{"id":25775,"date":"2025-03-12T18:23:34","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T16:23:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.itac-professional.com\/?p=25775"},"modified":"2025-03-26T18:09:48","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T16:09:48","slug":"spanish-almonds-a-sustainable-and-booming-product","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.itac-professional.com\/en\/blog\/spanish-almonds-a-sustainable-and-booming-product\/","title":{"rendered":"Spanish almonds: a sustainable and booming product"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is believed that the first almond trees arrived in the Iberian Peninsula with the Phoenicians. However, it was the Romans who truly drove their cultivation forward.<\/p>\n

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The current surge in consumption is driven by the substitution of animal proteins with plant-based sources and by almonds’ versatility, as it is used in numerous innovative products including snacks, plant-based drinks, flours and confectionery, amongst others.<\/p>\n

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Today, almonds<\/a> are not only one of the most widely consumed nuts worldwide, but Spain has established itself as one of its main producers. What makes our almonds so special?<\/p>\n

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Below, we will delve into our almonds’ sustainability characteristics, production methods and varieties.<\/p>\n

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European almonds: a quality, healthy, safe and sustainable product<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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European almonds stand out as a safe, healthy, sustainable and high-quality product. Foods produced in Europe, including Spanish<\/a> or Iberian almonds<\/a>, are subject to strict European standards that guarantee food safety and traceability, offering benefits for both consumers and the environment.<\/p>\n

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Beyond their health benefits, their production promotes sustainability, protects the environment and improves life in rural areas. Their characteristics support the circular economy and increase their competitiveness in international markets.<\/p>\n

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The European production model is based on sustainability<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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The European production model stands out for its commitment to sustainability<\/strong>, protection of the environment, animal welfare and food safety. It is one of the most demanding worldwide, complying with strict agricultural requirements and regulations on the use of plant protection products.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, entities associated with SAB-Almendrave and CNCFS, such as Importaco Nuts<\/strong>, comply with the Global Food Safety Initiative<\/strong>, conducting comprehensive analyses to guarantee product quality. They must also adhere to the Code of Conduct for Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices, thus ensuring ethical and sustainable production.<\/p>\n

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You might be interested in | Importaco and Dcoop sign a strategic alliance to commercialise Mediterranean almonds<\/a><\/p>\n

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The circular economy in the almond sector<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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The European almond sector opts for the circular economy, making the most of all by-products from almond trees and reducing waste at every production stage.<\/p>\n

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Almond shells<\/strong> are transformed into high-quality solid biofuel, generating energy from biomass. In addition, the fibre-rich skins<\/strong> are reused in the production of functional foods, thus contributing to more sustainable and efficient production.<\/p>\n

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The production and global position of Spanish almonds<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Almonds are all the rage and their cultivation has grown significantly worldwide in recent decades, becoming the fruit tree with the largest planted area in the EU<\/strong> (Eurostat data). Within Europe, Spain accounts for 81% of the area cultivated with almond trees1<\/sup><\/strong>, which makes it the third largest almond producer globally (7% of world production)2<\/sup>, and its second largest exporter<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Looking to the future, almond production in Spain is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.\u00a0 And what are the reasons for this? Improvements in irrigation, which multiply yields compared to dry farming, new and more advanced almond varieties and increasingly professional management of farms.<\/p>\n

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Iberian almonds and low-impact agriculture<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Almond cultivation in the Iberian Peninsula is an example of sustainable, low-impact agriculture that follows an efficient European model that respects the environment.<\/p>\n

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Key sustainability factors include:<\/p>\n