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.
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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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