Superfood culture requires climate stability — but heat waves and increasingly frequent, abnormally cold winters don’t help, nor does the water crisis. The problem begins to generate social inequalities.
The culture of avocadoconsidered a superfood for its nutritional benefits, faces serious challenges in Spain due to the impact of climate change.
The main avocado fruit producing regions in the country, such as Málaga and Granada, have already begun to feel the effects of extreme temperatures, water scarcity and social problems associated with the intensive production model.
Tropical avocado cultivation requires climate stability — it only thrives in temperatures between -2°C and 38°C. But heat waves, unusually cold winters and increasingly frequent brief exposures to extreme temperatures are reducing yields, damaging trees and affecting fruit protection.
According to studies cited in , the Area suitable for cultivation could be reduced by 41% by 2050if global temperatures continue to rise.
Added to this problem is the water crisisespecially in Axarquia, where intensive avocado production consumes, according to , more than 350 liters of water per fruit. The cultivation model is unsustainable in areas of low rainfall and with aquifers threatened by salinization.
One of the Ecologists in Action highlights that this overexploitation of resources also generates social inequalities: small farmers have been displaced by large investors and working conditions are precarious, with average annual income of less than 8,000 euros in locations such as Moclinejo.
The problem goes beyond borders. THE Mexicothe world’s largest producer of avocados, also faces the challenges of climate change and water scarcity, which could trigger a global supply crisis.
Faced with this situation, experts and organizations propose a change to more sustainable models. They recommend crop diversification, priority given to rainfed crops, the application of efficient irrigation techniques and the fight against illegal irrigation. They also defend the reinforcement of small-scale production, as opposed to hyper-intensive models.
