Exponential growth of pistachio cultivation in Spain: 90 times more in 15 years

By Juan Vilar, strategic consultant.

Originally from Asia Minor, pistachios have been a prized food for over 7,000 years. Among the best-known legends, it is said that the Queen of Sheba declared them an exclusive delicacy for the nobility. Today, this dried fruit continues to gain popularity and relevance globally.

Currently, 1.1 million hectares are devoted to pistachio cultivation in the world, with a total production of 1 million tons of dried pistachios. The main producing countries are Iran, the United States, Turkey, China, Syria and Greece. The United States leads production with 165,000 hectares and 500,000 tons per year.

World consumption amounts to 843,000 tons, with growth projections of 4% in the next year. The United States leads global consumption with 20%, followed by Turkey (18%) and China (14.9%)..

In terms of cultivated surface area, Spain ranks fourth worldwide. In just one decade, the area devoted to pistachios in the country has increased from 900 hectares in 2009 to 80,000 hectares today. Castilla-La Mancha is the main producing region, accounting for more than 80% of the total surface area, followed by Andalusia, Castilla y León and Extremadura.

Domestic consumption of pistachios in Spain is 210 grams per person per year, representing 4.5% of the total nuts consumed in the country, with an annual growth rate of close to 1%.

Pistachio harvesting in Spain takes place between the end of August and the beginning of October. To maximise the yield and quality of the crops, Bioiberica has developed Equilibrium®, an innovative biostimulant that improves bud retention, increases production and reduces alternation in crop cycles.