There is scientific evidence that Viticulture was already present among Europeans 11,000 years agoBut there are many things we don't know about how that crop was grown. Now, a study published in the journal Nature Researchers have been able to trace the origins of Pinot Noir grapes back in time thanks to the genome of 54 archaeological grape seeds, including 47 samples from France and 2 from Ibiza, dating back 4,000 years. This in-depth analysis has led to several conclusions. One of the discoveries made by the team led by Ludovic Orlando, director of the Center for Anthropobiology and Genomics (CAGT) in Toulouse, is that the Pinot Noir variety has remained unchanged for 600 years, indicating continuous cultivation. The medieval sample, found in Valenciennes, is exactly identical to the modern variety.

African swine fever (ASF) has reached Barcelona. A new positive case of a wild boar infected with the virus has been detected within the Barcelona municipality, as reported this afternoon by the Catalan Minister of Agriculture, Òscar Ordeig, who indicated that this new case will appear in tomorrow's official count by the Ministry of Agriculture. This latest positive result has prompted heightened precautions in the Collserola mountain range, where the closure of the natural park has been reinforced, as reported earlier today by the online newspaper. NationOrdeig explained that a resolution will be issued tomorrow to extend access restrictions to the natural environment, specifically expanding them to the entire Collserola Natural Park. "We are continuing with the containment strategy for the epicenter and the entire Collserola area; as you know, closing the entire natural park is impossible," the minister admitted, "but we are implementing a containment strategy and also reinforcing our resources with captures," he continued. The minister detailed that they met this morning with the municipalities affected by the natural park's entry into the highest-risk zone, as well as with the park's consortium, and that the resolution will be made public tomorrow, Thursday. The Minister of Agriculture again asked for patience and insisted that "the solution will not be short-term under any circumstances." Ordeig explained that containing the virus in this area is easier because it borders the Mediterranean Sea on one side, but, conversely, "there is a difficulty" because it is all happening in a densely populated urban area full of businesses, making perimeter closures difficult.

A good harvest after three years of drought and an expansion in the number of wineries boosted Corpinnat's sales in 2025. The collective brand of sparkling wines from the Penedès region grew by 27%. compared to the previous year...to €34.13 million.

Traditional Catalan is most evident in Lleida. It has almost never rained so much. The region has experienced an unusual winter. According to Aemet, the accumulated rainfall in Lleida since December 1st reached almost 200 mm, an amount four times the historical average. Almost the entire ground in Ponent is saturated with water, and all the reservoirs in the Ebro basin are technically full. The Ebro River Basin Authority (CHE) has estimated a total of 280 hm³ for this year.³ More water will come from snowmelt, an absolutely enormous amount compared to the amount recorded in 2023, which, due to high temperatures and evaporation, was reduced to only 20 hm³.³The water situation is not only good, but even exceeds what is desirable. Many recently planted cereal fields have been damaged by excessive moisture, and most farmers in the Pla de Lleida region do not plan to irrigate in the short term, despite the need to release water from the reservoirs for safety reasons. The water flows downstream, benefiting the sediments of the Ebro Delta. On March 8, the Urgell Canal irrigation community will hold a meeting to plan the next season and establish initial irrigation schedules, although the exact start date remains uncertain. "We are always dependent on the weather, whether it rains or not," admit technical sources from the community.

While Pedro Sánchez was encouraging farmers and ranchers in Congress to trust the Mercosur trade agreement, half a thousand tractors blocked the center of Madrid in protest against that very same free trade agreement. This came two years after the agricultural sector brought the Spanish capital to a standstill due to the water shortage crisis.a malaise that uncovered many other problems—and this Wednesday they returned. Thousands of farmers from across the country demonstrated in front of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, called together by the Union of Unions of Farmers and Livestock Breeders and the National Union of Independent Primary Sector Associations.

