The Food Chain Observatory, an entity linked to the Ministry of Agriculture, coordinates efforts to balance the links in the farm-to-table chain. A scheduled meeting for midweek will gather stakeholders, while farmers in Spain plan protests reflecting concerns about enforcement and rules that have governed the sector since 2021, including provisions on public specifications and the prohibition of certain loss-making sales practices. [Attribution: Ministry of Agriculture records]
The gathering remains a regular event, with the organization’s general manager outlining its operational characteristics for the period. The Food Chain Observatory sits within the larger plenary framework of agricultural organizations that include Asaja, COAG, and UPA, alongside Spain’s federations for agri-food cooperatives, fishing guilds, and the food and beverage industries. Wholesale and retail players across sub-sectors, together with consumer bodies, are represented, as are the National Association of Large Distribution Companies and the Spanish Association of Distributors, Self-Service and Supermarkets. [Attribution: sector council delegates]
Herrero, who spoke at a recent conference on food pricing, noted that the food chain law has moved toward completion, while the government has pledged further strengthening of the framework. He described the chain as highly competitive and emphasized that the law provides a suite of tools. He also indicated there is no widespread abuse, including losses-based selling, although unions have pressed for clearer criteria on production costs and for ensuring that farmer-origin prices are fair. The union Unió de Pagesos calls for the Food Information and Control Agency to carry out ex officio inspections when prices drop abnormally, such as in lemon markets. [Attribution: sector press]
Climate policy discussions have highlighted gaps in the law. The minister of climate action explained that distributors must understand production costs to avoid purchasing products below cost. He pointed to specific examples, such as milk produced at a known cost, underscoring regional studies that inform these assessments. [Attribution: ministerial interview]
Across cooperatives, industry players, and distribution networks, the sense of a worldwide pressure on food systems is rising. Inflation in essential goods and the observed connection between weather-driven production fluctuations and prices are shaping the current debate. For instance, olive oil output in the country has fallen short of typical levels for multiple harvests, reinforcing calls for clearer cost benchmarks and transparent pricing mechanisms. [Attribution: market analysis]