The President of the Government of Spain has released the first list of 425,000 beneficiaries eligible to purchase fertiliser, as part of the measures taken in response to the war in Iran. A €600 million fund, increased by an additional €165 million.

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, speaks during the presentation of the State Fertilizer Plan, at the San Martín de la Vega Corn Farm (Madrid) (EFE/ J.J.Guillen)

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, speaks during the presentation of the State Fertilizer Plan, at the San Martín de la Vega Corn Farm (Madrid) (EFE/ J.J.Guillen)

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, has announced a National Fertiliser Plan "with resources and a timeline, concrete measures and a clear commitment to listening" - with the aim to be ready by the first quarter of 2027 so that "Spain can produce more and better and reduce its dependency." Pedro Sánchez made this point during the launch event for the new plan, held in San Martín de la Vega (Madrid), which was also attended by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas.

Pedro Sánchez explained that the Government was "aware, from the very outset, of the scale of the crisis" arising from the conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz with regard to fertilisers, which "are the fuel of the earth, turning a handful of seeds into a harvest" and which, furthermore, "have a direct impact on farms, profit margins and the final price of food". "Without them, food security is impossible", he emphasised, highlighting the impact of the crisis on the cost of living and on the viability of a sector that "already has to contend with many uncertainties", such as the climate emergency, droughts, floods and pests.

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, in the family photo with other attendees at the event| Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo

He therefore pointed out that the Government had decided to act "with the full might of the State and with an unprecedented level of resources". In this regard, he announced that, on 6 July 2026, the first list of 425,000 beneficiaries of the fertiliser purchase subsidy - worth over €600 million - will be published,as part of the measures taken in response to the war in Iran, followingthe Council of Ministers' decision on 29 June 2026to increase the fund by €165 million, bringing the total aid package to €665 million.

In total, taking all support schemes into account, the Government of Spain has mobilised more than €1.1 billion in aid for the primary sector to mitigate this crisis - more than double the European average. Furthermore, Pedro Sánchez pointed out that the measures that are already proving effective are being maintained, given that, with the recently approved second Royal Decree-law on the response, aid per hectare has practically doubled, the 20-cent discount per litre on agricultural and fishing diesel has been maintained, and the specific ICO-MAPA-SAECA credit line has been consolidated, with up to €300 million available for financing.

"The uncertainty in this sector affects every single household in our country. For this reason, supporting our farmers in times of difficulty is much more than just a moral duty. It is a commitment to society as a whole", he added.

The head of the Executive stated that the measures must "serve to prevent future crises", hence the importance of "a structural response to short-term challenges: because they help us to anticipate and drive the necessary structural changes". In the case of the primary sector, "towards a more sustainable, more efficient and less externally dependent form of agriculture", the objectives set out in the European Action Plan on Fertilisers.

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, attend a drone demonstration| Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo

To this end, Pedro Sánchez announced that Spain will launch its own State Fertiliser Plan. An inter-ministerial working group is already underway, and this will be followed by "dialogue with all administrative bodies and stakeholders", with the aim of ensuring that "this plan belongs to everyone and is ready by the first quarter of 2027". He noted that this "demanding" schedule is possible because the three priority areas for action have been clearly identified. The first involves continuing to focus on precision farming, for example through the use of drones and agronomic monitoring tools applied to maize cultivation, which enable us to "gain a better understanding of the soil, optimise resources and reduce costs - and that means lower spending, less environmental impact and greater competitiveness".

The second priority is to strengthen Spain's strategic autonomy, as reducing dependence on natural gas for the production of fertilisers is a "priority". And the third and final pillar centres on price transparency, "with a fertiliser market information system that enables us to anticipate price trends, identify pressures and respond swiftly to inflationary situations", he explained.

The head of the Executive emphasised that the aim is for "Spain to produce more and better, reduce its dependence and be able to support more effectively those who ensure our food security" and help make Spain a "leading agri-food power". Specifically, Spain ranks fourth in Europe and seventh globally in terms of export volume and quality, a success driven by "our farmers' commitment to innovation and the inclusion of women, who now account for nearly 30% of employment in the primary sector". "Now it's a question of going one step further: providing more and better support for the nearly one and a half million farmers and livestock breeders who look after us. With a genuine commitment and more ambitious policies. Rural Spain is not on the periphery of progress; it is one of its cornerstones. The one that produces, nourishes and protects the land. The one that preserves our diversity and keeps our land alive. I am counting on each and every one of you to continue sowing the seeds of Spain's future", he concluded.

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, during his speech at the event| Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, emphasised that one of the plan's main objectives is to achieve a more efficient use of fertilisers, using smaller quantities and applying more precise farming techniques. To this end, he highlighted the importance of R&D&I and of reviving practices such as controlled organic fertilisation - carried out in a controlled manner - or the development of biostimulants; these techniques will also help to reduce dependence on fossil-fuel-based fertilisers and thereby promote self-sufficiency in this area.