María Jesús Lorenzana, the Galician Minister of Economy and Industry, has emphasised that productivity, talent, and sustainability will be crucial for the economic competitiveness of Spain in the coming years. Speaking at the presentation of the Food Sector Director Plan 2026-2028, Lorenzana stated, “The industry in our country, including the food sector, is undergoing an accelerated transformation phase, where opportunities for modernisation and growth are intertwined with significant challenges related to competitiveness, productivity, and talent availability.”
She highlighted that geopolitical tensions and supply chain issues have reinforced the need for self-sufficient industrial capabilities. “Today, concepts such as strategic autonomy, resilience, and industrial sovereignty are central to European and Spanish policies,” she noted.
Lorenzana underscored the importance of technology, explaining that it leads to greater productivity, reduced time and costs, and increased added value. In the food sector, she stressed that it is essential to implement practices that minimise the use of water, energy, and plastics.
Moreover, she pointed out that sustainability is no longer merely an environmental requirement. “The industry that successfully integrates sustainability, technology, and innovation will be best positioned to grow, attract investment, and create quality jobs in the future,” she asserted.
Regarding talent, Lorenzana acknowledged that a shared challenge across nearly all industrial sectors is the availability of qualified personnel. “In this digital age, companies require increasingly specialised profiles, capable of adapting to more technological and complex production environments.” This, she noted, necessitates continuous training and housing policies that attract workers and create an appealing environment for investment.
In this context, she reiterated that the Food Sector Director Plan, approved by the Xunta in July with a budget of 216 million euros, aims to prepare the sector to tackle these challenges and turn them into opportunities for companies committed to innovation, technology, and more sustainable production models.
