casing
Xylella fastidiosa has inflicted severe damage on almond crops in Alicante, shrinking large tracts of land and driving down yields. The outbreak has eliminated 2,802 hectares and 200,200 trees, with production losses hovering around 800 tons. An EU-supported eradication policy has been put in place, yet it has caused substantial economic disruption to the sector, already exceeding three million euros in impact. The disease has pushed many fields to the brink, cutting profitability by about half over twenty years and turning the Vinalopó and Vega Baja regions into the remaining strongholds for almond farming.
Xylella fastidiosa, a highly dangerous plant pathogen, first emerged in the Alicante region in June 2017, feeding on almond trees. Since then, authorities under EU guidelines have pursued a destruction strategy that includes removing all trees within a 50-meter radius of infected specimens as well as those directly affected.
Although the rate of spread has slowed, recent updates show the plague still expanding. The directly infected area has grown by 6.4 percent to 3,220 hectares, while the preventive buffer area increased by 4.1 percent to 145,141 hectares.
Sporadic samples identified the bacterium in Benidorm and Benifallim for the first time. A total of 66 municipalities have been affected, 65 within Alicante and one in Valencia. In Alicante, the impacted towns lie in the districts of Marina Alta, Marina Baixa, l’Alcoià, El Comtat, and l’Alacantí, with Safor in the Valencia region also noted as affected.
Almond trees were cut to combat the plague.
As part of the eradication plan, 2,802 hectares of 200,200 almond trees were felled, which is 32,800 more than the latest figures. This directly affects production, with roughly 800 tons of almond kernels lost. The drop translates to nearly 25% of the total harvest in Alicante, and economically it means around three million euros less revenue amid low market prices.
The drought has further pressured the crop, contributing to a recent downturn in an almond sector already grappling with low profitability. Over the past two decades, production in the province has declined from about 32,400 hectares to roughly 15,800 hectares, with the harvest halving to about 3,200 tonnes.
Beyond the northern impact, the Alto, Medio and Baix Vinalopó districts and Vega Baja, along with still-protected areas, have become a near spiritual reserve for almond trees, sheltering some blocks from the plague while others faced destruction.
options and concerns from industry leaders
Francisco Javier Molines, head of the affected platform Asaja, urged revising the destruction approach to containment. He argued for removing only directly infected trees rather than clearing adjacent trees. The concern is that wiping out all trees would erase rural agriculture and leave mountain areas vulnerable to future crises.
Molines pointed out that the problem extends beyond tree destruction. Replanting options offered by authorities are not financially viable. He suggested embracing drought- and plague-resistant almond varieties, though the profitability of alternative crops such as olives or carob remains limited. He also noted that many orchard owners are older, between 60 and 70, and may not replant immediately, given the long wait for trees to regain productivity.
There is interest in a broader international scientific effort to reduce damage from the Xylella threat. A lack of clarity from the Ministry of Agriculture on interim plans adds to the tension, with complaints about appointment delays and the slow pace of organizational changes. Some industry figures stress the need to act decisively to avoid dire agricultural outcomes similar to worst-case scenarios seen elsewhere.
Almond harvests in Alicante are expected to fall about 21% from the three-year average due to drought, with prices also depressed. Projections suggest a harvest near 2,500 tonnes, as bloom was hampered by dry conditions. The lack of rainfall affects flowering and fruit set, limiting future yields even if some water-saving measures are implemented.
At current prices, almond kernels have slipped to around 3.5 euros per kilogram, the lowest in a decade. Analysts attribute this to a surge in production across Spain and a particularly strong harvest in the United States, which keeps prices subdued. The almond sector has pressed for a regeneration plan that would rejuvenate trees, improve irrigation, and introduce varieties better suited to local conditions. In addition, industry groups seek support for the substantial economic losses faced in recent years.
Despite drought-triggered losses in the current campaign, past seasons have seen frosts and heavy rains bring fungal issues. The industry continues to explore policies and practices that can stabilize production, improve resilience, and protect livelihoods across almond-growing regions.