It is a dry, arid land, dotted with scrubland, cacti, and white rockrose. And suddenly, from the barren landscape emerges an immense white expanse almost 30 kilometers long, guarded by the Gádor mountain range and the Mediterranean Sea. This is Almería's sea of ​​plastic, the great vegetable garden of Europe, where nearly 100,000 workers labor, most of them immigrants, and about 30% of them undocumented. In total, there are some 35,000 hectares of greenhouses—the equivalent of 50,000 football fields combined—that can produce up to 3.5 million tons of vegetables and fruits: peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini... Tens of thousands of greenhouses engulf everything, penetrating the towns and cities of the region, white plastic sheets visible from space, blending in with houses and industrial buildings. It is the economic engine of the region: on one side the western area, surrounding El Ejido; on the other valley, the vast esplanade at the foot of the municipality of Níjar.

The Catalan Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food, Òscar Ordeig, called on Thursday for innovative policies in the agri-food sector, both public and private, to ensure that food production, which has sometimes "been subordinated to other paradigms," becomes Catalonia's flagship project in the coming years. "Environmental policies have been implemented without considering agri-food policies; urban planning policies have been implemented without considering food production policies; and health policies have been implemented without considering that we have a Mediterranean diet, a UNESCO World Heritage Site," Ordeig explained on Thursday at the Pim headquarters. In addition to this need for a forward-looking vision in the sector, Ordeig also stated that it is necessary to make decisions to move forward and find a balance between "not forging ahead without thinking, and thinking without forging ahead." "We have met many times with the sector to be clear about where we needed to go, but above all we have had to make decisions, manage, manage, and manage," explained the regional minister, who cited the recent health crises that have affected the agri-food sector in Catalonia as an example.

The scene has been repeating itself for months, but in recent weeks the situation has worsened: the shelves of French supermarkets where eggs are usually found are empty or half-empty. Buying them isn't impossible, but you might have to visit several supermarkets before finding them. The problem of the egg shortage—an essential ingredient in French cuisine—is explained by a growing imbalance between supply and demand. Egg consumption in France has increased by 15% in the last three years, while production has barely grown, according to data from the National Egg Promotion Committee (CNPO). Last year, the French consumed an average of 240 eggs per person, a figure well above that of neighboring countries like Spain, where consumption stands at 143 eggs per person annually, or Belgium, where it barely exceeds 80 eggs per year. According to experts, the increase in egg consumption is explained by several factors, especially the rising price of other protein-rich foods like meat, which has led many French people to opt for eating more eggs. According to the CNPO (French National Council for the Prevention of Cruelty to Foods), the shift in scientific discourse has also played a significant role in the increase in egg consumption in France. "For a long time, eggs were restricted for people with high cholesterol, but they are no longer considered responsible for raising cholesterol levels," they point out. Le Parisien Alice Richard, director of the National Egg Promotion Committee.

The Catalan food and supermarket company Ametller Origen closed 2025 with a turnover of 800 million euros. 18% more than the previous year which represents a new all-time sales record, according to a press release. The company has not reported profits.

Visiting three supermarkets to find grapes produced relatively locally shouldn't be normal in a region full of vineyards. And yet, that's what happened to me last year. The produce filling the shelves came mostly from elsewhere, while local farmers find it increasingly difficult to survive. This everyday example explains better than any report what's happening to the agricultural sector. Farmers have been burdened for years with cumbersome bureaucracy, increasingly stringent regulations, and rising costs. Now, on top of all this, there's the trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur, which further aggravates an already precarious situation.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced a package of measures on Wednesday to facilitate generational renewal in agriculture. The government presented this proposal after days of protests—particularly intense in Catalonia, but which have spread to other parts of Spain—against the European Union-Mercosur trade agreement (Mercosur being the trade bloc comprised of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay), which Sánchez himself has openly supported after Spain had previously expressed its support. According to a statement from the Spanish government, Sánchez considers ensuring generational renewal in agriculture "urgent" and a "top priority," and he presented the proposal to a group of young farmers and ranchers. Among these measures is the mobilization of publicly owned agricultural land, some 17,000 rural properties in total, which will be made available to young farmers through a dedicated platform.

