Spain – Regulation in Plant Health, What Does the Future Hold?

Abstract

In Spain, Agriculture is strategic for its economy, being leaders in exporting fresh fruit and vegetables to the rest of the world. In the coming years, the efficient production of its crops will have to increase in order to meet the needs of an ever-growing human population, without harming the environment and its diversity, and at the same time guaranteeing food safety and quality. This is the great challenge facing us and one that we cannot avoid. Within the Plant Health sector, farmers have a number of alternatives at their disposal to improve and preserve plant and soil health as well as to improve the yield and quality of their crops. The commercialisation and use of alternatives such as plant protection products, fertilisers and biostimulants are regulated at European level through guidelines that both the manufacturer of the product and the user of the product are subject to comply with.