Climate change has moved from a forecast into a harsh, visible reality, bringing sharp consequences that affect the province’s agriculture. Fruits and crops such as cherries, grains, watermelons, pomegranates, and the traditional artichoke variety face serious threats. Drought and higher temperatures push some varieties toward extinction. Experts say the answer lies in choosing more climate-resilient varieties and, where water runs scarce, shifting cultivation to drier lands.
In Alicante, only a handful of agricultural products have endured the recent steep declines in yields and the resulting economic losses. Far from a pause in harm, a string of meteorological disturbances damaged crops in an escalating pattern. The sector has sounded the red alert as it struggles to adapt to this panorama of deep uncertainty.
Asaja Alicante president José Vicente Andreu notes that the situation is highly complex. He points out that several crops are financially squeezed after multiple disastrous campaigns.
Cherries are among the crops most affected, with profitability dwindling for years. The variability of the climate plays a central role, with droughts, heat waves, or mid-harvest rain disrupting returns. The sector, in his view, is faltering.
Grains are in the same boat. Andreu says this crop is on the edge of survival. He explains that some harvests were dry-planted to access aid, but the overall outlook points to weak production again this season and last.
Watermelons also face extinction risk due to insufficient rainfall and scarce irrigation water. The mollar bomb variety experienced a disastrous campaign for the same reasons. The quality appeared strong, but subsequent packaging revealed dryness inside caused by heat stress in August, he notes.
Crops such as olives, almonds, and citrus have shown irregular results across campaigns, though not to the same extreme as the others.
artichoke
Artichoke remains one of the province’s most emblematic crops and is suffering from climate pressures. The celebrated Navarra white variety is moving toward extinction. Pedro Valero, a producer and manager with Asaja in Camp d’Elx, observes that the crop thrives with cooler, rainier conditions and even with adequate irrigation water. Hybrid varieties are steadily replacing traditional ones, though last autumn’s intense heat during key planting periods reduced harvest by roughly a quarter.
Openly, the path forward for farmers lies in adopting new varieties, but this is not a simple shift. José Vicente Andreu stresses that the hybrid artichoke, popular in Elche and Vega Baja, is the result of two decades of work and suggests climate change may outpace expectations. He warns that work to develop varieties productive under specific weather patterns may make a difference only in five to ten years as climate behavior evolves.
La Unió and Asaja share these concerns. Carles Peris, general secretary of La Unió, points out that in 2023 global warming reduced harvests across the Valencian Community and led to a 56% rise in insurance claims.
UA saves wild and crop seeds to prevent extinction due to climate change
What do experts think? Fernando Maestre, professor of Ecology at the University of Alicante and winner of a national research award, stresses that the province cannot continue with current farming practices. The new climate demands adaptation, with hotter temperatures and more extreme events that include longer droughts and out-of-season dry spells.
arid land
Maestre advocates rapid crop reconversion. He argues that water will become scarcer day by day due to lack of rainfall and overexploited groundwater. This is not a political issue, but a straightforward reality. Reconversion should begin soon to minimize hardship later.
He also emphasizes a shift toward dryland crops, eliminating irrigation where feasible and selecting products that fit both environmental and economic criteria.
Pablo Melgarejo, professor of Plant Production at Orihuela Higher Polytechnic School, notes that heat has reduced yields in crops this year, especially lemons and tangerines. He calls for more efficient irrigation and for research into new varieties, with efforts aimed at keeping water and nutrients circulating within crops.
Not everything is bleak. Some crops already adapt well to the changing climate, particularly those grown in controlled environments such as greenhouses. Cauliflower, broccoli, and tomatoes can perform reliably, and tubers like potatoes and sweet potatoes find expanding markets alongside vineyards and carobs.
Vermicompost and exotic crops are being explored as alternatives. In the reconversion drive, several farmers are adopting less traditional crops to raise field profitability. One example is pitahaya, a Central American cactus fruit that grows well in Alicante’s climate and is increasingly available on the market. Paulownia, a fast-growing tropical tree, is gaining attention for its valuable timber. Desert mushrooms are also being trialed for culinary potential. Avocados continue to yield well, thanks to suitability with Alicante soils. Vermicompost, the nutrient-rich byproduct of earthworms, is gaining traction as an effective garden fertilizer.