Spain's Greenhouse Sector Embraces Automation Amid Rising Costs
Spain's greenhouse sector, particularly in Almería, is increasingly adopting automation to counter rising labor costs and stringent regulations. With over €6 million invested in automation by Vicasol, the shift aims to enhance productivity and reduce dependency on manual labor.

In Almería, Spain, the greenhouse area spans nearly 40,000 hectares, producing about 40% of Europe's fresh vegetables in autumn and winter. Labour costs in Spain are significantly impacted by a 30% increase in minimum wage over the last five years, averaging €26.40 (US$30.43) per hour, which is below the EU average.
Consequently, growers are investing in automation, with Vicasol investing €6 million (US$6.91 million) to implement AI-based sorting systems and robotic handling. A study shows some automation projects cut staffing on pre-sizing lines from 30 to 5 workers, achieving a 33% reduction in labor costs. However, only 64% of Spanish farms have adopted digital technologies, prompting a €1.5 billion (US$1.73 billion) allocation for digital farming in the 2023-2027 Strategic Plan.




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