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

Spain’s Huge Pork Industry Seeks Salvation from Swine Fever Threat

Jordi Saltiveri stands on his family’s farm, home to 8,000 pigs, and reflects on the moment late last year when news of African Swine Fever (ASF) reached Spain. “I felt a mix of sorrow and frustration,” he recalls. “When a country is confirmed as ASF-positive, international buyers halt imports of its pork.” His ancestral land, nestled in Lleida’s countryside, is a few hours from Barcelona. A Catalan independence banner flutters at its gate, while the distant sounds of pigs grunting and squealing fill the air.

Containment Efforts in the Wild

The ASF outbreak began in Collserola Park, a Barcelona borderland nature reserve. In late November, a dead wild boar carrying the virus was found there. Authorities swiftly closed the park, limiting access and launching a search for more carcasses. Despite this, the virus has yet to reach Saltiveri’s region. However, the damage to the pork sector is already evident.

Saltiveri, who leads Catalonia’s farming cooperatives, notes that each pig sold for slaughter has lost €30 to €40 in value compared to pre-outbreak levels. “Farmers are feeling the strain,” he says. “The losses are significant.” The virus, though deadly to pigs and wild boars, poses no risk to humans.

Wild Boar as Key Culprits

Òscar Ordeig, Catalonia’s agriculture minister, highlights the role of wild boar in spreading ASF. “Overpopulation of these animals, along with rabbits and deer, has created challenges,” he explains. “They contribute to traffic accidents and disease transmission.” Ordeig estimates the region hosts 120,000 to 180,000 boars, with 24,000 culled this year to curb the spread. Rural officers focus on a 6km radius around initial cases, designating it high risk, while a 20km area is marked as lower risk.

Culling methods include net traps, metal boxes, and quiet firearms. Surveillance via cameras and drones tracks boar movements, with every body tested for ASF. By late March, 232 boars had tested positive. Fences now restrict boar migration, and officers disinfect their gear after patrolling infected zones.

Economic Fallout

Spain’s pork industry, once Europe’s largest with a €25bn value, faces a crisis. Since eradicating ASF three decades ago, it has grown immensely. But the virus’s presence has triggered immediate export bans. Brazil, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, and the U.S. have stopped importing Spanish pork, while EU members, China, and the UK restrict only products from the affected northeast region.

The drop in demand has impacted both export volumes and prices. In January, Catalonia’s pork exports fell 17% year-on-year. Unión de Uniones, a farming group, reports the industry has already lost over €600m since the outbreak began. “We must use all available tools to protect our sector,” Ordeig stresses. “The entire economy is at risk.” With full eradication still pending, a 12-month period is required before Spain can regain its export status.