Luis Planas announces an upcoming meeting with the autonomous communities, agricultural organizations and the sector to advance the monitoring and control of animal diseases

• The Minister underlines the need to join efforts to maintain the high health standards of the Spanish livestock population • Planas emphasizes that Spanish livestock, as well as its meat products, are highly recognized in international markets thanks to their high health status • Values the great reception that eco-systems have had in Castilla y León, since this aid has been requested for 4.7 million hectares, 96% of the area eligible for this aid, the highest percentage in all of Spain

September 1, 2023. The acting Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, has announced a meeting, in the next two weeks, with the autonomous communities, agricultural organizations and the livestock sector to advance the monitoring and control of animal diseases, in coordination with the European Union and the International Organization for Animal Health. The minister pointed out that in the face of the appearance of diseases that affect livestock, “it is necessary to coordinate and join efforts between public administrations and the sector to respond to these situations.”

Luis Planas today inaugurated “Salamaq 2023. Agricultural Sector Fair and 34 International Pure Livestock Exhibition”, a meeting point for professionals in the agricultural sector and related industries that has become a current reference in issues such as health, animal welfare, animal husbandry or agricultural machinery. For the minister, Salamaq is a commercial reference and a magnificent exhibition of the importance of the livestock sector in Spain; strategic for the Spanish economy and key to the development of the rural environment.

In his speech, the minister expressed appreciation to veterinary professionals for their efforts to maintain “one of the highest health standards in the European Union and the world” and to keep export markets open. He has stressed that, thanks to this high status, the Spanish livestock sector and its meat products enjoy great prestige and international recognition. The minister believes that maintaining high animal health standards is essential to advance the competitiveness and sustainability of the food system.

He has assured that the Spanish livestock sector is strategic for the development of rural territories, where a rich variety of livestock breeds and production models coexist. In 2022, this sector contributed 40% to the final agricultural production, with a value of about 25.5 billion euros, “a record figure, fruit of the good work of the sector as a whole”. Spain is the first European producer of sheep meat, the second largest producer of pork and poultry meat and the fourth largest producer of beef.

Spain has also managed to export 9.7 billion euros of both live animals and meat and livestock products, which is “a source of pride and recognition for our farmers, who do an excellent job in circumstances that are not easy”.

In this context, livestock farming has a great social and economic relevance in Castilla y León, where extensive systems predominate under models of family exploitation. This autonomous community, which contributes 15% of animal production to the national total, hosts 28% of the census of suckler cows, 16% of the census of sheep, 13% of the census of pigs and 12% of dairy cows.

AGRICULTURAL SECTOR SUPPORT

On the other hand, the minister stressed that the Government strongly supports the agricultural sector in the challenge of achieving sustainable and profitable food systems that guarantee food security.

Within the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), Planas has specified that the Strategic Plan designed for its application in Spain will benefit 622,404 farmers and ranchers, who this year will receive 4,875 million euros (more than 3,500 million are going to be disbursed from next October 16) “an honest complement to the difficulty of obtaining a decent income in the farms of our country”.

It has appreciated the great reception that ecoregimes have had throughout Spain, since 3 out of 4 declarants have benefited from these practices, with a total of 87% of the national area declared. In this area, Castilla y León has been the first autonomous community in the declaration of the eco-regimes, since this aid has been requested for 4.7 million hectares, which represents 96% of the area eligible for this aid, the highest percentage in all of Spain. “This demonstrates the involvement of farmers and ranchers in Castilla y León, not only with their daily work, but in meeting the strategic objectives of food production,” he said.

Planas has also assured that the 713 million euros that the Government has allocated to support the agricultural and livestock sector to alleviate the effects of the drought will begin to be disbursed next October. In addition, it pointed out that, as of July 30, 907 million euros have been assessed and paid in compensation by Agroseguro, “a figure much higher than last year’s final settlement, which was 813 million euros”.

Planas insisted on the need for “the Government of Spain and all the autonomous communities to join forces to face each of the difficulties, both for the benefit of the agricultural sector itself and for the benefit of the citizens as a whole”.