Balearic farmers are aware of climate change

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment, Joan Simonet, assured this Wednesday, during the presentation of the balance of the aid from the Common Agricultural Policy (PAC) by 2024, that the primary sector in the Balearic Islands is "more aware of climate change." European Union. In fact, in the Balearic Islands there has been an increase in applications for the 2025 CAP compared to last year. The increase in aid for 2024.

Balearic farmers received 36.5 million euros in aid last year, 900,000 euros more than in 2023. The minister assured that these subsidies "compensate for the additional costs of carrying out these practices." For his part, the coordinator of Unió de Pagesos, Joan Gaià, explains that a good part of the agricultural practices of the Islands "were improved with the commitment from the administrations to include eco-regimes in the CAP." However, he points out that others "had to be changed simply because they hadn't worked before."

Regarding CAP aid intended to subsidize the implementation of environmentally friendly practices, the Director General of Agriculture, Livestock, and Rural Development, Fernando Fernández, highlighted the €2.55 million allocated to crop rotation with improving species. He also mentioned the €1.78 million allocated to extensive grazing, among other measures.

Simonet linked the increase in aid to eco-regimes with the growth of organic farming. In 2024,organic farming In the Balearic Islands, 3,696 hectares were added, bringing the total to 50,541 registered with the Balearic Council for Organic Agricultural Production (CBPAE). 43 new operators were added, bringing the total to 1,301.

Other subsidies

In addition to these aids, there are also agri-environmental and compensatory subsidies, included within the Rural Development Program (RDP) that can be requested jointly with the CAP. Regarding agri-environmental subsidies, 9.08 million euros were paid in 2024, 3.4 more than in 2023.

The manager of the Agrarian and Fisheries Guarantee Fund of the Balearic Islands (FOGAIBA), Joan Coll, explained that these aids, ecological, integrated production, biological control, genetic erosion, use of reclaimed water, native breeds, solarization and biosolarization, mass trapping, sexual confusion and animal welfare.