Spain’s minister sparks farmers’ fury by criticizing mega-farms

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The Spanish government faces a backlash and division within its own ranks after a minister warned of the possible dangers of large-scale intensive agriculture.

Alberto Garzn, consumer minister in the left-wing coalition government, told the Guardian that what is not sustainable at all are these so-called mega-farms.

He added: They find a village in a depopulated part of Spain and put 4,000, 5,000 or 10,000 head of cattle there. They pollute the soil, they pollute the water and then they export this poor quality meat from these mistreated animals.

He opposed this to more traditional and extensive agriculture, which he said is sustainable.

The leader of the main opposition party (PP), Pablo Casado, called these comments an attack on farmers and the image of our country.

It is not acceptable for the government to tell the foreign press that Spain is exporting low-quality meat from mistreated animals, he added.

The Asaja Association of Young Farmers declared Mr Garzns’ comments inadmissible and called for his resignation.

Mr. Garzn is the leader of the Communist-led United Left (IU), which is a junior partner in the government of socialist Pedro Snchez. Last year he also sparked controversy by calling on Spaniards to eat less meat.

Recently, the debate on macro-farms has intensified. While their advocates see them as an effective way to produce livestock and revive depopulated rural areas, critics warn they come at a high cost to the environment and the animals raised.

Greenpeace has described one of these farms in the northern region of Navarre as guilty of ecocide.

Santiago Abascal, leader of the far-right Vox party, also attacked Mr Garzn, tweeting a report about how meat was served at the wedding of left-wing politicians and adding the comment: Steaks for them. Worms for the rest.

But probably the most disturbing criticism has come from the government’s own ranks. Government spokeswoman Isabel Rodrguez said Mr Garzn expressed a personal point of view, not that of the administration.

Meanwhile, Javier Lambn, the socialist president of the northeastern region of Aragon, has joined calls for the immediate resignation of ministers, accusing him of a direct attack on an important area of ​​the economy Aragonese, which tries to be competitive and sustainable.

However, Mr Garzn responded to the storm by doubling down on his comments, which he translated into Spanish and posted online, and insisting he was speaking on behalf of the government. He also claimed that the meat industry had twisted his words.

Jaume Asens, spokesperson for the Unidas Podemos electoral platform of which Mr. Garzns IU is a member, accused the partners of the socialist coalition of very serious disloyalty on this issue, claiming that they had thrown us a cut of meat in the face.

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