Government Assurance for Canary Banana Farmers
Spain’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, has publicly guaranteed that a memorandum signed with Ecuador will have “no consequence whatsoever for the Canary Islands banana.” Responding to concerns in the Senate, Minister Planas sought to calm fears that the agreement would harm the archipelago’s crucial banana industry.
Addressing Sector Concerns in Senate Debate
The minister’s statement came this Tuesday during a Senate session, where he answered a question from PP senator Jaime Morales. Senator Morales had questioned whether the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Spain and Ecuador would damage the Canary Islands banana sector, as its signing had generated “widespread concern across the archipelago.”
Scope and Intent of the Agreement
Minister Planas firmly “certified” that this agreement is a standard memorandum of understanding, “like those signed with other Ibero-American countries.” He explained that such documents are a “demonstration of good relations and the possibility of developing technical contacts on matters of common interest, such as agricultural irrigation insurance or other aspects.” He emphasized that the MoU contains “no commercial content or anything that would influence trade flows,” and therefore, “there is no issue or cause for fear in this regard.”
Market Share and Government Support
Providing context, Planas detailed that Ecuador represents only 3% of the volume of bananas imported into Spain. He used the opportunity to reiterate the Spanish government’s “firm support” for the Canary Islands banana sector.
Political Opposition and Producer Distrust
From the Popular Party group, Senator Morales countered by asking the minister to properly inform farmers “before making such announcements,” stating that producers “do not trust” the government. He argued that the sector now faces “unfair competition, thanks to the technological improvements provided by Spain that are announced in the agreement,” on top of existing problems with the additional Posei programme affecting over 7,000 farmers and livestock breeders.
Ongoing Challenges from the La Palma Volcano
Morales further highlighted the ongoing struggles of banana growers, adding that “many farmers today have not been able to rebuild their plantations due to the unfulfilled commitments of Pedro Sánchez,” in a clear reference to the banana farms devastated by the volcanic eruption on La Palma.
Sector Demands for Transparency and Fairness
The concerns raised in the Senate reflect earlier actions by the Canary Islands banana industry. On October 3, the sector formally requested that the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food send them the full text and timeline of the MoU signed with Ecuador, along with a public clarification of the agreement’s real scope. This request was driven by the surprise and worry among Canary banana producers over the possibility that the pact could favor the importation of bananas from Ecuador.
Among their key demands, producers called for the complete publication of the MoU text. They also seek guarantees that any support given to Ecuadorian producers will be subject to the same strict social, labor, environmental, and phytosanitary standards that govern production within the European Union. Finally, they are pushing for a non-distortion clause to prevent any competitive advantages for imported bananas that could undermine the local Canary Islands product.
