ANAFRIC attended the presentation of the study “The Catalan agri-food sector in the face of the global challenges of the 21st century”, promoted by Pimec and the College of Economists of Catalonia through GEREC, and prepared by economists Francesc Reguant and Oriol Amat.
During the event, the urgent need to accelerate the transformation of the agri-food sector was highlighted in order to ensure its competitiveness and sustainability in a context marked by international market pressure, climate change and resource scarcity. The study underlines the strategic role of the sector in the Catalan economy, which contributes between 19% and 20% of GDP and employs more than 177,000 people, consolidating its position as the country’s leading industrial sector in terms of activity volume.
The event featured institutional participation by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food, Òscar Ordeig; the President of Pimec, Antoni Cañete; the Dean of the College of Economists of Catalonia, Carlos Puig de Travy; and the President of Pimec’s Agri-food sector, David Coll Batllori. A roundtable discussion was also held on the challenges and opportunities facing the Catalan agri-food sector, with contributions from Josep Friguls, President of ANAFRIC, alongside representatives from JARC, ASFAC and the Girona Pig Health Group.
Among the key points highlighted, which will be included in a final conclusions document, we would like to underline:
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The sector is not only an economic activity, but a strategic system that ensures territorial cohesion, cultural identity and food sovereignty, and should be considered on the same level as other essential pillars such as healthcare and education.
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The future of the sector depends on enhancing the value of professions across the entire value chain and attracting new talent.
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Ensuring access to water and energy, investing in technological modernisation, the circular economy and biosecurity, and strengthening the quality and prestige of the Catalonia brand are key to maintaining the sector’s position in an uncertain global scenario.