Revolta Pagesa, the farmers' organization leading the road blockades across Catalonia, lifted the blockades this Monday after meeting with the President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa. The President assured the farmers' representatives that both he and the entire Catalan Government stand by the commitments made by the Minister of Agriculture, Òscar Ordeig, to the sector to minimize the impact of the trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur. "I want to make this clear: Minister Ordeig speaks on behalf of the Government. And Ordeig's commitments are those of the Government and, in particular, those of the President," Illa emphasized. The Catalan Minister of Agriculture, Òscar Ordeig, has advocated in recent hours for a "common front" between agricultural organizations and the Catalan government to create working groups and defend various positions regarding the trade agreement, such as mirror clauses, border controls, and a compensation fund for farmers affected by the agreement, among other issues. Ordeig also promised to defend farmers' interests before the EU to reduce the planned cuts to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). As a gesture of goodwill, this very Monday morning The protesters have lifted the blockade at the entrances to the port of Tarragona..

Catalan farmers will continue their road blockades across the country, they announced on Friday, hours after the 27 member states of the European Union approved the free trade agreement with Mercosur (the South American bloc), against which they had begun their protests in Catalonia. The farmers have accused the Catalan government of having "sold them out," while the Minister of Agriculture, Òscar Ordeig, defended the trade agreement, asserting that "Catalonia is the biggest winner." "We have a 105% agri-food trade surplus, which we want to maintain and expand," Ordeig stated regarding the Catalan primary sector. In this regard, he emphasized that, in an international context where "there are countries in the world that are isolating themselves and isolating us," it is necessary to "seek new trading partners." The regional minister met this Friday in Reus with representatives of the farmers who are blocking access to the port of Tarragona and asked them to act responsibly so as not to disrupt supplies.

Around 350 tractors blocked the C-25 highway (the Eix Transversal) on Monday morning to protest the overpopulation of wildlife in Catalonia, in a demonstration organized by the main agricultural organizations in the region. The mobilization, which began at 9 a.m., brought farmers to the streets to demand, above all, "control of overpopulations of game animals"—especially wild boar, rabbits, roe deer, and red deer—and a "review" of the Livestock Health Service. The march was supported by Unió de Pagesos, Revolta Pagesa, Asaja, and the Plataforma Pagesos o Conejos (Farmers or Rabbits Platform).

Around Deltebre, the rice fields create a mosaic of water and mud. The river meanders between canals and banks, and the Delta's light floods everything with a metallic sheen. It is in one of these wetlands that a unique rice variety is born: the only long-grain, aromatic rice cultivated in the Ebro Delta, known as Essència del Delta. It is grown, managed, and marketed by the Women Rice Growers of the Ebro Delta, a cooperative of five women who have made the land their livelihood. The result is a fine, fluffy, and versatile rice—perfect for salads, stir-fries, and celebratory rice dishes—but also a product imbued with values: respect for the environment, a deep connection to the land, pride in being women who preserve the craft, and the dedication that rice cultivation entails.

The drought that has plagued Catalonia for over three years has severely impacted agriculture. In the Camp de Tarragona region, farmers have watched as the lack of water and high temperatures reduced production, with each harvest yielding less than the last. The drought lasted so long that it depleted the trees of water reserves, and some simply died. "Last year's rains revived the olive, almond, and vineyards, but the hazelnut trees suffered greatly," explains Santi Vives Balcells of Unió de Pagesos (Farmers' Union). Even though these crops are dryland, the recent extreme weather conditions have wreaked havoc. Some farmers, after this ordeal, have decided to uproot their hazelnut trees and are now wondering whether it's worthwhile to switch to another crop or if it's time to abandon farming altogether. "Some are opting for olive trees, others for carob trees, and those who want to continue with hazelnut trees will wait a year or two," explains Martí Macías, water manager for the Unió de Pagesos farmers' union in Tarragonès. This waiting period should allow them to see how the trees develop, the weather patterns, and, above all, how the construction of a water regeneration station at the Reus wastewater treatment plant progresses. This project, being carried out by the Catalan Water Agency, should improve the treatment of the water used by the residents of Reus and, instead of releasing it back into the sea, allow it to be reused for irrigation. This process, long advocated by environmentalists, would allow the reuse of up to 7 cubic hectometers of water each year and would be a significant guarantee for farmers in the Baix Camp region and a portion of Tarragonès.

