Spain’s huge pork industry seeks salvation from swine fever threat

Spain’s Pork Industry Fights ASF Threat Amid Economic Strain

Jordi Saltiveri stands amidst his sprawling pig farm, where 8,000 animals are raised, and recalls the day ASF was confirmed in Spain. “I felt a mix of sadness and frustration,” he says, describing the emotional weight of the news. “When a country becomes infected, its pork exports are halted.” Saltiveri’s family-run operation is nestled in a remote area of Lleida, Catalonia, a region where the old Catalan independence flag flutters at the entrance. Though the virus has not yet reached this part of the country, the pig farmer, who leads Catalonia’s farming cooperatives, is already feeling its ripple effects.

Africa Swine Fever’s Spread and Control Measures

The ASF outbreak originated in Collserola Park, a nature reserve near Barcelona, just a couple of hours from Saltiveri’s farm. A dead wild boar was discovered there in late November, prompting swift action from authorities to close the park and limit access. Investigations have not yet pinpointed the exact cause, though they have ruled out a leak from a nearby research facility. Wild boar, which roam freely in the area and occasionally venture into Barcelona, are now seen as a critical factor in the disease’s transmission.

Òscar Ordeig, Catalonia’s agriculture minister, highlights the role of overpopulation in the crisis. “Allowing wild animals to thrive has led to unchecked growth in rabbit, deer, and boar populations,” he tells the BBC. These creatures, he adds, contribute to “rising traffic collisions and disease spread.” His team estimates the region hosts 120,000 to 180,000 wild boar, with 24,000 culled this year. The culling, carried out via nets, metal traps, and quiet firearms, targets a 6km radius around initial cases, while a 20km area is considered lower risk. Surveillance drones and cameras track animal movement, and all carcasses are tested for the virus. By March, 232 boars had tested positive.

Export Challenges and Financial Losses

Spain’s pork sector, once Europe’s largest with a €25bn valuation, is now grappling with a crisis. Export markets such as Brazil, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, and the U.S. have suspended imports since the outbreak was detected. EU members, China, and the UK have imposed more targeted bans, restricting pork from affected regions. This has caused both a decline in exports and a drop in prices, directly harming farmers like Saltiveri.

“We must deploy all available resources to protect our industry, economy, and agricultural workforce,” Ordeig states. “The stakes are extremely high.”

Catalonia’s pork exports fell 17% in January compared to the previous year. The industry has already lost over €600m since the outbreak began, according to Unión de Uniones, a farmers’ advocacy group. Authorities stress the need for strict biosecurity protocols to restore export status, which requires a 12-month period of disease-free conditions after eradication.