The minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, called a meeting for this Thursday with the farming organizations Asaja, Coag, and UPA at the ministry’s headquarters. The purpose was to address the intensifying protests in recent days, including tractor blockades that have brought traffic to a halt on roads across Spain and caused widespread disruption.
Farmers entering the ministry aimed to negotiate a rapid response plan that covers actions at the European Union level, within Spain, and across the autonomous communities. They stated, however, that the protest calendar should not be paused for the moment. In their view, a lasting solution for the agricultural sector requires involvement from the entire government, not solely the Agriculture Ministry. After discussions at the ministry, their goal is to have their claims presented to Brussels as part of a broader policy dialogue.
It marks the second time this month that the minister has met with agricultural representatives. The first meeting occurred on February 2, just before the mobilizations began. The talk follows a public pledge by the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, to strengthen the chain integrity law. The reform would ban selling products at a loss, addressing a central demand of farmers who seek fair and dignified prices for their harvests.
Organizations will gather again on February 26 in Madrid, aligning their demonstration with the ministers of Agriculture during a meeting of the European Union’s Council. Their objective is to push for progress that can help resolve the current agricultural crisis and support farmers’ livelihoods.
Additionally, the meeting comes just one day after the agricultural sector, retailers, distribution networks, and government partners reconvened at the Observatory of the Food Chain to review developments in prices from field to table. The Observatory serves as a platform to monitor price trends, supply chain dynamics, and the factors shaping income for farmers and the availability of products for consumers.