The primary sector: between abandonment and reinvention

At the beginning of the 21st century, the Balearic countryside was still reeling from the consequences of the rural exodus it suffered mainly in the second half of the 20th century. The expansion of mass tourism recruited many workers from the primary sector. In addition to the loss of labor, during the first quarter of the century farmers had to face the crisis of the traditional agricultural model, price disparities with the mainland, the loss of rural land, and adverse weather events, among other problems. However, in a sense, Balearic society has become more aware of the importance of the primary sector in the Islands, which has had to reinvent itself to survive. Nevertheless, Foravila has accumulated regulations, bureaucracy, and problems that are increasingly stifling it. "We are worse off than at the beginning of the century," summarizes Joana Mascaró, manager of Unió de Petits Agricultors i Ganaders (UPA-AIA). Foravila is becoming a wasteland

The loss of agricultural workers led to the abandonment of the land and also of traditional monocultures. In fact, 99% of the dryland almond trees that years ago produced Mallorca's almonds no longer exist. In the early 2000s, the rural countryside began to be perceived socially as a landscape rather than as productive land. "The countryside became a vacant lot with the arrival of city dwellers, speculators, and people who wanted to live in luxury," explains Miquel Gual, president of the San Bartolomé de Sóller Agricultural Cooperative. Furthermore, this problem, which began around the year 2000, has worsened with the increased tolerance of the authorities in authorizing certain uses that are inappropriate for rural areas. According to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), the Balearic Islands have lost 28,500 hectares of agricultural land and 1,700 farms in ten years (from 2013 to 2023). Regarding agricultural products, between 2015 and 2020, production decreased for cereals (from 49,341 to 48,937 tons), legumes (from 3,090 to 2,057 tons), tubers (from 58,284 to 8,284 tons), citrus fruits (from 10,739 to 6,535 tons), stone fruits (from 2,031 to 1,200 tons), nuts (from 7,364 to 3,956 tons), and vegetables (from 5 to 5,000 tons). The livestock sector is not immune to this decline. Mascaró points out that "in Mallorca, only 10% of the dairy farms that existed around the year 2000 remain." Regarding milk production, he explains that in the same period, production has fallen from 40 million liters per year to seven million. All of this has led to the disappearance of feed mills and other activities related to the sector, while others face an uncertain future, as is the case with Agama. Boom in organic farming

For the first 25 years of this century, the trend toward organic farming was the complete opposite of that of traditional agriculture. In 2000, the area dedicated to organic farming in the Balearic Islands was 3,455 hectares, according to data published by the Balearic Council for Organic Agricultural Production (CBPAE). That figure has increased significantly. In 2024, organic farming reached 50,542 registered hectares, and compared to 2023, it added 43 new operators, reaching a total of 1,301. These figures demonstrate that "organic farming in the Balearic Islands has ceased to be an ideology," celebrates Joan Gaià, coordinator of Unió de Pagesos (Farmers' Union). At the beginning of the implementation of this model, farmers questioned its profitability, since the products used are more expensive. But over the years, farmers have found that organic techniques mitigate the effects of climate change and also make better use of the Balearic Islands' natural resources, which have dwindled over the past 25 years. That's why Gaià points out that organic farming "is the future of the Balearic countryside." Along the same lines, he insists that "for things to go well" in the next 25 years, "conventional agriculture should almost disappear, although some of its practices should be preserved."

With the implementation and growth of organic farming, a new type of farmer is entering the sector, one who "is more committed to the environment," according to Miquel Gual. The number of young farmers is growing in the Balearic Islands. According to data announced in 2024 by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Natural Environment, Joan Simonet, the Islands have gone from an average of 30 young farmers entering the agricultural sector each year to 110. "There have never been so many young people so well-prepared," Gual celebrates. However, he warns that these young farmers "are the last link connecting the past of the Islands' countryside with its future," adding that "if the government doesn't provide them with support, it's clear the sector is finished." On the other hand, organic livestock farming is also growing in some sectors in the Balearic Islands. One example is the increase to 150 sheep farms for meat production, compared to 26 in 2002, according to CBPAE.

Local produce, up for debate

Before the 2008 crisis, there was a notable increase in imports to the Balearic Islands. This meant that local producers were increasingly competing with the lower prices on the mainland, due to a factor that worked against them: their island status. Production costs in the Balearic Islands are higher, and farmers had to pass this on to the final price of their products. All of this forced farmers to go to great lengths to sell their locally sourced produce. However, this situation has managed to unite farmers, both large and small, to fight for the same goal: to increase the consumption of local products, says Gaià.

Adding to the challenges of island life was the fact that the Agrarian Law, which precisely defined and regulated what constituted local produce, wasn't passed until 2019. Starting that year, and in response to demands from the sector, regulations addressing its management were strengthened. The government of Francina Armengol involved the tourism sector with a regulation requiring all establishments in the sector to offer at least 3% local produce. However, according to farmers, the competent tourism authorities, the island councils, are not carrying out the necessary inspections to ensure compliance. Therefore, the regulation is not reflected in sales of local produce, nor has it completely resolved the problem.