Hundreds of farmers descended upon the streets of Barcelona on Wednesday, utilizing approximately 200 tractors alongside buses and private vehicles to highlight what they characterize as a structural crisis within Catalonia’s agricultural sector. According to the agricultural union Unió de Pagesos, which organized the demonstration, more than 1,000 agricultural professionals from across the region participated in the event.
The protesters initiated their march outside the Spanish government’s delegation in Catalonia. From there, the group moved toward the regional Agriculture Department and the Palau de la Generalitat, which serves as the seat of the Catalan government. Raquel Serrat, the union’s national coordinator, emphasized the resolve of those involved, stating, “We are prepared not to slacken; it is time to say enough.”
Serrat explained that the sector is being pushed “against the ropes” due to a combination of historic drought, rising production costs, and declining payments to farmers. Unió de Pagesos argues that the industry can no longer rely on temporary measures or one-off subsidies, calling instead for long-term strategies to secure food sovereignty. The union is actively seeking direct aid of up to $18,950 for professional agricultural holdings, which they suggest would help mitigate the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Specific demands presented to the central government include tax relief on agricultural diesel, a reduction in value-added tax on production, the introduction of dedicated electricity tariffs for irrigation, and an exemption for agricultural machinery from periodic vehicle inspections. Additionally, farmers are calling for clearer food labelling to ensure consumers can identify the origin of their products. The union has also expressed deep concern regarding imports from outside the European Union that they claim fail to meet the rigorous standards required of local producers, as well as potential reductions in funding from the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy.
While no formal meeting was scheduled with public authorities prior to the protest, the Catalan Agriculture Department did offer to receive representatives from the union. Unió de Pagesos maintains that they have already submitted their demands through established consultation forums and are now awaiting concrete responses from officials.
