The industry has faced a sharp decline, with cultivated land dropping from 35,000 hectares in 1985 to just 7,851 in 2024. This 75% loss is attributed to international competition, rising costs, and the severe droughts of 2023 and 2024.
“"Catalonia cannot lose the hazelnut crop, which is not only strategic and traditional but also healthy and economically significant."
Key measures include the creation of a Plant Health Hub and the improvement of irrigation systems. A major project involves using reclaimed water from the Reus treatment plant to supply the Riudecanyes Reservoir irrigation network.
The plan also establishes a Hazelnut Governance Table and a new Hazelnut Observatory to monitor prices and market margins. Promotion efforts will focus on schools and gastronomy, highlighting the DO Reus quality seal.
