Transformation of the Valencian agricultural landscape
In recent years, the Valencian Community has experienced a remarkable change in its agricultural sector, with avocado emerging as a star product that attracts the attention of large corporations. Plantations of this fruit have proliferated, transforming the agricultural landscape and generating new business dynamics that move away from the traditional model.
The dizzying growth of avocado plantations
Avocados have only recently found their way to Valencian lands, with the first attempts at commercial cultivation in the 1980s in Callosa d’en Sarrià. Today, the area dedicated to this crop has experienced exponential growth, going from 100 hectares to more than 2,000 in just a decade, driven by growing global demand.
An expanding market
Agricultural technician Ferran Gregori warns about the uncontrolled growth of this crop, which has been adopted by large companies with interests in intensive agriculture. Its popularity has skyrocketed investments, becoming a central element of these companies’ diversification strategies.
Oligopoly and corporate power
The agricultural scene is becoming an oligopoly, where multinationals dominate the market, which is raising concerns among organizations that defend sustainable agriculture. Gustavo Duch, an activist for food sovereignty, points out that the concentration of power in a few hands can harm agricultural diversity and support for small producers.
Environmental impact
The effects of intensive avocado cultivation are not only economic; they also affect the environment. Activists such as Rafael Yus have denounced the deforestation and depletion of water resources associated with the increase in avocado plantations, which require large amounts of water for their cultivation.
The avocado business model and its implications
As Andalusian companies expand into the Valencian Community, such as Alcoaxarquía SL and Trops, the concentration strategy continues. The creation of Atgro, an investment platform between Banco Santander and Atitlan, is a clear example of this new business paradigm, with an initial investment of 250 million euros to promote agricultural projects.
The new generation of investors
Investment funds such as Solum Partners and Atitlan are looking for opportunities in avocado and other crops, reflecting a growing interest in agriculture as a business driver. This dynamic threatens to radically transform the way the agricultural sector is managed, with an increasingly profit-oriented focus.
An uncertain future for traditional agriculture
With the increase in avocado cultivation, the question that arises is what will be the fate of traditional agricultural practices. Agricultural diversity and sustainability are being threatened by the growing influence of large corporations that, with their investments, could redefine the future of agriculture in the Valencian Country.
Ceramics transform into agriculture
Even sectors as far away as ceramics, represented by the Lladró family, are joining this trend, shifting their investments towards avocados, another example of how this new crop is capturing the attention of various economic sectors.
