Across the agricultural landscape, drought has trimmed crop acreage by as much as 20 percent, yet producers who embrace ecological farming report notable resilience. They breathe easier thanks to improved water management and, even when rainfall is scarce, they endure with less disruption to their yields.
Water scarcity affects everyone, but organic farmers often hold a practical edge. Their systems are built with water efficiency in mind, featuring mechanisms that reduce usage and ensure crops receive what they need without waste.
Álvaro Barrera, president of the Spanish Professional Association of Organic Production (Ecovalia), explains that the defining trait of this farming approach is soil that can retain moisture due to its inherent structure. This moisture retention helps crops survive dry spells more effectively.
Barrera uses a simple analogy to contrast conventional and organic farming: consider two people who crave a glass of water after a spicy meal. One lacks access to water, the other has a ready supply. The difference highlights how organic systems can provide more stable relief from heat stress.
Nitrogen compounds that harm the soil
Conventional agriculture, Barrera notes in discussions with Efeagro, can degrade soil during drought as nitrogenous compounds and chemicals from pesticides accumulate. In such conditions, water is scarce and soils burn under heat stress.
In contrast, organic farmers rely on natural nutrient cycles and avoid the substances that can block water absorption. Crops guided by these cycles can use available water more efficiently, reducing the impact of heat and dryness.
Water scarcity, added to other climate challenges such as hail, drives up prices for melons, watermelons, onions, and tomatoes while reducing overall cultivation.
This translates to higher consumer prices for fruit and vegetables at the checkout, where inflation touches the grocery cart.
Organic agriculture is not immune to price fluctuations. With higher input costs affecting many crops, the Ecovalia president notes that farm to table distribution can help ease pressure on margins.
Yet consumers continue to buy these products. Ecovalia reports that per-person expenditure on organic items hovered around 60 euros annually, with roughly 53 euros spent at home.
Organic agriculture is already competing with conventional farming
Roberto Ruiz, an organic production research technician at the Basque Agricultural Research Institute, emphasizes the capacity of organic farming to compete with conventional methods. He notes that traditional farming can struggle for performance when inputs are mismanaged, making costs higher and profits tighter.
In periods like the current water-deficit situation, with reservoir reserves hovering around 48 percent and continuing to drop, the ability of reservoirs to supply drinking water and irrigation remains critical for the economy and farms alike.
Ecological farming leaders warn about phosphorus limits and the crucial issue of scarce water. When rainfall drains away, contaminants in the soil can concentrate as water sources shrink, affecting both crops and the broader environment.
Phytosanitary products used in conventional farming often travel with runoff into reservoirs, raising concerns about residues as stored water declines. This underscores the need for careful resource management and sustainable practices across farming systems.
Expenditures on organic agriculture continue to rise
Recent data show Spaniards spent about 60 euros on organic products in 2022, a modest increase from the prior year. This uptick reflects sustained consumer interest despite broader price pressures both inside and outside the home.
Ecovalia notes that organic consumption rose by about 45 percent over the last three years following post-pandemic stabilization. A diet rich in organic goods remains a part of many households, with fruits and vegetables repeatedly comprising a large share of the organic basket, alongside animal products such as meat.
There are 2.64 million hectares of certified ecological land in Spain, with growth in organic areas continuing over the past five years. This expansion reflects ongoing demand for sustainable farming and responsible land stewardship.
Additional notes highlight the evolving landscape of agriculture and environmental stewardship as Spain navigates drought, climate variability, and changing consumer expectations.