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Farmers face steep losses as ASF spreads in Catalonia
Jordi Saltiveri surveys his 8,000-pig farm in Lleida, Catalonia, with frustration. Since African Swine Fever (ASF) was detected in Spain late last year, each pig he sells has lost €30-40 in value, deepening financial strain on producers across the country.
How the outbreak began
The crisis originated in Collserola Park, a wooded area on Barcelona's outskirts, where an infected wild boar carcass was discovered in November. Authorities swiftly sealed the park and initiated a search for additional cases. While the source remains unclear, investigators ruled out a leak from a nearby animal research facility.
Wild boars-numbering 120,000-180,000 in Catalonia-have been identified as the primary vector. Their overpopulation has exacerbated the spread, with some venturing into urban fringes. Regional agriculture minister Òscar Ordeig called the situation a consequence of "excessive permissiveness" toward wildlife, citing increased traffic accidents and disease transmission.
Culling and containment efforts
To curb the outbreak, Catalonia has culled 24,000 wild boars this year, targeting a 6km high-risk radius around the initial cases. A secondary 20km zone is under surveillance. Traps, silenced firearms, drones, and cameras monitor the animals, with all carcasses tested for ASF. By late March, 232 boars had tested positive.
Fences now restrict boar movement, while officers disinfect vehicles and footwear after patrolling high-risk areas. Ordeig emphasized Spain's "extreme biosecurity" measures, arguing that the industry's €25bn value justifies aggressive action.
Economic fallout ripples globally
ASF, harmless to humans but deadly to pigs, has triggered export bans. Brazil, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, and the U.S. halted all Spanish pork imports, while the EU, China, and the UK imposed regional restrictions. Catalonia's pork exports dropped 17% in January year-over-year, costing the industry over €600m since the crisis began, according to farmers' union Unión de Uniones.
Saltiveri, president of Catalonia's farming cooperatives, warned of cascading losses. "We're defending our economy and farmers," he said, though some producers criticize the response as too slow. Mercolleida, a key agricultural market, compared Spain's struggles to Germany's, where ASF contributed to a 25% production decline and thousands of farm closures.
Domestic confidence holds amid uncertainty
In Barcelona's Sants market, shoppers expressed trust in safety measures. "I feel calmer now-pork is under more controls," said Nati Martínez, contrasting ASF with the 1990s BSE crisis, which affected humans. Butcher José Rodríguez noted stable retail prices but softer sales, attributing the dip to inflation rather than the outbreak.
Spain aims to replicate Belgium's success in eradicating ASF within 14 months. Until then, a 12-month disease-free period is required to restore full export status. For Saltiveri and others, the clock is ticking.
