New focus on food exports as Spanish population reducing

SPAIN’S food industry is ramping up exports in a bid to counter the country’s shrinking population.

Since 2012, the number of citizens has been decreasing and is projected to shrivel from the current tally of 46 million to 40 million residents by the year 2064—a 12% decrease.

Meanwhile, the global population is projected to increase from 7.6 billion to over 9 billion people by 2050.

“The obvious option for the Spanish food industry is to increase exports,” said Fernando José Burgaz Moreno, Managing Director of the Department for the Food Industry in Spain.

He emphasized that this trend is already being realized—with Spanish food and wine exports having increased by almost 50% since 2011.

“Internationalization and innovation are key to exports,” added Josep Lluís Bonet, President of the Alimentaria Organization Committee, which arranges Alemantaria, Spain’s largest food and drink convention every year in Barcelona.

“It’s important to diffuse information about our products throughout the world.”