In the midst of a wave of wildfires, this production system based on year-round open-range grazing is proving to be an effective tool for fire prevention and ecosystem conservation. Organizations like Ecovalia are championing the role of livestock farmers as true guardians of the land, while the European Union is beginning to recognize their strategic value.
Andalusia, leader in organic production
The Andalusian region accounts for 62% of the national land dedicated to organic livestock farming and has more than 6.000 certified farms, representing 60% of the total in Spain. According to Álvaro Barrera, president of Ecovalia, the region's agro-climatic conditions are ideal for this type of production, to the point that the European regulation on organic production was inspired by the Andalusian model.
Provinces like Cádiz stand out in the beef sector, with native breeds such as the Retinta. However, this leading position clashes with an uncomfortable reality: the lack of a complete processing chain within the region. Barrera explains it clearly: "Our animals are raised here and then transported north for processing and labeling as organic, leaving much of the added value there in the north." This situation means that the economic benefits leave the region.
Domestic consumption is another Achilles' heel. Although Spain is among the top ten countries in organic product consumption, the per capita figure is €66 per year (€60 in Andalusia), far below France's €188. Barrera insists that Spanish consumers value organic meat for its health and environmental benefits, but it is necessary to boost demand and awareness of its advantages, such as animal welfare and reduced chemical use.
The challenge of transformation and consumption
The lack of processing infrastructure in southern Spain is a structural problem that hinders the sector's development. While the north has certified slaughterhouses and processing plants, in Andalusia animals must travel hundreds of kilometers to be processed and labeled as organic. This not only increases the price of the product but also reduces profit margins for local farmers and stifles job creation in rural areas.
Ecovalia is working to reverse this situation, calling for greater public-private coordination to develop the necessary infrastructure. The organization also emphasizes the importance of promoting domestic consumption, not only as a market issue, but as a commitment to sustainability and regional development. "Consumers need to understand that buying organic meat is investing in biodiversity and fire prevention," Barrera points out.
Generational renewal and the incorporation of women into the sector are other aspects that the organic model promotes. Faced with the trend of abandoning conventional farms, organic livestock farming offers an opportunity for young people and women who want to build their lives in the countryside.
Fire prevention and land protection
One of the most valued aspects of organic extensive livestock farming is its contribution to fire prevention and responsible forest management . Sheep, goats, and cows continuously remove herbaceous and shrubby vegetation, reducing the accumulation of dry biomass that fuels large fires. Where livestock graze, the landscape is more diverse and has less continuous fuel, hindering the spread of flames.
Barrera defines livestock farmers as "volunteer forest rangers who ask for nothing in return and who always contribute to society." This stewardship of the land goes beyond food production: it keeps the ecosystems of the Mediterranean woodland and pastureland alive, improves soil fertility, and promotes biodiversity. Without herds, vegetation grows unchecked, and wildfires find much more favorable conditions to reach large scales.
The gradual disappearance of organic livestock farming in many regions has also meant the loss of a traditional forest management tool. For this reason, more and more administrations and the European Union itself are recognizing the strategic value of grazing in fire prevention policies. Managed grazing initiatives and the promotion of silvopastoral systems are part of a strategy that understands that protecting forests depends not only on acting when a fire breaks out, but also on managing the landscape year-round.
EU support and the CAP
Last July, the European Commission presented the new EU Livestock Strategy, aiming to ensure the sector is competitive, resilient, and sustainable by 2040. The document explicitly recognizes the value of extensive livestock farming for its contribution to maintaining grasslands, conserving biodiversity, combating rural depopulation, and reducing the risk of forest fires. Far from advocating for a reduction in livestock numbers, the strategy focuses on promoting more sustainable production models.
Regarding the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), Barrera defines it as an essential "income supplement" for organic livestock farmers. Although he considers the current CAP to be "the most environmentally friendly," he criticizes the fact that the regulations do not always reflect the realities of the sector. Ecovalia is already working to ensure that organic production is "represented" in the next 2028-2034 framework, for which they are demanding specific investment to maintain Spain's leadership and develop the necessary processing infrastructure.
The future of the sector depends on greater coordination between government and the private sector, as well as on an increasingly conscious consumer. With the right support, organic livestock farming in Andalusia has the potential not only to continue growing, but also to ensure that all the value it generates remains in the region, helping to retain the population and protect the environment.
In short, organic extensive livestock farming presents itself as a comprehensive solution to several major current challenges: fire prevention, rural depopulation, biodiversity loss, and the need to produce quality food sustainably. Andalusia, with its leadership and experience, is poised to lead the way in Europe, but it needs investment and a regulatory framework that recognizes its work. EU support and the work of organizations like Ecovalia are steps in the right direction, although much remains to be done to ensure that the added value stays within the region and that domestic consumption reaches the levels of other European countries.