The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food, Òscar Ordeig, confirmed this Sunday that the African swine fever virus has not reached any of the farms surrounding the area where infected wild boars were found. "We confirm that we are talking about positive cases in wild boars and that it has not reached any farms," he said at a press conference in Lleida. So far, the positive and suspected cases detected are in wild boars, and they have been found in the municipality of Cerdanyola del Vallès, next to the Collserola Park, where some 900 wild boars live. Tests carried out on the 39 farms within a six-kilometer radius of the area where the sick animals were found have ruled out the presence of the virus in any farmed pigs. Nevertheless, Ordeig called on livestock farmers to take extreme biosecurity precautions, paying particular attention to farm fences and monitoring entry and exit points to prevent the spread of the outbreak, the first in the country since 1994. Ordeig, who noted that the characteristics of the area where the violations have been found—"limited by a lot of infrastructure, a lot of roads"—are helping to control the virus, also asked the public to respect the mobility restrictions in Collserola Park. He warned that those who do not comply will face fines and that the police will have "zero tolerance" for non-compliance. "We are in a health crisis," he said. Ordeig argued that controlling cases of African swine fever "is not just a matter for livestock farmers and the food sector, but also a national issue; it must be done well and quickly, allocating all the necessary resources."

BonÀrea's expansion beyond Catalonia includes a mandatory stop in Aragon. The Guissona-based company (Segarra) has been building a large-scale production and logistics center in the town of Épila, in the province of Zaragoza, since 2019. This center is intended to supply the company's supermarkets beyond the Catalan market.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has decreed the confinement, effective this Thursday, of all free-range poultry on farms across the country. The measure represents a "reinforcement" of preventative measures to control the spread of avian influenza, according to the Spanish government, as it is a highly contagious viral disease. The executive branch has issued a ministerial order affecting all poultry farms in the country, including organic farms, those raising poultry for personal consumption, and those producing meat or eggs for direct sale to consumers. The order extends the prohibition to all animals kept outdoors. The measure had been in effect since Monday in areas considered to be of special risk and under special surveillance, which until now comprised 1,201 municipalities. According to Joan Anton Rafecas, president of the Catalan Poultry Federation (FAC, the Catalan employers' association for the sector), these are "preventive measures" aimed at preventing the spread of avian influenza. Since July, 139 outbreaks of this disease have been reported on European poultry farms, 14 of which have been detected on Spanish farms. Half of the cases in Spain have been reported in Castile and León—the epicenter of the disease in Spain is in the province of Valladolid—and none on Catalan farms. However, now all poultry farms in Spain must also comply with a series of measures, within the framework of the extension of this lockdown. These measures include the prohibition of raising ducks and geese with other poultry species, providing birds with water from containers accessible to wild birds, and protecting outdoor water containers from wild waterfowl. Holding competitions or exhibitions with the presence of poultry is prohibited, and it is also required that when confinement of the birds is not possible, the competent authority of each autonomous community may authorize maintaining confinement outdoors through the placement of bird netting. In this respect, most Catalan poultry farms are not affected by the measure because they already raise the birds in enclosed, covered areas. According to data from the Catalan Poultry Federation (FAC), the ministerial order will affect approximately 10% of the sector in Catalonia, which are the farms that do keep the animals outdoors. Farmers' understanding

Rafecas recalls in statements to ARA that in Catalonia there has been no case of avian flu since 2023, when Only one was detected throughout the entire yearHowever, the president of the Catalan Poultry Federation (FAC) is understanding of the measure approved by the Spanish government. "It's not the most desirable, but it's the most convenient," he notes, while pointing out that in recent years—for example, two years ago—other confinements of farm birds have already been approved to prevent further outbreaks, so the ministerial order is not new for Catalan farmers. Keeping the birds confined may cause some "inconveniences" on certain farms, mainly operational in nature, Rafecas adds. Regarding a possible financial impact or on prices, the FAC does not foresee much more than a "negligible" decrease in egg production resulting from the hens being kept in enclosed spaces, but without causing any significant losses, according to the president of the association.

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As new outbreaks of lumpy skin disease (LSD) appear in the Alt Empordà region, the number of vaccines administered to combat the disease is increasing. So far, up to 207,000 vaccines have been released so veterinarians can administer them on farms within the protected zones close to confirmed outbreaks, as announced by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, Luis Planas, at a press conference this Tuesday following the Council of Ministers. Planas explained that these doses arrived in three separate batches and that negotiations are underway to secure more.

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