Experts have warned for years about the financial fallout of climate change, and today those warnings are translating into tangible economic results. One sector feeling the pressure is agriculture, markedly sensitive to rising heat and shifting rainfall. In Alicante, drought, higher temperatures, and disrupted water supplies threaten emblematic and protected crops such as medlars, artichokes, cherries, and vines. The erosion of these crops signals a broader loss of agri-food sovereignty and regional identity.
Climate patterns show scant rainfall since the start of the year, with temperatures consistently exceeding long-term averages. The climate crisis spurred the government to halt the Tajo-Segura water transfer, a pivotal irrigation artery for the area extending through Andalusia, Murcia, and Alicante. Projections suggest water resources could be halved by 2027, translating to up to 100 hectares of land in reduced productivity, or roughly a 30 percent cut for the province. The ripple effects threaten 27,000 irrigated hectares and nearly 6,000 jobs in the region, alongside an anticipated 40 percent drop in agri-food exports.
Beyond numbers, the human impact is clear. Alicante, renowned for high-quality fruit and vegetables, already shows strain in preservation and production metrics. Protected designate medlars from Callosa d’en Sarrià illustrate the challenge. According to Juan Vicente Espasa, head of the organizing committee, heat accelerated the campaign and forced harvests to begin sooner, yet fruit size diminished due to drought, yielding an approximate 20 percent production drop to around eight million pounds.
Rainwater is exposed as a key issue. Farmers relying on the Algar river describe stable irrigation, but emphasize that rainwater remains superior; it is absorbed by trees more effectively and supports longer-term resilience. Espasa cautions that if rainfall remains scarce, next year could bring new restrictions.
Grapes protected under the Vinalopó designation face similar stress. Producers monitor reserves, as the harvest, normally around 40,000 tons, hinges on forthcoming rains. Lower aquifer reserves risk soil salinization that harms vineyards. The remedy hinges on abundant rainfall, which is not currently visible, notes Council chair José Bernabeu. In the medium term, overuse of water resources for medlars and other crops could force reliance on transferred water that will become increasingly scarce.
Elche’s protected mole pomegranate saw a 30 percent drop last year, down to about 30,000 kilos, with a production outlook that remains uncertain. Quality manager Sylvia Queijas observes two-month forward shifts in flowering due to heat, making fruit set unpredictable. Water availability during midsummer will determine if trees can sustain vegetation; otherwise, trees may shed fruit and leaves. The transfer cutoff looms large, with questions about available resources unanswered.
five disastrous years
Cherries from Mount Alicante, protected under a geographical indication, have suffered five consecutive disastrous years. Head of the organizing committee Hilario Calabuig estimates a 90 percent yield loss in rain-fed zones, especially across Marina Alta and El Comtat, culminating in a total harvest near three million kilos.
A pilot project aims to reuse water from a nearby treatment plant in Muro for irrigation, a potentially viable path to alleviate drought strain. Calabuig notes the project remains in early stages and uncertain about timing.
Similarly, Vega Baja’s artichoke, a quality-marked product, has not escaped the trend. Prices held steady this year, but production fell by about 30 percent, with no rebound in sight. Temperatures were a major factor, and officials say rainwater cannot be replaced by irrigation in terms of its beneficial effects.
If central government transfer plans succeed, irrigation reliability could still be uncertain. Hurtado indicates the option to activate drying wells, though these wells typically have high salinity. Desalination proposals face skepticism due to cost, and treated seawater mixes would require careful balancing.
These crop-specific challenges reflect a broader pattern: rising costs for fertilizers and phytosanitary products compound the pressures on all farming activities in the province. José Vicente Andreu, president of the Alicante Young Farmers Association, notes that dry crops are facing reduced yields and warns that some orchards could die without adequate irrigation. He also suggests that to maintain supply, continued water transfers are essential, despite the heavy burden on agriculture.
Carles Peris, general secretary of La Unió, emphasizes that higher temperatures and reduced rainfall complicate production, and the solution will require gradual, sustained research into more resilient varieties. The path forward, he says, involves maintaining existing water flows, expanding reuse and treatment, and ensuring prices remain fair for farmers. Peris also references programs that certify agricultural quality. A protected designation of origin requires all stages of production to occur within its geographic area, while protected geographical indication may involve just one stage. These marks help producers differentiate products and assure consumers of quality.
Climate change extends beyond crop yields to livestock, where drought and heat reduce pasture and push farmers toward higher feed costs in an inflationary climate. Beekeepers report a sharp decline in flowering and bee populations, threatening honey production and pollination services that sustain many crops.