Agricultural models developed in Spain, in particular, the intensive greenhouse systems of Almería and the regenerative landscape restoration of the Altiplano plateau, represent useful lessons for countries facing significant environmental, economic, and institutional challenges, such as Uzbekistan, characterized by an arid climate and dependence on agriculture, could significantly benefit from these proven practices.

Spain has achieved great success in transforming a water-stressed environment into the “garden of Europe”, demonstrating technical innovation combined with efficient water management, resulting in enormous economic returns even with limited resources. Furthermore, the proposed two-stage approach of the Spanish model, incorporating intensive production to dominate the global market and regenerative methods to combat soil degradation and rural abandonment, is a very good example that could be implemented in Uzbekistan.

Successful Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) promotes precision irrigation, integrated crop protection, greenhouse horticulture, and high-quality standards. To improve productivity, Spanish farms use electronic monitoring and drip irrigation. Almeria has 33,500 hectares of greenhouse crops used for export, and the country is a global pioneer in biological crop protection. The current Common Agricultural Policy framework (2023-2027) focuses on environmental protection and improving water efficiency .

Irrigation and water management in Spain 71 % of the value of agricultural production comes from irrigated land, which accounts for 3.7 million hectares, or approximately 22 % of all agricultural land. Between 2022 and 2027 , the government will spend a record € 2.5 billion to improve 750,000 hectares. This includes installing automated flow meters, replacing open canals with pressurized pipes, and promoting smart irrigation technologies such as soil moisture sensors and automated scheduling. Spanish farms using drip/ micro-irrigation are among the most productive and consume the least water.

Spain’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) strategic plan encourages competition across a wide range of climate conditions. A multi-program approach, including national recovery funds and EU rural development funds, aims to digitalize irrigation networks and reduce energy consumption. Spanish farms that use irrigation are among the most productive and consume the least water. Uzbekistan should follow Spain’s "inclusive" approach, which includes the use of digital tools, the involvement of people and communities, and significant public investment. Uzbekistan can improve the impact of agricultural reforms and modernization by combining digital technologies, community participation, and significant public investment, building on successful experiences.

Agro-processing and value chains. Spain’s agri-food sector is large and complex. It comprises 30,000 companies with a combined turnover of €168 billion, accounting for approximately 23.8 % of the manufacturing industry. These include olive oil mills (1,390 companies producing approximately 1.4 million tons of olive oil annually), wineries and distilleries, fruit and vegetable canneries, and tomato paste and juice producers. Many Spanish fresh produce exporters have refrigerated warehouses and packaging facilities near their farms, as required by EU regulations. Processed olive and tomato products, canned fish, and juices are important export commodities.

Uzbekistan should expand the construction of modern cold chains, juice production plants, and canning factories. To encourage agricultural processing, Spanish farmers received grants under the Common Agricultural Policy (investment assistance for rural businesses). A similar program could be implemented in Uzbekistan (through the World Bank ‘s Agriculture and Irrigation Support Program and the EBRD’s Agrifood Nexus program) using government or donor funding. For example, in Spain, the juice industry processes surplus fruits and vegetables during peak harvest periods to maintain stable prices.

Spain’s processed agricultural products are often targeted at EU markets, necessitating strict quality control (HACCP, ISO standards) and compliance with food safety standards. To train local agronomists, implement pilot certification projects, and develop laboratories and digital product traceability systems, Uzbekistan should establish formal partnerships with Spanish certification bodies and experts.

In Spain, cooperatives often manage enterprises processing agricultural products. Similar cooperatives could be established in Uzbekistan. This vertical coordination increases added value creation in the country.

Digital Agriculture and Innovation. Spain is accelerating the digitalization of its agricultural sector to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food supports the Observatory, which monitors the implementation of the Strategy digitalization agri-food sector. This strategy aims to address the digital divide, low technology adoption, increased labor productivity, environmental sustainability, and rural development, using digital transformation as a tool for modernizing the entire agri-food system.

The government supports precision agriculture by providing farmers with funding for sensors and software. The country has more than twenty technology centers working in agro-tech and biotechnology, improving nutritional properties and enabling precision agriculture. Spanish entrepreneurs and agro-tech companies produce IoT (Internet of Things), use satellite services to measure moisture and provide crop management advice based on artificial intelligence (AI). Agricultural financing is also automated. For example, farmers can obtain loans for crop production through bank mobile apps.

