Spain's Pork Industry Faces Swine Fever Challenge
Wednesday, 2026/04/08193 words3 minutes1299 reads
Spain's pork industry is facing a serious challenge after African Swine Fever (ASF) was detected in wild boars near Barcelona last November. The virus is highly contagious and deadly for pigs and wild boars, though it poses no risk to humans.
Pig farmer Jordi Saltiveri, who manages 8,000 pigs in Catalonia, describes feeling sad and angry when he heard the news. The outbreak has caused pork prices to drop significantly, with each pig losing €30 to €40 in value. Several countries, including Brazil, Japan, and the United States, have stopped importing Spanish pork entirely.
The Catalan government is taking aggressive action to contain the outbreak. Officials are culling wild boars in the affected areas, using traps, silenced firearms, and monitoring technology. They estimate the region has between 120,000 and 180,000 wild boars, and their goal is to reduce this population by half. So far, 232 boars have tested positive for the virus.
Spain's pork industry, valued at €25 billion and the largest in Europe, has already lost over €600 million since the crisis began. The authorities are working to eliminate the disease quickly, looking to Belgium as a successful example of ASF eradication.
