The devastating floods and storms that have swept through southern and eastern Spain, claiming over 250 lives, have also exposed the fragile nature of modern supply chains and the perils of relying heavily on imported food, campaigners warn.
Valencia has been the worst-hit region, with citrus production particularly ravaged. Across Spain’s horticultural belt, the damage is widespread: roads have been destroyed, agricultural infrastructure obliterated, packing plants forced to shut, and greenhouses shattered. “Up to 200 litres per square metre have fallen in some areas in just a few hours, leaving fields flooded where it will be impossible to harvest for up to a week,” said a representative from a Valencia growers’ association.
The cold drop, known as DANA, has not spared other regions such as Ribarroja and Almeria. Several major European retailers, including Mercadona and Carrefour, have reported extensive damage and disruptions at their distribution centres. Miguel Angel Serrano, technical secretary of the Asaja Almeria growers’ organisation, called the situation “catastrophic,” explaining, “Greenhouses have collapsed, and production is severely damaged. Simply factoring in the cost of replacing the affected roofs—excluding the damage to crops or other structures—losses already run into millions of euros. The storm was so ferocious, with hail capable of piercing 800-gauge plastic sheeting, reaching the plants and ruining the vegetables.”
“It’s still too early to gauge the true extent of the damage, but what is abundantly clear is that it will be enormous,” added Miguel Abril, sales director at Anecoop. “In Almeria, where over 4,500 hectares of greenhouses were hit by hail, we’ve managed to resume activity. But in Valencia, in districts like La Ribera and L’Horta Sud, nearly all of our packing plants remain closed—only a couple are back up and running.”
On social media, NFU President Tom Bradshaw underscored the consequences of these events. “When we talk about the need for domestic food resilience in the face of climate change—this tragic situation is why. Yet today, the Budget makes it significantly more expensive to produce food in this country, and there is no way farmers and growers can absorb the cost!”
Liz Webster, founder of lobby group Save British Farming, echoed these fears. “Once again, our food security is about to be tested. We rely heavily on this region during winter for fresh fruit, salads, and vegetables. We’ve lost the capacity to grow much of our own winter produce because the previous government failed to support the survival of our glasshouses.”
However, Defra seemed to dismiss these growing concerns. “The floods in Spain are devastating and humanitarian relief must be the priority. There is no risk to overall UK food security as a result of the flooding,” said a spokesperson. “We are assessing the potential impact on specific product lines and stand ready to support the industry should any food supply chain issues arise.”
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