque-Acevedo et al., 2020). The hot and arid climate of Almeria results in greenhouses requiring 22 times less energy than Dutch greenhouses (Valera et al., 2017). However, challenges are arising in Spain over the waste produced by these greenhouses, specifically in Almeria where they are so highly concentrated. 

Biomass waste is a major concern for Spain; it is an area ripe for improvement in order to achieve the sustainability targets set by the European Union (Gheoldus 2016). Biomass waste can range from household food and forestry debris to farm byproducts attributed to parts of the plants that aren’t used. Almeria’s biomass waste is contributing to this issue with its high concentration of agricultural waste (Duque-Acevedo et al., 2020). In Almeria, growing tomatoes and peppers have accounted for over 45% of the vegetable cropland use and 53% of the production from 2002 to 2018, and production is projected to increase in the future (Duque-Acevedo et al., 2020).

With most production and greenhouse land use in Almeria being prioritized for tomatoes and peppers, it should come as no surprise that the two generate over 50% of Almeria’s annual agricultural waste [1,370,743 tons per year total, 525,901 tons per year for tomatoes, and 271,460 tons per year for peppers] (Duque-Acevedo et al., 2020). It is estimated that a single hectare (about 2.5 acres) from a greenhouse producing tomatoes or peppers creates 84 to 147 tons of biomass waste every year in Almeria (Duque-Acevedo et al., 2020). However, the issue is not with the amount of waste being produced in Almeria, but rather by how it is being managed. 

Previously, the agricultural waste in Almeria was disposed of by chopping and rolling it down into the soil or using it as animal feed (Duque-Acevedo et al., 2020). This practice of waste disposal in Almeria led to a health crisis in 2001 caused by a build-up of biomass waste (Duque-Acevedo et al., 2020). As a result, Almeria financed and developed waste management plants (ie: landfills/compost/etc) to better manage the growing amounts of biomass waste from agriculture  (Duque-Acevedo et al., 2020). Currently, there are six of these plants that receive mostly plant waste generated by greenhouses in Almeria however, less than 1% of the biomass in Almeria is bio-processed (Duque-Acevedo et al., 2020; Egea et al., 2018).  Almeria lacks any incentive system that promotes plant waste use for growers which could be a promising economic and environmental solution (Duque-Acevedo et al., 2020). 

A lack of incentive for growers to better utilize their plant waste is an issue, but legislation is creating policies that would encourage private companies to use biomass waste. The first step was taken by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and the Environment when it adopted the European classification of waste from greenhouses as non-hazardous, which makes the plant waste more accessible for the private sector (Duque-Acevedo et al., 2020). The European Union incentivizes countries with the regulation CE No. 834/20007 which states that the establishment of a regulatory framework for private companies to use agricultural biomass waste can contribute towards environmental objectives (Duque-Acevedo et al., 2020).

These two policies incentivized the Spanish government and in 2018, the Common Agricultural Policy was created in order to fund research and innovation for solutions to the environmental issues at the root of climate change (Duque-Acevedo et al., 2020). Along with the Programme for Rural Development from the European Union, regulation 1305/2013 Focus Area 5C specifically engages sustainable efforts tied to biomass (Duque-Acevedo et al., 2020). The Spanish government took the regulation in Focus Area 5C to create the Spanish Agrarian Guarantee Fund (FEGA) which provides grant subsidies for agricultural sustainability solutions (Duque-Acevedo et al., 2020). 

Solving Almeria’s biomass waste issues is not an easy task, but the right steps are being made towards pushing for more sustainable practices. The current economy of Almeria seems to be set up in a way that is very encouraging for private companies to enter their solutions to biomass waste issues. The policies discussed above create incentives that would help growers economically, achieve Spain’s sustainability goals, create a cleaner environment, maintain public health by avoiding similar situations to the 2001 health crisis, and create openings for the private sector to contribute.  Amata Green will certainly be a main contributor in helping deal with biomass waste problem and diverting millions of tons of ag waste from the landfills in Almeria.  Contact us to find out more about Amata Green’s sustainability project in Spain.

About the Author: Amata Green’s Fall 2020 Intern, Mr. Karl Froscheiser, is currently attending George Mason University in their Environmental Science and Policy master’s program. He graduated from Coastal Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science and a minor in mathematics in May of 2018.

ABOUT AMATA GREEN: Amata Green is a sustainability consulting firm whose mission is to promote organic and sustainable food production in a regenerative and responsible manner, around the world. Amata Green is dedicated to finding solutions to the problem of agriculture’s high draw on water and depletion of the earth’s soils.  We strive to empower farmers and ranchers to adopt sustainable and regenerative solutions, leading the way to healthier crops, a healthier environment and higher farming returns. 

Works Cited:  

Duque-Acevedo, L. Belmonte-Ureña, J. Plaza-Úbeda, F. Camacho-Ferre. “The Management of Agricultural Waste Biomass in the Framework of Circular Economy and Bioeconomy: An Opportunity for Greenhouse Agriculture in Southeast Spain.” Agronomy.  1 April 2020.https://search.proquest.com/openview/d748316d7abe673388957146a27fd2ee/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=2032440 

Egea, F.J.; Torrente, R.G.; Aguilar, A. An efficient agro-industrial complex in Almería (Spain): Towards an integrated and sustainable bioeconomy model. N. Biotechnol. 2018, 40, 103–112.

Gheoldus, Manuela. “SPAIN - SUMMARY OF POLICIES AND LEGISLATION FOR FOOD WASTE PREVENTION AND REDUCTION.” EU Fusion, 2016, www.eu-fusions.org/index.php/country-reports/reports/300-spain. 

Valera, D.L.; Belmonte, L.J.; Molina-Aiz, F.D.; López, A.; Camacho, F. The greenhouses of Almería, Spain: Technological analysis and profitability. Acta Hortic. 2017. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319137824_The_greenhouses_of_Almeria_Spain_technological_analysis_and_profitability