Planas defends that the food chain law "works" and encourages producers to report irregularities

The Government convened a historic meeting on Wednesday with key stakeholders in the food industry to discuss the challenges faced by the agricultural sector. This gathering marked the first meeting of the legislature of the Food Chain Observatory, amidst ongoing protests by farmers demanding fair prices for their products. Agriculture Minister, Luis Planas, acknowledged the need to strengthen the application of the food chain law and encouraged agricultural organizations to report any irregularities they come across.

Minister Planas highlighted the positive impact of the reformed food chain law, which has led to increased prices for farmers and ranchers. However, he also recognized the existence of diverse commercial situations where implementing the law has been challenging. In response, Planas urged agricultural organizations and other stakeholders to inform the authorities of any irregularities observed, and stressed the importance of increased control and processing of complaints by regional officials.

During the meeting, two studies were presented that analyzed the evolution of food prices and consumption. According to one report, food prices experienced a significant inflation rate of 11.7% in 2023. Another study revealed a growing preference for private labels among households. Additionally, the Ministry of Agriculture introduced a new tool, Ecrea 2.0, designed to analyze the costs and income of agricultural holdings.

In anticipation of a meeting between the Minister of Agriculture and agricultural organizations, stakeholders are hopeful that concrete measures to strengthen the food chain law and streamline bureaucracy related to CAP aid will be established.