Spain
Province of Jaén, Andalucia – Spain Case study
Jaén is a province of southern Spain, in the eastern part of the autonomous community of Andalusia. Its population is 657,387, of whom just about one-sixth live in the capital.
The study area is located in the Mediterranean biographical region and the main soil types are Cambisol (17 – 31% clay; 17-31%sand) and Regosol (14-19% clay; 45-54% sand). The total size of the study area is 1,348,900 ha of which 647,472 is utilised agricultural area. Jaén is one of the larger producers of olive oil in the world. It produces around 60% of all Spanish production.
Key agricultural facts
Zealand Denmark | Eastern Scotland | Mazovia Poland | Közép Mag. Hungary | Toscany Italy | Jaén Spain | |
| Total number of farm holdings | 7.850 | 6.610 | 302.290 | 62.080 | 78.900 | 254.293 |
| Average farm size [ha] | 61 | 196 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 18 |
| Farm holdings < 5 ha [%] | 4 | 15 | 55 | 94 | 62 | 60 |
| Farm holdings > 50 ha[%] | 32 | 60 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| Owner occupied[%] | 72 | 65 | 89 | 36 | 75 | 79 |
Source: Eurostat data, 2010
The average farm size in Andalucia is 18 ha, which is close to the European Union average of 15 ha. Large-scale olive growing occurs in the area (representing 42% of the agricultural area), including approximately 20% organic, 3% high input irrigated and the rest mostly low-input rainfed.
