The digital future of our agri-food sector
The digital transformation of the agri-food sector is already a reality. Below is a summary of some of the measures taken by different ministries to integrate the digitalization of the Spanish economy in general, and the agri-food sector in particular, into their strategies.
The future and competitiveness of the economy in general depends on digitization. If we focus on the agri-food sector, the digitization of this industry is of great importance due to the numerous benefits it brings to the entire value chain, from production to consumption.
The digitization of the agri-food sector thus involves the incorporation of advanced digital technologies at all stages of the value chain and its benefits also have an impact at all levels: from greater efficiency in production, improved quality and food safety, improvements in the supply chain and even the economic boost in certain rural areas.
To take on and meet this challenge, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) has defined the so-called Digitalization Strategy for the agri-food and forestry sector and the rural environment. This is an action plan that includes the measures and instruments planned to promote the digital transformation of the sector, with the aim of contributing to the leadership of an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable agri-food sector. o this end, three strategic objectives have been established:
- Reduce the digital divide.
- Promote the use of data as a driving force for the sector.
- Promote business development and new business models, bearing in mind Industry 4.0 and the opportunities for economic diversification offered by new technologies.
II Action Plan 2021-2023
In order to achieve these three objectives, Action Plans are being developed that articulate actions around the strategic lines of these objectives. Thus, we are currently immersed in the II Action Plan 2021-2023, with a budget of more than 64 million euros to promote the digital transformation of the agri-food sector.
The II Action Plan contains 21 actions classified into four categories according to their contribution to the sector, budget and competent administrations leading them:
- Actions implemented by the MAPA with a high impact on the agri-food sector (whose burden accounts for more than 87% of the total budget mentioned above).
- Actions that give continuity to the I Action Plan 2019-2020.
- Transversal actions, led by other Administrations, that contribute to the digitization of the agri-food sector.
- Governance and dynamization actions focused on dissemination, diffusion and networking in the field of digitization in the agri-food and rural sector.
PERTE Agroalimentario and its opportunities for digitization
On the other hand, the MAPA together with other Administrations, articulates the PERTE Agroalimentario, which combines a set of measures to strengthen the development of the agri-food chain and provide it with the necessary tools to meet the environmental, digital, social and economic challenges of the next decade.
The strategic agri-food project focuses on three priority lines of action, of which number 2 is fully dedicated to the digital adaptation of the sector with a budget allocation of €454.35 million.
According to the data provided in the addendum to the Recovery Plan approved on June 6, 2023, the transfers to the PERTE Agroalimentario in the first phase of the Recovery Plan amount, so far, to 747 million euros. Investments that the addendum raises by 600 million euros (150 million euros in additional transfers and 460 million euros in loans) to reach a total figure of 1,357 million euros.
More about financing
Digital Spain 2026
On the other hand, the Digital Spain Agenda of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, which includes an ambitious national digitalization strategy at a global level, also focuses on the digital transformation of the agri-food sector.
Specifically, axis 8 “Sectoral and sustainable digital transformation”, in its subsection 28 “Sustainable digital transformation of the agri-food and fisheries sector”, establishes some specific actions for the digitization of the agri-food sector in order to improve training and advice on digital skills, the generation and processing of information and financing and support for digital entrepreneurship. These are the following actions, some of them included in the PERTE Agroalimentario, with a total amount of 64 million euros:
- Launch of AgroInnpulso, a line of participative loans to support digital entrepreneurship in the agri-food sector, endowed with €33M.
- Creation of the Digital Innovation Hub to enable companies to undertake technological developments that respond to the challenges of the sector under fiware architecture.
- Creation of a Digitalization Observatory for the Agri-Food Sector to monitor the degree of adoption of new technologies.
- Measures of the National Rural Development Program during 2022 and 2023 to promote training, the development of demonstrative activities and digital advisory services through competitive grants.
- Development of the Farm Information System (SIEX) to simplify the relationship between farmers and ranchers and the administration. The SIEX project has an allocation of €20M and is part of the Agri-Food PERTE and the Public Administration Digitalization Plan.
