The regional government of the Region Murcia and the Agrupación de Industrias Alimentarias de Murcia, Alicante y Albacete (Agrupal) presented the Plan de acción y hoja de ruta para la industria alimentaria de la Región de Murcia 2027–2028 . The programme comprises 25 measures intended to make the regional food industry more competitive, innovative and resource-efficient. According to the organisers, areas for action, timelines and indicators have been set for 2027 and 2028.
The roadmap brings together five strategic priorities: training and securing skilled workers; digitalisation and marketing; international trade and logistics; sustainability and the circular economy; and innovation and technology transfer. Measures include expanding dual vocational training, initiatives to attract young skilled workers, a shared digital platform for traceability throughout the supply chain, an international market-monitoring system based on artificial intelligence, and the creation of a sector-wide pilot plant to develop new product lines. The regional government emphasised the food industry’s role as an important source of jobs and exports for the region Murcia.
On implementation, the plan was said to have been drawn up in consultation with businesses, research centres and public bodies, and to be backed by regular monitoring. As a reference for previous support measures, the government cited a recent call for applications worth €24 million, which had prompted investment of more than €125 million. No specific new budget commitments for individual measures among the 25 were disclosed at the presentation. The officials announced that responsibilities would be assigned and progress made public using measurable indicators.
The initiative addresses structural weaknesses in the industry in south-eastern Spain: a shortage of skilled workers, the demanding requirements of international markets and the need to manage water more efficiently. The focus on digital tools, robust traceability systems and water-management solutions reflects regional priorities. What is clear is that the programme’s actual impact will depend on firm funding mechanisms, efficient project management and private co-financing. Statements about future export growth or a specific impact on employment are, at this stage, the views of those involved and have not been substantiated.
The plan is tailored to the Region of Murcia but was developed jointly with Agrupal, whose companies are also represented in Alicante and Albacete . The focus therefore remains regional, while links with the neighbouring economy are explicitly taken into account.
Editor: Daniel Mayer (Article created with AI assistance).