Spanish agriculture warns of food security crisis due to Moroccan imports

The Iberian agricultural organization SOS Rural issued a stern warning: «Within a decade, Spain's food will depend on Morocco». They predict Spain will lose its «food sovereignty» due to increasing reliance on Moroccan imports.

The group, representing breeders, farmers, and fishermen, points to tomato cultivation as a prime example. They claim imports from Morocco to the EU surged by 52% between 2013 and 2022, reaching 557,225 tonnes last year.

SOS Rural, politically aligned with conservative parties, blames European policies for «crippling» Spanish agriculture. They criticize «unequal production conditions» between Morocco and the EU, specifically citing «exploitative sub-Saharan labor» in Morocco. This claim is factually disputed, as undocumented African agricultural workers are more prevalent in Spain.

To avert complete dependence on Moroccan imports, SOS Rural urges «a forceful and united political response» from Spanish professionals.

It's worth noting that just this week, French farmers also accused their Spanish counterparts of «unfair competition», vandalizing and emptying trucks carrying Spanish agricultural products.