Three of the four main professional agricultural organizations, UPA, COAG and Unión de Uniones, have already presented to political parties their priorities for the primary sector for ahead of the general elections on 29 N.
Although there are many common points, there are also clear differences: UPA remains steadfast in protecting family farming (which is in decline) and demands that the Family Farming Law be completed, the unfulfilled promise of Luis Planas in this closing legislature. For its part, COAG and Unión de Uniones ask that the next government defend a more professional, social and competitive agriculture and, in that sense, both agree in calling for the development of a "Professional Farmer and Livestock Farmer Statute" with legal and statistical recognition, so that people in the countryside have priority in certain public policies.
UPA sets out its proposals in 16 points; COAG proposes a series of measures to be taken in the first hundred days of Government and then develops its demands in a dozen sections; and Unión de Uniones, (the last to arrive at the dialogue with the Ministry and which is why, it introduces a chapter on how to set the representativeness of these groups) organizes its proposals into one hundred commitments organized into 13 blocks.
Ahead of Brussels
Some of the requests are directed toward the role of Spain in the European Union, mainly, in light of the changes planned for the upcoming Common Agricultural Policy, CAP 2028-2034. COAG and Unión de Uniones reject outright the proposal already approved at the last meeting of the Council of Ministers for Agriculture, that the CAP lose its traditional structure governed by two pillars and be renationalized with the National Strategic Plans of each member state. UPA does not support this renationalization of the CAP either, but focuses more on ensuring that the next Government works to achieve sufficient funding.
COAG and Unión de Uniones also agree on forcing Brussels to implement the “mirror clauses” to defend European productions and so that farmers and livestock farmers from the 27 can compete on equal terms with those from third countries.
Fair prices and controlled expenses
Improving the Food Chain Law approved in 2013 and amended in 2021 remains a requirement of the three farming organizations. While UPA calls for higher penalties for those who fail to comply, COAG and Unión de Uniones add other measures.
On the other hand, the increase in the prices of inputs is another of the main battlegrounds in farm profitability, which is why the three groups agree on asking for tax benefits or a reduction of VAT on professional diesel, fertilizers, and a special rate for irrigators, as existed before.
COAG proposes creating an “Inputs Observatory” formed by the agricultural organizations and that includes ex officio inspections by the CNMC on fuel and fertilizer margins.
Generational renewal and agricultural insurance
According to COAG, in the next four years 43,000 farmers and ranchers will retire, so the support measures from the European PAC for the incorporation of young people must be added to an effort by the Government of Spain through preferential credit lines and tax incentives. Since UPA proposes a major National Plan for Generational Renewal and access to land to facilitate the entry of new farmers.
The consequences that climate change is having on crops are also felt in farmers’ requests, since UPA, COAG and Unión de Uniones point to the need to increase the state budget for aid to agricultural insurance.
In view of the appearance, in recent years, of investment funds in the agricultural sector, COAG and UPA demand creating instruments that serve to direct public aid to professional farmers and ranchers rather than to said investors.
Other proposals that agricultural organizations ask of the future Government of Spain are reducing bureaucracy and administrative simplification, a water policy and modernization of irrigation, and guaranteeing public services of housing, and mobility in order to be able to live and work in rural areas.
Most of the professional agricultural organizations have already submitted their preferences to political parties. Now it remains to be seen whether, in the next few weeks, they have their place in the different electoral programs.