Digital horticulture is also being implemented in Uzbekistan. AI is currently being tested in pilot projects for water management, livestock monitoring, and greenhouse management. Uzbekistan is establishing “agricultural service zones” in each region. These zones will offer a wide range of IT services, including soil analysis, meteorological data, and training. Spain ‘s experience in introducing new agricultural technologies (precision irrigation systems, smart agriculture and digital monitoring, integrated crop protection, water recycling and desalination technologies, post-harvest processing and quality control technologies) to farmers is useful for Uzbekistan. Spanish research shows that training farmers and demonstrating the application of new technologies are essential. Uzbekistan should also invest in training farmers to use modern digital tools for resource allocation decision-making. Furthermore, it is important to establish collaboration between Spanish technology companies and universities and Uzbek technology companies to implement proven agricultural solutions, such as regional weather stations and mobile applications. Following the example of the Spanish Observatory group, data from Uzbek farms could be used in a national analytical system for agricultural policy decision-making.

Based on Spain’s experience, the following practices were identified that Uzbekistan could adopt:

1. Implement drip/micro irrigation and remote water monitoring everywhere. Modernization carried out in Spain (for example, pressure networks, flow meters) allowed for achieving water distribution efficiency of approximately 95% and reducing its consumption at the farm level by approximately 20%. It is recommended to stimulate the transition to drip irrigation (as in Spain’s plans), implement water consumption accounting on farms, and invest in automating canals and pumps. Combined with sensors on farms (soil moisture, weather), this can increase Uzbekistan’s water productivity.
2. Implement integrated plant protection (IPP) systems using natural predators and targeted control, as is done by Spanish farmers. In Almería, the intensive use of pesticides (e.g., whiteflies, Tuta Absoluta) has given way to biological controls (parasitic wasps Encarsia, predatory beetles Nesidiocoris), as well as sticky traps and crop hygiene. This will reduce chemical costs, prevent the development of resistance, and ensure the export of products without residual substances. Uzbekistan can test RDI systems on key crops (e.g., cotton, tomatoes) and train farmers in monitoring and biological control methods.
3. Development of greenhouse vegetable farming in hot/salted areas (e.g., Khorezm, Surkhandarya). The Spanish “plastic sea” in Almería (33500 hectares) yields 3 million tons of tomatoes, peppers, and other vegetables per year, 80% of which are exported. The model combines hydroponics, shading grids, and climate control. The Uzbek greenhouse cluster (with solar irrigation) could extend the growing season and supply high-quality products to new markets.
4. It is necessary to develop regionally specialized clusters. For example, the Fergana Valley in Uzbekistan could focus on growing high-quality fruits (apricots, apples) and vegetables, while Bukhara/Surkhandarya could focus on growing tropical melons and pistachios (in subtropical climates). The development of clusters involves the joint use of processing capacities, joint marketing, and R&D (as in Spanish cooperatives and chambers of commerce), which will strengthen value chains.
5. It is necessary to encourage cooperative models aimed at pooling resources and ensuring access to markets. Spanish cooperatives (e.g., Kahamar Bank, wine/olive oil cooperatives) increase the income of their members. Uzbekistan’s new law on cooperatives provides the appropriate framework for this. The government and donors can help establish cooperatives in pilot regions by training farmers in the basics of management and establishing ties between cooperatives and exporting companies.
6. Implement digital platforms for knowledge dissemination and farm management. Spain already has pilot applications for irrigation planning, crop forecasting, and supply chain tracking. New centers of agricultural knowledge and innovation in Uzbekistan can integrate these tools.
7. Quality standards (such as geographical indications) must be developed to gain access to premium markets. Spanish products with protected designations of origin (wine, olive oil, jamón, fruit) have high added value. Uzbekistan does not have such products, but the country could introduce organic or other origin labels (e.g., “apricots from Kokand”) and comply with global phytosanitary standards.

Although Uzbekistan has already implemented numerous progressive reforms aimed at increasing the competitiveness of its agricultural sector by studying advanced foreign agricultural practices, Spanish agricultural practices can serve as a comprehensive methodology for unlocking the full potential of Uzbekistan’s agricultural sector.

* The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) does not take institutional positions on any issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IAIS.