Organic Farming in Spain: Water, Costs, and Market Trends

Across fields where drought can trim yields by as much as one-fifth, organic producers pursue improved water use and gentler relief through smarter irrigation and soil-friendly practices. Even when rainfall is scarce, these farms experience less dramatic impact because their farming methods emphasize water conservation and resilient soil structure.

Water scarcity touches everyone, yet organic farmers appear to have an edge. They tend crops with built-in mitigation and lower water demand, which helps stabilize production when rainfall is limited.

Álvaro Barrera, president of the Spanish Association of Organic Production Professionals (Ecovalia), notes that a defining feature of organic farming is soil that can hold moisture. This natural capacity helps crops weather dry periods without rapid dehydration.

To illustrate the contrast, Barrera compares two people in the same hot moment after eating something spicy: one with a glass of water and another without. In organic systems, the soil acts as that glass, buffering plants against heat stress by storing moisture and avoiding the blockers that hinder water uptake in other systems.

Nitrogenous compounds damaging the soil

Traditional farming, Barrera explains in discussions with Efeagro, can cause soil damage during drought due to nitrogen compounds and other chemicals used to protect crops. When water is scarce, these substances can exacerbate soil stress and hamper plant health.

In contrast, organic farming allows crops to hold onto moisture more effectively, reducing the need for aggressive inputs and improving resilience to heat and drought.

The lack of water, along with other climate challenges such as hail, has driven up the prices of crops like melons, watermelons, onions, and tomatoes, while cultivation has declined. This trend feeds into higher consumer prices for fruits and vegetables in grocery stores.

Organic farming is not immune to these economic shifts. Input costs for fertilizers and other inputs rise, affecting all products. Yet some observers, including Ecovalia’s president, see solutions in closer farm-to-table distribution that can help mitigate the impact of rising costs.

Yet consumers continue to buy organic products. Ecovalia reports that average per capita expenditure reached 60 euros annually, with most of that spend occurring at home.

Organic farming already competes with conventional farming

Roberto Ruiz, an organic production research technician at the Basque Agricultural Research Institute (Neiker), highlights the ability of organic farming to compete with conventional systems. He notes that traditional farming often depends on inputs that can drive up costs, making organic production competitive or sometimes more economical in the long run.

The focus also lies on water reservoirs capable of supplying domestic and agricultural needs, especially in a country where water storage has fluctuated, with reserves around 48.2 percent and a continuing decline over weeks.

The Ecovalia manager warns about the presence of organophosphorus substances, noting that limits on these actives are set for safe human consumption. The little water available now emphasizes the risk that stored water may be more vulnerable to contamination as rainfall fades away.

Conventional farming inputs wash into reservoirs during rain, increasing the concentration of these substances when water reserves are already stretched thin.

Spending on organic farming continues to rise

Data from 2022 show Spaniards spent an average of 60 euros on organic products, both inside and outside the home, marking a 3.1 percent rise and an increase of nearly two euros from the previous year. Organic consumption has grown by about 45 percent in three years after post-pandemic stability.

That year, 64 percent of the organic basket in Spain consisted of plant-based products, with fruits making up about 14 percent, vegetables around 10 percent, and 36 percent representing animal-based products, mainly meat. There are 2.64 million hectares of certified organic land in Spain, reflecting a 26.6 percent growth over five years.

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“The environmental department continues to explore sustainable farming and the balance between conservation and production, aiming to safeguard resources for both people and crops.”