Spain’s Agricultural Landscapes: Characteristics and Challenges
Agricultural Landscapes of Spain
Agricultural landscapes are the morphology of the agricultural area, a combination of the natural environment with agricultural activity. The agricultural landscape of the Mediterranean coastline includes a rugged terrain in the coastal plain and some pre-littoral areas. This area is characterized by agricultural traits, with a dispersed population and variable-sized farms. Land uses are mainly agriculture, with clear differences between rainfed and irrigated areas.
Dryland crops include vine, olive, almond, and cereal crops. Irrigated crops include early gardening, outdoor horticulture under plastic, early Mediterranean fruit growing, and cattle and swine (predominantly in Catalonia). Logging has little significance.
Canary Islands Agricultural Landscape
The agricultural landscape of the Canary Islands is characterized by a rough volcanic relief and a warm climate. The population is in decline due to the attraction of tertiary activities such as tourism. Holdings show important contrasts among the small size of the middle areas. Agricultural uses are very diverse. Coastal areas feature irrigated monoculture predominantly export-oriented. Sheep and goat farming is scarce. Logging has utilized pine and heather wood.
Rural Problems and Rural Development Policies
The Spanish countryside suffers various problems that are addressed through rural development policy. The European Union presents general guidelines focused on a competitive environment, economic diversification, and quality of life. The Spanish state sets national priorities with respect to European guidelines and legislation for sustainable rural development. State governments produce their rural development programs.
Demographic Problems
A declining and aging rural population is the result of emigration. This issue is addressed by favoring the rural population through compensation.
Economic Problems
There is still limited economic diversification of rural areas, which maintains an over-reliance on agricultural activities. There is insufficient use of telecommunications and new agricultural technologies. The dependence on industry and the market is increasing. This dependence consists of the need to buy many products. It is necessary to adopt new health and safety requirements for animal welfare and food security. Fraud control seeks to control food hazards and has established traceability of food, which allows knowing the path followed in all stages. Health seeks to prevent plant pests and livestock diseases, and controls fertilizers. Animal welfare is seen as appropriate treatment for livestock breeding farms.
Social Problems
Many rural communities have problems with quality of life motivated by shortcomings in infrastructure accessibility. To solve this, ways to improve the accessibility of infrastructure are being carried out.
Environmental Problems
Farming generates certain environmental problems. The air is contaminated by odors emitted by machinery or agricultural facilities. The most important measures are to improve air quality by producing crops and avoiding burning stubble. Organic farming uses natural systems to produce without resorting to synthetic chemicals and has increased the industrial processing of these products. Organic livestock uses no permanent housing or growth promoters. Agricultural activities accentuate the decline in biodiversity due to specialization using a limited number of plant species.
Fisheries
Fishery Crisis Indicators
Indicators of the crisis include the decline of the employed population and decreased contribution to GDP. It is taken into account that fishing plays an important multiplier effect on other activities. There is a foreign trade deficit in fisheries.
Problems and Fisheries Policy
The EU plans general guidelines for the period, summarized in competitiveness and sustainability. The Spanish state has exclusive jurisdiction in the fleet and basic planning. The autonomous communities are empowered in their coastal waters.