Rice production in Spain at risk of extinction due to herbicide ban

Spain’s agri-food cooperatives are sounding the alarm, asking the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to take urgent action to save the rice crop. The country’s rice production is on the verge of extinction due to the reduction in the use of authorised pesticides. The cooperatives are insisting on the authorisation of active substances, in particular the herbicide AURA (Profoxydim 20%), which is already used in other European countries such as Italy, Greece and Portugal to control weeds.

Over the past decade, rice areas in southern European countries, including Spain, Italy, France, Portugal and Greece, have fallen by more than 24%. At the same time, rice imports from countries with less stringent phytosanitary and labour regulations are growing rapidly. “We are working at the limit. “It is impossible to demand sustainable production without effective crop protection tools,” said Félix Liviano, president of the rice sector of Cooperativas Agro-alimentarias de España.

The cooperatives are asking for the use of the herbicide AURA to be allowed on 10-15% of the Spanish acreage, where it is critically needed. They are also calling for the introduction of reciprocity for imported products, as regulatory disparities between EU countries are exacerbating the crisis. While some countries allow the use of certain substances, Spain faces a ban on them, creating uncompetitive conditions for local farmers.

The European Commission said it had achieved its target of reducing the use of chemical pesticides by 50% by 2030 ahead of schedule, reaching 58% in 2023. Spain has achieved this goal, but it has led to serious problems: the lack of approved substances makes it difficult to control pests and weeds, reducing yields and profitability. Without effective alternatives, Spanish farmers are at a disadvantage compared to other EU countries.

Rice farming is not only economically important, but also socially and environmentally, as it supports wetlands, protected areas and waterfowl habitats. Without immediate action, cooperatives warn, Spain could end rice farming altogether, with disastrous consequences for employment, rural areas and the environment.

Tags: rice