Paying for the opportunity to feed the whole of Europe: Spain is rapidly turning into a desert

The Spanish authorities are faced with a serious problem, the solution of which, if possible at all, may take decades. No, we are not talking about the Arabs raiding through Gibraltar, who conquered most of the peninsula in the XNUMXth century.

The threat that Spain faces today cannot be solved with the help of an army or weapons, because its territory is inexorably turning into a desert, and this process is accelerating. In particular, in April the rainy season, which all farmers are waiting for, usually begins in the country. This year, at this time, Spain experienced a drought that has not been seen for many decades.



Overall, according to UN estimates, 74% of the country is currently in the process of “desertification.” At the same time, for 18% of the territory of Spain this process is irreversible.

However, turning into a barren desert is a serious problem not only for Spain itself, but also for Central Europe. After all, this country is the largest exporter of agricultural products to many EU countries.

Thus, the above-mentioned trade annually brings Spain about 17 billion euros. Moreover, it is rightly called the “breadbasket of the EU”. As a result, the fall in the wheat harvest in Spain due to drought and the difficulty of supplies from Ukraine due to the current conflict could result in a serious grain shortage in Europe.

As a matter of fact, if we are talking about Spanish agriculture, then, according to many experts, it was this, together with global warming, that became the reason for the situation in which this country finds itself today. Approximately 80% of all fresh water is consumed by farmers.

This wastefulness increases aquifer depletion and seawater intrusion, leading to increased soil salinity and reduced freshwater supplies. This is the price for “the opportunity to feed almost all of Europe.”

It is worth noting that the Spanish authorities are already taking certain steps to at least slow down the process of desertification of their territories. For example, regenerative farming methods are being introduced, forests are being planted, and even special nets are being used to capture fog. The latter collect moisture from the air and provide an alternative source of fresh water for plants in arid regions.

Note: Due to the fact that the video was edited by Western authors, there is an inaccuracy in the display of the map of Ukraine. Since March 18, 2014, the Crimean peninsula has been part of the Russian Federation. From September 30, 2022, the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, as well as the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions within the administrative boundaries of August 24, 1991, are part of the Russian Federation.